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Diana Ross
ACTOR

Diana Ross

Known for Minions: The Rise of Gru · The Muppet Show · American Idol

Diana Ross (born March 26, 1944) is an American singer, actress, and record producer. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Ross rose to fame as the lead singer of the vocal group the Supremes, which, during the 1960s, became Motown's most successful act, and are the best charting female group in US history, as well as one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time. The group released a record-setting twelve number-one hit…

Snapshot 2026-10-16

Born
Mar 26, 1944
Birthplace
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Known For
Acting

Biography

Diana Ross (born March 26, 1944) is an American singer, actress, and record producer. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Ross rose to fame as the lead singer of the vocal group the Supremes, which, during the 1960s, became Motown's most successful act, and are the best charting female group in US history, as well as one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time. The group released a record-setting twelve number-one hit singles on the US Billboard Hot 100, including "Where Did Our Love Go", "Baby Love", "Come See About Me", "Stop! In the Name of Love", "You Can't Hurry Love", "You Keep Me Hangin' On", "Love Child", and "Someday We'll Be Together".

Following her departure from the Supremes in 1970, Ross released her eponymous debut solo album that same year, featuring the number-one Pop hit "Ain't No Mountain High Enough". She later released the album Touch Me in the Morning in 1973; its title track reached number 1, as her second solo No. 1 hit. She continued a successful solo career through the 1970s, which included hit albums like Mahogany and Diana Ross and their number-one hit singles, "Theme from Mahogany" and "Love Hangover", respectively. Her 1980 album Diana produced another number-one single, "Upside Down", as well as the international hit "I'm Coming Out". Ross' final single with Motown during her initial run with the company achieved her sixth and final US number-one Pop hit, the duet "Endless Love" featuring Lionel Richie, whose solo career was launched with its success.

Ross has also ventured into acting, with a Golden Globe Award and Academy Award–nominated performance for her performance in the film Lady Sings the Blues (1972); she recorded its soundtrack, which became a number-one hit. She also starred in two other feature films, Mahogany (1975) and The Wiz (1978), later acting in the television films Out of Darkness (1994), for which she also was nominated for a Golden Globe Award, and Double Platinum (1999).

Ross was named the "Female Entertainer of the Century" by Billboard magazine. In 1993, the Guinness Book of World Records declared Ross the most successful female music artist in history, due to her success in the United States and United Kingdom for having more hits than any female artist in the charts, with a career total of 70 hit singles with her work with the Supremes and as a solo artist. In 1988, Ross was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as member of the Supremes, alongside Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard. She was the recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors in 2007, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.

She is a 12-time Grammy nominee, never earning a competitive honor, but later became the recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. In December 2016, Billboard magazine named her the 50th most successful dance artist of all time. In Billboard magazine's Greatest of All Time Hot 100 Artists chart, she ranked 16th as the lead singer of the Supremes and 26th as a solo artist. In December 2018, Diana Ross consolidated her status as a dance diva by ranking #3 in the Billboard Dance Club Songs Artists year-end chart.

