What Happened To Diahann Carroll After Netflix’s Shirley Movie

Actress Diahann Carroll was briefly portrayed in the Netflix political biopic Shirley. Carroll is shown supporting Shirley Chisholm’s historic 1972 presidential campaign in the film as she became the first black woman to ever run for President of the United States. Carroll is one of many real-life figures portrayed in Shirley’s cast, which also includes depictions of Congresswoman Barbara Lee and prominent attorney Robert C. Gottlieb, both of whom had been early supporters of Chisholm’s trailblazing political efforts.

Carroll is portrayed by Amirah Vann in Shirley, who is best known for her work in Underground (2016-2017), Tracers (2015), Arcane (2021), and And So It Goes (2014). The real-life Carroll became celebrated for her lead role in the comedy series Julia which ran from 1968 to 1971. Like Chisholm, Carroll was also a trailblazing figure for women of color, as Julia was the very first show on American television to star a black woman in a non-stereotypical role. In the film, Carroll introduces Chisholm to the co-founder of the Blank Panther Party, Huey P. Newton.

Carroll Was Nominated For A Best Actress Oscar For 1974’s Claudine

After the events depicted in Shirley, Carroll was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for her titular role in 1974’s Claudine, which also starred James Earl Jones. Throughout her career, Carroll received a Tony Award in 1962, a Golden Globe Award in 1968, and a total of five Emmy Award nominations. Carroll became the first black woman to ever receive a nomination for an Emmy Award for 1963’s Naked City, a popular crime drama.

Carroll appeared in the acclaimed series Grey’s Anatomy in 2006, which she was also nominated for an Emmy for, and had a recurring role in the USA series White Collar from 2008 to 2014. Throughout her life, Carroll was married and divorced four times and had a longstanding affair with the married actor Sidney Poitier. Carroll’s shortest marriage was her second, which lasted a total of four months to Las Vegas boutique owner Fred Glusman. Her third husband was 24-year-old Robert DeLeon, who tragically died in a car accident.

Carroll Was Diagnosed With Breast Cancer In 1997 & Died In 2019

Carroll was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997 and started receiving radiation treatment. Carroll continued her career as a notable actress despite her illness with her last onscreen performance in the action crime drama The Masked Saint in 2016. She died at the age of 84 from cancer inside her house in West Hollywood, California, on October 4, 2019. As depicted in Shirley, Chisholm and Newton truly met at Carroll’s luxurious Los Angeles home which secured the Black Panther’s endorsement of Chisholm’s historic presidential run.