Mother and grandmother of Dorothy Dandridge were already actresses. As a child, she went on as a singer in Baptist churches in Ohio. Her mother, Ruby Dandridge also wrote a piece for her two daughters, Vivian and Dorothy, The Wonder Children. Later, the two sisters went on tour in the U.S. South.

During the Great Depression moved in the early 1930s the family moved to Los Angeles. There, Dorothy quickly found small parts in radio and film, The Wonder Kids renamed themselves The Dandridge Sisters and went on well in New York's Cotton Club and Apollo Theater. Dandridge's first film appearance was in 1935 a minor role in the short film Our Gang, 1937 they appeared together on with her sister in the Marx Brothers film A Day at the Races.

In her early films, they usually got the stereotypical roles that were intended for African-American women in 1940 Dandridge played a murderess in the film Four Shall Die. Through her film appearances she quickly became known and had successful appearances as a singer in nightclubs. During this time, some Soundies were recorded in which she sang ihe hits, mostly cover versions by other artists, such as "Paper Doll" of the Mills Brothers, "Cow Cow Boogie" by Freddie Slack and Ella Mae Morse, and "Jig in the Jungle "and" Mr. & Mrs. Carpenter's Rent Party. "

Their greatest success they had in the 1950s with director Otto Preminger. She played Carmen Jones, and was nominated for this role as the first black actress in the history of the Oscar in the category of Best Actress. For the role of Bess in the movie Porgy and Bess, she was nominated for the Golden Globe Award. Her final film, they 1961st

Burdened by depression, financial problems and alcoholism, she took in 1965 with an overdose of sleeping pills life. Before her death she was in talks for the role of Billie Holiday in a movie. This film was then only a few years after her death with Diana Ross realized in the lead role.

In the film's Rising Star (1999) her career has been filmed, while Halle Berry played the role of Dandridge, for which she was honored with the Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award.

For their achievements in the film industry has been honored Dorothy Dandridge with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (6719 Hollywood Boulevard).
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