The Legs Are The Last To Go:
Aging, Acting, Marrying & Other Things I Learned The Hard Way

Diahann Carroll / 2008

HarperCollins / ISBN 9780060763268

I think what you'll remember most about Diahann Carroll after reading this book
is that she went into show business thinking of herself as a classy lady and she never -
ever - let anyone tell her differently. In a time when there were few high-profile
black performers, she let it be known that she would not accept second-class treatment or
accommodations. She deserved the best and that was what she would have.

That's not to say there weren't a few bumps on the road, and a lot of other famous names
(Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier... Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber comes in for an interesting cameo)
will make appearances. Look for Marlon Brando. You certainly won't be bored. (She wasn't!)

Minor quibbles -- no index. Whenever you've got a book you may want to refer to later for a
quote about the production of a show, etc., you must have an index, Diahann! (Make a note!!)
Also, I wanted to hear about the stock production of No Strings you did with Harold Lang,
but as I'm his biographer I'm probably the only one to say that.

All in all, an extremely interesting book from the first black actress ever to have her own TV
show (Julia) and a take-no-prisoners advocate for civil rights in a very tough time.
I found myself wondering if I could have held up as well as she did, even with beauty and talent.


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