Harolyn Suzanne Nicholas' Life - Dorothy Dandridge's Daughter Died the Same Year as Her Half-Brother

Harolyn Suzanne Nicholas was Dorothy Dandridge's only child, born in the late actress's marriage to the late tap dancer Harold Nicholas. She lived with a mental disability that defined her life and riddled her mother with guilt.

Harolyn Suzanne Nicholas drew her first breath in 1943, a year after her parents, Dorothy Dandridge and Harold Nicholas, tied the knot. Her mother was ecstatic when she arrived; Dorothy saw giving birth to her daughter as a "true miracle."

However, Harolyn was born with brain damage, which meant no matter how old she became, she would always have the mentality of a four-year-old. Eventually, her mother could no longer afford to care for her, and the consequences were heartbreaking.

Dorothy Dandridge Felt Guilty about Harolyn Suzanne Nicholas's Mental Disability

The night Dorothy went into labor, she was at home, bearing the pains of Harolyn's pending arrival. Her husband, Harold, had taken their only vehicle to play golf, and she refused to go to the hospital without him.

The pain intensified, and eventually, she allowed a friend to take her. Following Harolyn's arrival, someone told Dorothy that her delay in giving birth might've led to the brain damage. It was also suggested that she may have moved during labor, leading the forceps to hurt Harolyn's head.

The cause was never concluded, but no matter how it happened, Dorothy blamed herself for causing Harolyn's disability. She made efforts to advocate for those who also lived with mental disabilities, recording radio messages on behalf of the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation.

Harolyn Suzanne Nicholas Temporarily Stayed with Her Aunt

When Dorothy first noticed signs of Harolyn's abnormal behavior, Harold was in Europe. She shared her observations with him when he returned, but he wasn't too concerned. Dorothy only grew more worried about Harolyn and devoted much of her time to caring for her.

Harold eventually returned to Europe, where he felt black people were treated as equals. Dorothy would write to him about Harolyn's situation, but he only wrote back once, telling Dorothy he planned to stay in Paris.

Harold also clarified that she shouldn't expect any more financial support. The former couple eventually divorced, and Dorothy remarried Jack Dennison. Jack mismanaged the actress' money, leaving her in debt by the time they separated.

With funds depleting, Dorothy was forced to consider putting Harolyn in a public mental institution, as one of her aunts suggested. She convinced the aunt to look after Harolyn while she sought work, and she agreed.

Harolyn Suzanne Nicholas Looked Died in the Early 2000s

Harolyn's mother died in September 1965. An autopsy revealed she had overdosed on drugs used for treating psychiatric depression. Harolyn was eventually committed to a mental institution.

Her mother's life was recounted in the 1999 biopic, "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge." Halle Berry portrayed Dorothy in the movie, co-written by Shonda Rhimes and co-starring Loretta Devine, and said she looked for Harolyn before they began filming.

"The state institution she was in burned down several years ago, and nobody knows where Lynn went [afterward]," she said. According to online records, Harolyn died in 2003, but the burial details are unknown.

She had a half-brother, Melih C. Nicholas, who was born in 1958 in another one of her father's relationships following his divorce from Dorothy. Melih also died in 2003. He was married to a woman named Janice F. Stout. Harold had passed away three years prior following health complications.