Vivian Dandridge

Biography

Born in Cleveland, Vivian Dandridge was an American singer, actress, and dancer who began performing as a child with her sister Dorothy, billed as the Wonder Children. In Los Angeles she formed the Dandridge Sisters with Dorothy and Etta Jones; the trio toured widely, headlined the Cotton Club, and appeared in the Broadway revue Swingin' the Dream in 1939 before disbanding in 1940. Dandridge then found occasional minor film and television roles from 1940 into the early 1960s. She played Melisse in I Walked with a Zombie (1943) and had an uncredited bit in Stormy Weather (1943); earlier, with the group, she sang in musical numbers in films like The Big Broadcast of 1936 and A Day at the Races. In 1955 she replaced Thelma Carpenter in Ankles Aweigh on Broadway, and in 1968 released the jazz album The Look of Love on Jubilee Records.

70years old at death

Born April 22, 1921Cleveland
Died October 26, 1991Seattle
Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
Also credited as Vivian Alferetta Dandridge

Movie Career

Films: 3
Career span: 1 year1942 to 1943

Every film, newest first

1943I Walked with a ZombieIMDb rating 7.0
1943Stormy WeatherIMDb rating 7.3
1942Road to MoroccoIMDb rating 7.0

Genres

Did you know?!

Beyond film
Vivian Dandridge was a member of the Dandridge Sisters, a trio that headlined at Harlem's Cotton Club and shared bills with Nat King Cole and Mantan Moreland.
Beyond film
The Dandridge Sisters recorded four tracks with Jimmie Lunceford, the well-known big band leader, and his orchestra. Among them was a minor hit, "That's Your Red Wagon".
Beyond film
Vivian signed with Jubilee Records in 1968 and put out a jazz LP, The Look of Love, that year. Bob Stephens produced the album and Charles Coleman conducted it.