Diahann Carroll Career Retrospective | SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations

Diahann shares stories from her performances in Claudine, Paris Blues, No Strings, A Different World, House of Flowers, Eve’s Bayou, and Dynasty in this interview covering her acting and singing career. She discusses her experience with Oprah Winfrey’s Legends Ball, meeting Halle Berry, performing at the White House, balancing her career with family life, and her opinions on several pop culture figures of 2006. This Q&A moderated by Paul Ryan is part of the SAG-AFTRA Conversations series, an essential resource for actors, filmmakers and students of discussions with performers, exploring the process and profession of acting.

The views expressed in the presentation materials and films, and by the guests and moderators are solely those of the organization and/or individual providing them and do not reflect the opinions of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, its staff or Board of Directors.

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0:00 Introduction
1:44 Oprah Winfrey’s Legends Ball
5:10 Looking back on career, family
10:57 Getting into singing
15:41 Education, coming into the industry
22:31 A Different World
24:49 Halle Berry
26:49 Retirement
29:55 House of Flowers
33:17 No Strings, Claudine
48:28 Paris Blues
51:21 Monte Kay, Sidney Poitier
57:28 New York City
59:32 David Frost, Robert DeLeon
1:04:50 Focusing on work, children
1:06:11 Approaching a song
1:08:50 Eve’s Bayou
1:10:45 Favorite collaborations
1:13:48 Grandkids, staying healthy
1:16:38 Dynasty
1:22:55 What are you watching?
1:24:52 Black women in the industry
1:34:57 Inspiration
1:35:30 Choosing a partner
1:39:27 White House performances, politics
1:44:06 Thoughts on several icons