How did Dorathy Dandridge Die?

Answer 1

In 1965, Dandridge was found dead at the age of 42 in her home in West Hollywood, California from an overdose of Imipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant. Modern analysts believe that she may have suffered from bipolar disorder. As she was depressed and apparently destitute, many speculate that her death was a suicide, but the official coroner's report did not make a final determination. Of great concern to Dandridge at the time was her financial situation, including home foreclosure and the prospect of having to institutionalize her daughter, a fate she dreaded throughout Harolyn's life.

Answer 2

Death

In 1965, Dandridge was found dead at the age of 42 in her home in West Hollywood, California from an overdose of Imipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant. Modern analysts believe that she may have suffered from bipolar disorder. As she was depressed and apparently destitute, many speculate that her death was a suicide, but the official coroner's report did not make a final determination. Of great concern to Dandridge at the time was her financial situation, including home foreclosure and the prospect of having to institutionalize her daughter, a fate she dreaded throughout Harolyn's life.

Fayard Nicholas maintains publicly that Dandridge's death was the result of accidentally taking pain medication (for a severely injured ankle) in conjunction with her other routine medications. Nicholas cites Earl Mills' (then) recent scheduling of two high-paying films in Mexico and several well-paying club engagements as evidence that Dandridge had turned the corner financially and needed only to complete the work to restore her financial health. Her business manager at the time was Jerome Rosenthal, who years later would be found guilty of plundering the fortune of client Doris Day.

Although her funeral was well-attended, notable absentees included Otto Preminger, Jack Denison, and her sister, Vivian Dandridge. Her father, Cyril Dandridge, was given the wrong information by Ruby Dandridge and also did not attend. Harold Nicholas left her a rose. Dandridge's cremated remains are interred in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, in Glendale, California. After her mother died in 1987, she was interred with Dandridge at Forest Lawn. Her father died in 1989, and her sister Vivian died in 1991 of a massive stroke. Her daughter still lives in a California institution.