Diahann Carroll was an American actress, singer, and model who was born on July 17, 1935, in The Bronx, New York City, United States of America. She was the first African American woman to star in her own television series, “Julia,” which aired from 1968 to 1971. Carroll was also known for her roles in films such as “Carmen Jones,” “Porgy and Bess,” and “Claudine.” However, throughout her life, Carroll had several marriages and relationships, and in this article, we will focus on her spouse and their biography.
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Diahann Carroll Spouse
Diahann Carroll was married four times throughout her life, with her first marriage being to record producer Monte Kay in 1956. The couple had a daughter together named Suzanne, but they divorced in 1963. In 1973, Carroll married Robert DeLeon, a Las Vegas boutique owner, and they had a daughter named Lisa. However, their marriage was cut short when DeLeon died in a car accident in 1977.
Her third marriage was to Jet magazine editor Fredrick “Fred” Glusman in 1975. The marriage was short-lived, lasting only one year, and ended in divorce in 1976. Her final marriage was to singer and vicar Robert A. DeLeon in 1987. Robert was the widower of Carroll’s former husband, Robert DeLeon’s sister, and had two children from his previous marriage. Diahann adopted Robert’s children after they got married, and they remained together until Robert’s death in 2004.
Robert A. DeLeon was born on June 28, 1933, in Fort Worth, Texas. He grew up in a religious family and became a vicar, eventually serving as a pastor at St. Victor’s Church in West Hollywood. DeLeon was also a singer and songwriter, and he released a few albums throughout his career. In addition to his music career and religious work, DeLeon was also a vocal advocate for the rights of minorities and the LGBTQ+ community.
Robert and Diahann’s relationship started when Robert was still married to his first wife. However, their marriage was already on the rocks, and they eventually divorced. She and Robert got married in a private ceremony in 1987, and they remained together until Robert’s death in 2004 from complications of cancer.
Diahann Carroll Children
Diahann Carroll was the mother of one daughter, Suzanne Kay Bamford, who was born in 1960 during her marriage to her first husband, Monte Kay. Suzanne Kay Bamford is Carroll’s only child and is also known professionally as Suzanne Kay.
Suzanne Kay followed in her mother’s footsteps and became an entertainment industry executive, working as a casting director and talent manager. She has worked on various TV shows and movies, including “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal,” and “The Princess Diaries.”
The actress was also a grandmother to Suzanne’s two children, a son named August and a daughter named Sydney.
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Diahann Carroll Career
She began her career as a model, and in 1954, she made her Broadway debut in “House of Flowers,” a musical by Harold Arlen and Truman Capote. She went on to star in several other Broadway productions, including “No Strings,” which earned her a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 1962.
Her career in film and television began in the late 1950s, and she quickly became one of Hollywood’s most prominent African American actresses. She starred in a variety of films, including “Carmen Jones” (1954), “Porgy and Bess” (1959), “Paris Blues” (1961), and “Hurry Sundown” (1967). She was also known for her role as Dominique Deveraux in the soap opera “Dynasty,” which she played from 1984 to 1987.
However, she is perhaps best known for her groundbreaking role as Julia Baker in the television series “Julia,” which aired from 1968 to 1971. The series was the first to feature an African American woman in a non-stereotypical role, and it was a major milestone in the history of American television.
She continued to act in film and television throughout the 1970s and 1980s, appearing in movies such as “Claudine” (1974), “The Five Heartbeats” (1991), and “Eve’s Bayou” (1997). She also had recurring roles in television series such as “A Different World” and “Grey’s Anatomy.”
In addition to her acting career, Carroll was also a successful singer, releasing several albums throughout her career. Her music was a blend of jazz, pop, and R&B, and she was known for her smooth, sultry voice. She also performed in concerts and cabarets around the world, and she was a regular guest on variety shows such as “The Ed Sullivan Show” and “The Dean Martin Show.”
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