30 Most Notable Black Actresses Who Died (& What Happened to Them)

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These women helped shape film and television, opened doors for generations, and left behind legacies that still inspire. Here is a look at when they passed away and what is known about their final days, focusing on clear facts about dates, places, and reported causes.

Hattie McDaniel

Hattie McDaniel died on October 26, 1952 in Los Angeles. The cause was breast cancer. She was the first Black performer to win an Academy Award and spent her final years working in radio and supporting war relief efforts.

Dorothy Dandridge

Dorothy Dandridge died on September 8, 1965 in Los Angeles. The official cause was an accidental overdose of a prescribed antidepressant. She had been preparing a comeback with nightclub engagements at the time.

Ethel Waters

Ethel Waters died on September 1, 1977 in Los Angeles. She had longstanding heart and kidney disease. In her later years she performed with religious ministries and limited stage appearances.

Theresa Harris

Theresa Harris died on October 8, 1985 in Inglewood, California. She was 75. The specific cause was not widely reported, and she had largely retired from screen work decades earlier.

Diana Sands

Diana Sands died on September 21, 1973 in New York City. The cause was cancer. She had withdrawn from a planned film role for treatment shortly before her death.

Rosalind Cash

Rosalind Cash died on October 31, 1995 in Los Angeles. She died of cancer. She continued to work in television and theater during her illness.

Madge Sinclair

Madge Sinclair died on December 20, 1995 in Los Angeles. The cause was leukemia. She had continued voice work and television roles into the mid 1990s.

Roxie Roker

Roxie Roker died on December 2, 1995 in Los Angeles. She died of breast cancer. She had been active in theater and community work after her long running sitcom ended.

Esther Rolle

Esther Rolle died on November 17, 1998 in Culver City, California. She died from complications related to diabetes. She had recently completed work on a television film.

Gail Fisher

Gail Fisher died on December 2, 2000 in Culver City, California. The immediate cause was kidney failure following a battle with cancer. She had made occasional television appearances after her landmark role on a network drama.

Juanita Moore

Juanita Moore died on January 1, 2014 in Los Angeles. She died of natural causes at age 99. She remained engaged with film community events and tributes late in life.

Ruby Dee

Ruby Dee died on June 11, 2014 in New Rochelle, New York. She died of natural causes. She had remained active with readings, advocacy, and occasional screen roles.

Diahann Carroll

Diahann Carroll died on October 4, 2019 in Los Angeles. The cause was complications from breast cancer. She had been public about her diagnosis and supported awareness initiatives.

Lena Horne

Lena Horne died on May 9, 2010 in New York City. The cause was heart failure. She had largely stepped away from performing in her later years but continued to be honored for her trailblazing career.

Clarice Taylor

Clarice Taylor died on May 30, 2011 in Englewood, New Jersey. She died of heart failure. She had worked in theater and television into her eighties.

Isabel Sanford

Isabel Sanford died on July 9, 2004 in Los Angeles. She died from complications following surgery and a period of hospitalization. She continued making guest appearances and public appearances after her sitcom career.

Della Reese

Della Reese died on November 19, 2017 in Los Angeles. She died at home after a long illness. She had addressed health challenges publicly and remained involved with her church and charitable work.

Cicely Tyson

Cicely Tyson died on January 28, 2021 in New York. A cause of death was not disclosed. Her passing came days after the release of her memoir and a series of interviews reflecting on her career.

Mary Alice

Mary Alice died on July 27, 2022 in New York City. Authorities did not publicly list a cause. She had retired from acting years earlier and was living privately.

Nichelle Nichols

Nichelle Nichols died on July 30, 2022 in Silver City, New Mexico. The cause was heart failure. In her later years she was celebrated for her work promoting diversity in space and the sciences.

Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston died on February 11, 2012 in Beverly Hills, California. The death was ruled an accidental drowning with heart disease and cocaine use listed as contributing factors. She had been in town for a music industry event.

Naya Rivera

Naya Rivera died in July 2020 at Lake Piru in Ventura County, California. Authorities determined she drowned accidentally while boating with her young son. Search teams recovered her body several days after she went missing.

Natalie Desselle-Reid

Natalie Desselle-Reid died on December 7, 2020 in Georgia. The cause was colon cancer. She had kept the diagnosis private while receiving treatment.

Ja’Net DuBois

Ja’Net DuBois died on February 17, 2020 in Glendale, California. The death certificate cited cardiac arrest with underlying vascular disease. She had made public appearances at fan events in the years prior.

Alaina Reed Hall

Alaina Reed Hall died on December 17, 2009 in Santa Monica, California. The cause was breast cancer. She worked on stage and television while undergoing treatment.

Suzzanne Douglas

Suzzanne Douglas died on July 6, 2021 in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. Family members said she died after a battle with cancer. She had continued teaching and mentoring young performers during her illness.

Denise Dowse

Denise Dowse died on August 13, 2022 in Los Angeles. She had been hospitalized in a coma caused by a severe case of meningitis. Her family announced her passing after requesting privacy during treatment.

Sonya Eddy

Sonya Eddy died on December 19, 2022 in Burbank, California. She died from complications of an infection following a non emergency surgery. She remained active on television until shortly before her hospitalization.

Tina Turner

Tina Turner died on May 24, 2023 at her home in Küsnacht, Switzerland. Her family said she died peacefully after a long illness and she had previously spoken about serious health issues. She had largely retired from performing but remained a cultural icon.

Aaliyah

Aaliyah died on August 25, 2001 near Marsh Harbour in the Bahamas. She and several others were killed in a plane crash shortly after takeoff following a music video shoot. Investigators cited an overloaded aircraft and pilot factors in the accident.

Share your thoughts in the comments and tell us which performances by these actresses have stayed with you the most.

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