Daughter of Ruby Dandridge.

Madame Sul-Te-Wan was not her real life grandmother as is often rumored. In the definitive biography on Dandridge, by Donald Bogle, it is suggested that this rumor started because she played Dandridge's grandmother in the film Carmen Jones (1954).

Sister of Vivian Dandridge.

She was pursued for the role of Tuptim in "The King & I", but turned it down on the advice of Otto Preminger, who advised her not to accept a role in which she was not the star. Rita Moreno was then cast in the role.

Madame Sul-Te-Wan was not her real life grandmother as is often rumored. In the definitive biography on Dandridge, by Donald Bogle, it is suggested that this rumor started because she played Dandridge`s grandmother in the film Carmen Jones (1954).

Referred to by Lena Horne as "...our Marilyn Monroe.".

Had been involved with Rat Packer and actor Peter Lawford, who attended her funeral.

Is one of only 7 African-American actresses to receive the Best Actress Oscar nomination. The others in chronological order are: Diana Ross, Cicely Tyson, Diahann Carroll, Whoopi Goldberg, Angela Bassett and Halle Berry.

Died broke and deeply in debt in her apartment at 8495 Fountain Avenue, West Hollywood.

Was good friends with Marilyn Monroe and Ava Gardner when they were all young, struggling actresses in Hollywood.

She was the first African-American to be nominated for a "Best Actress" Oscar. Halle Berry, who portrayed Dorothy in Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999) (TV), became the first African-American to win "Best Actress" at the Academy Awards.

She was first choice for the role of Cleopatra but ultimately the role went to Elizabeth Taylor.

First African-American actress to be Oscar-nominated for "Best Actress in a Leading Role."

Is portrayed by Halle Berry in Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999) (TV).

Was considered for the role of Billie Holiday in a movie; however, the project didn`t materialize in her lifetime. When the movie did come to pass, the role was portrayed by Diana Ross.

Dated music composer Phil Moore, who was instrumental in launching her career as a nightclub singer in the 1940s.

Her best friend was Geraldine Pate Nicholas Branton, former wife of Fayard Nicholas of the tap dancing duo The Nicholas Brothers.

She loved soul food. Her favorite was chitterlings and greens, which she ate only once a week.

Suffered from near paralyzing stage fright whenever she had to perform.

Although she was a top-notch nightclub/caberet singer, she despised it.

September 1965: The New York Times reported that her death was caused by bone marrow particles from a fractured metatarsal bone in her right foot that entered her bloodstream and reached her brain and lungs.

First black woman to grace the cover of Life Magazine.

She was pursued for the role of Tuptim in The King and I (1956), but turned it down on the advice of Otto Preminger, who advised her not to accept a role in which she was not the star. (The bio-pic Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999) (TV) also implies that it was because the character was a slave.) Rita Moreno was subsequently cast in the role.

Now thought to have suffered from manic depression.

Dated director Otto Preminger.

Interred at Forest Lawn (Glendale), Glendale, California, USA, in the Freedom Mausoleum, Columbarium of Victory.

Her daughter was born with a brain injury.

At the time of her death, there was $2.14 in her bank account.

Daughter of Ruby Dandridge. Sister of Vivian Dandridge.

Spouse: Jack Denison (22 June 1959 - 20 December 1962) (divorced); Harold Nicholas (6 September 1942 - October 1951) (divorced) 1 child