Diahann Carroll
Carroll rose to prominence in some of the earliest major studio films to feature black casts during the Golden Age of Hollywood, including the classic movie musicals ''Carmen Jones'' (1954) and ''Porgy and Bess'' (1959). She received an Academy Award for Best Actress nomination for her title role in the romantic comedy-drama film ''Claudine'' (1974). Carroll's other notable film credits include ''Paris Blues'' (1961), ''The Split'' (1968), ''Eve's Bayou'' (1997), and ''Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters First 100 Years'' (1999).
She starred in the title role in ''Julia'' (1968–1971), for which she received a Golden Globe Award for Best TV Star – Female. The series- in which Carroll played a nurse at a doctor's office at an aerospace company- was the first on American television to star a Black woman whose character was not a servant or slave. She played the role of diva Dominique Deveraux in the prime time soap opera ''Dynasty'' from 1984 to 1987. She also had roles in ''Naked City'', ''A Different World'', and ''Grey's Anatomy''.
Carroll made her Broadway debut playing Ottilie Alias Violet in the musical ''House of Flowers'' (1954). She became the first African American woman to win the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role as Barbara Woodruff in the musical ''No Strings'' (1962). Provided by Wikipedia