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Diahann Carroll

Diahann Carroll

Actor · Died October 4, 2019, aged 84 · Bronx, New York, USA

Diahann Carroll (born Carol Diahann Johnson; July 17, 1935 – October 4, 2019) was an American actress, singer and model. She rose to stardom in performances in some of the earliest major studio films to feature black casts, including Carmen Jones in 1954 and Porgy and Bess in 1959. In 1962, Carroll won a Tony Award for best actress, a first for a black woman, for her role in the Broadway musical No Strings. Her 1968 debut in Julia, the first series on American television to star a black woman in a nonstereotypical role, was a milestone both in her career and the medium. In the 1980s she played the role of an interracial diva in the primetime soap opera Dynasty. Carroll was the recipient of numerous stage and screen nominations and awards, including the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress In A Television Series in 1968. She received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for the 1974 film Claudine. She was also a breast cancer survivor and activist.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 17, 1935
Died
October 4, 2019 (aged 84)
From
Bronx, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
34 on MovieCove · 59 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 35% in 30 days

What are Diahann Carroll's films like?

Across their 21 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Society and Bonds.

Genres

Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 21st percentile
: browse their Action movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 79th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Society
25%
Bonds
21%
Morality
20%
Power
13%
Self
11%
Survival
7%
Ideas
3%
Justice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themePrejudice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 20 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 14 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 7 · Charged 8 · Intense 5

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 8 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 13 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 1

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 13 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 7 · Engaged 13 · Full focus 0

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 9 · Affecting 7 · Heavy 4

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 17 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

9 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 3 of 9 analyzed roles.

Ally
3 of 9
Herald
2 of 9
Trickster
1 of 9
Hero
1 of 9
Threshold guardian
1 of 9
Mentor
1 of 9
Show the 9 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
11
Melancholic
10
Hopeful
9
Warm
6
Triumphant
4
Other
14

How their films linger

Hopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet7
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous4
  • Cyclical1
  • Other2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Diahann Carroll's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 19 of their 34 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Diahann Carroll's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

59 credits, 34 with a MovieCove page; 50 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Masked Saint(2016)

    as Ms. Edna

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Peeples(2013)

    as Nana Peeples

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • The Front(2010)

    as Nana

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • At Risk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Nana

  • White Collar(2009)

    Show 25 episodes · as June

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Diary of a Single Mom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Therapist

  • Back to You(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Sandra Jenkins

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • Grey's Anatomy(2005)

    Show 5 episodes · as Jane Burke

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • TV in Black: The First Fifty Years(2004)

    as (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Whoopi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Viveca Rae

  • Half & Half(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Grandma Ruth Thorne

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • The Court (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • The Legend of Tarzan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 3 episodes · as Queen La (voice)

  • Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Maria Cole

  • Strong Medicine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Eve Morton

  • Soul Food (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Aunt Ruthie

  • Sally Hemings: An American Scandal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Betty Hemings

  • Sally Hemings: An American Scandal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Betty Hemings

  • The Courage to Love(2000)

    as Pouponne

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Twice in a Lifetime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jael

  • Jackie's Back!(1999)

    as Diahann Carroll

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years(1999)

    as Sadie Delany

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Sweetest Gift(1998)

    as Mrs. Wilson

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Eve's Bayou(1997)

    as Elzora

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Crow (voice)

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Jirimpimbira: An African Folk Tale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Narrator

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Grace Willis

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle(1994)

    as Lydia Bishop

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Ellen(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Diahann Carroll

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Burke's Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Grace Gibson

  • Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmaker(1991)

    as Vivian Thurlow (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Sunday in Paris (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Vernetta Chase

  • The Five Heartbeats(1991)

    as Eleanor Potter

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Murder in Black and White(1990)

    as Margo Stover

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • From the Dead of Night(1989)

    as Maggie

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Diahann Carroll

  • A Different World(1987)

    Show 9 episodes · as Marion Gilbert

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • The Colbys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 7 episodes · Actor

  • Starfest: The Stars Salute Public Television 1983 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Actor

  • Sister, Sister (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Carolyne Lovejoy

  • Dynasty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 110 episodes · as Dominique Devereaux

  • I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings(1979)

    as Vivian

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Roots: The Next Generations(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Zeona Haley

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The Star Wars Holiday Special(1978)

    as Mermeia

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Roxy Blue

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • The Sonny and Cher Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Streetkill(1975)

    as Betty May

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Claudine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Claudine Price

  • The Split(1968)

    as Ellen "Ellie" Kennedy

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Julia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 86 episodes · as Julia Baker

  • Hurry Sundown(1967)

    as Vivian Thurlow

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Paris Blues(1961)

    as Connie Lampson

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Goodbye Again(1961)

    as Nightclub Singer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Porgy and Bess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Clara

  • Naked City(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Ruby Jay

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Peter Gunn(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Carmen Jones(1954)

    as Myrt

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Coke Time with Eddie Fisher (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Chance Of A Lifetime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 59 titles from 1952 to 2016; peak year 2016.

Biggest box office

Eve's Bayou (1997)

$15M worldwide

Highest rated

White Collar (2009)

Midcredits 96th

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19522016

Peak 2016 · at the high point of their film career. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1954Screen debut· Carmen Jones
  • 1974First top-billed film· Claudine
  • 1974Breakout· Claudine
  • 1974Career best· Claudine
  • 2009Career best· White Collar

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting59 of 59: 59 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score68th

By decade

1950s6 · acting1960s5 · acting1970s7 · acting1980s7 · acting1990s15 · acting2000s15 · acting2010s4 · acting

Billing

usually 6th · top billed in 8% of 12 roles
5474

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Diahann Carroll's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 69th percentile, the median of all 22; across their 20 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 61st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Approval · how many liked their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Reach · how many have seen their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Midcredits score across 34 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up14
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

13 of their 34 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser13
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed13

Most divisive · actor

TV in Black: The First Fifty Years (2004)

93rd percentile spread · 25% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

White Collar (2009)

Midcredits 96th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 63/100 in their films, across 17 reviewed titles; fans 74, detractors 40. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Diahann Carroll's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 49 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 49 · moderateMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Diahann Carroll work with?

People who share at least 2 of Diahann Carroll's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ruby Dee shares the most, 3.

Directors

Actors

Composers and editors