Dorothy was born in Ohio in 1922. She started out touring with her sisters, performing for small audiences, but her mother had bigger dreams. She brought Dorothy and her sisters to Los Angeles. With talent and luck Dorothy made her way to the silver screen.

One of the most beautiful women in Hollywood, she was able to secure roles that were unheard of at that time for a Colored actress. One of her most famous performances was that of "Carmen Jones" in 1954, where she starred along with Harry Belafonte. In Otto Preminger's production of "Porgy and Bess" she was also hit.

One of the first Colored movie stars to grace the cover of Life Magazine, this actress and singer rose from poverty to fame. Even so, racism seemed to always cloud her happiness.