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Known For

Filmography

Movies

The T.A.M.I. ShowSelf - The Supremes
1964
Beach BallSelf (The Supremes)
1965
DR
Diana Ross & the Supremes - Live at the Rai Congress Center in Amsterdamself
1968
Diana Ross & The Supremes Live at Grand Hotel Ballroomself
1968
TCBSelf
1968
G.I.T. on BroadwaySelf
1969
Diana!Self
1971
The Jackson 5: Goin' Back to IndianaSelf
1971
Lady Sings the BluesBillie Holiday
1972
MahoganyMahogany
1975
MahoganyCostume Design
1975
NBC: The First Fifty YearsSelf
1976
An Evening with Diana RossSelf
1977
The WizDorothy
1978
Wiz on Down the RoadDorothy
1978
Diana Ross in Concert!
1979
Standing Room Only: Diana RossSelf
1980
The Sensational Shocking Wonderful Wacky 70'sSelf (archive footage)
1980
DianaSelf
1981
DianaWriter
1981
DianaExecutive Producer
1981
Endless LoveSongs
1981
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!Self (archive footage)
1982
TR
The Rolling Stones - The First 20 YearsSelf
1982
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, ForeverSelf
1983
I Love QuincySelf
1984
MR
Motown Returns to the Apollo
1985
We Are the World: The Story Behind the SongSelf
1985
AA
An All-Star Celebration Honoring Martin Luther King Jr.
1986
The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 YearsSelf (archive footage)
1986
DR
Diana Ross: Red Hot Rhythm and BluesSelf
1987
DR
Diana Ross: Red Hot Rhythm and BluesWriter
1987
DR
Diana Ross: Red Hot Rhythm and BluesProducer
1987
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBCSelf (archive footage) (uncredited)
1988
HawksSongs
1988
A Classic Christmas from The Ed Sullivan ShowSelf
1992
Christmas in ViennaSelf
1992
Diana Ross Live: The Lady Sings... Jazz & BluesSelf
1992
Diana Ross - One Woman - The Video Collection 2
1993
Out of DarknessPaulie Cooper
1994
Out of DarknessExecutive Producer
1994
Sesame Street | All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!Self (archive footage)
1994
Queen: Champions of the WorldSelf
1995
RS
Ready Steady Go! The Sounds of MotownSelf
1995
Keppel Road: The Life and Music of the Bee GeesSelf
1997
Motown 40: The Music Is ForeverSelf - Hostess
1998
Double PlatinumOlivia King
1999
Double PlatinumExecutive Producer
1999
VH1 Divas 2000: A Tribute to Diana RossSelf
2000
The Very Best of the Muppet Show: Volume 3Self - Special Guest Star
2001
Heart of the FestivalSelf (archive footage)
2002
It's Black EntertainmentSelf (archive footage)
2002
The Making and Meaning of 'We Are Family'Self
2002
The Giants of Black MusicSelf
2003
Back to the 80's 1980
2004
Burt Sugarman's The Midnight Special: 1976Self
2006
The Supremes: Reflections: The Definitive Performances 1964-1969Self (archive footage)
2006
Motown at the BBCSelf
2009
O Melhor do Flash Back - 92 Clipes Para RecordarSelf (archive footage)
2009
Michael Jackson: The Inside Story - What Killed the King of Pop?Self (archive footage)
2010
Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny DaysSelf (uncredited) (archive footage)
2010
Always Whitney HoustonSelf
2012
Richard Pryor: Omit the LogicBillie Holliday (archive footage)
2013
The Summer of Love
2017
This Is Bob Hope...Self (archive footage)
2017
NN
NBC’s New Year’s EveSelf - Performance
2018
Diana Ross: Live in Central ParkSelf
2019
Diana Ross: Supreme DivaSelf (archive footage)
2019
Motown 60: A Grammy CelebrationSelf
2019
My Music: A Classic ChristmasSelf - The Supremes (archive footage)
2019
The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken HeartSelf (archive footage)
2020
The BRITs at 40Self (archive footage)
2020
Biggie: I Got a Story to TellSelf - Singer (archive footage)
2021
TINASelf (archive footage)
2021
2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction CeremonySelf (archive footage)
2022
Minions: The Rise of GruSongs
2022
Platinum Party at the PalaceSelf
2022
Diana Ross: Supreme SensationArchival Footage
2023
Motown Master: Lamont Dozier at the BBCSelf (archive footage)
2023
Renaissance: A Film by BeyoncéSelf
2023
Sunday Best: The Untold Story of Ed SullivanSelf (archive footage)
2023
Jim Henson Idea ManSelf (archive footage)
2024
Live from Detroit: The Concert at Michigan CentralSelf
2024
The Greatest Night in PopSelf (archive footage)
2024

Television

The Ed Sullivan ShowSelf · 1 eps
1948
What's My Line?Self - Mystery Guest · 2 eps
1950
The OscarsSelf · 2 eps
1953
The GrammysSelf · 2 eps
1959
Musik aus Studio BSelf · 1 eps
1961
The Merv Griffin ShowSelf · 1 eps
1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf · 5 eps
1962
Top of the PopsSelf · 1 eps
1964
TarzanSister Therese · 1 eps
1966
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-InSelf · 1 eps
1968
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-InSelf (uncredited) · 1 eps
1968
The Jackson 5iveDiana Ross (voice) · 1 eps
1971
Le Grand ÉchiquierSelf · 2 eps
1972
MusikladenSelf · 1 eps
1972
American Music AwardsSelf - Musical Guest · 1 eps
1974
Les Rendez-vous du dimancheSelf · 1 eps
1975
Numéro unSelf - The Supremes (archive footage) · 1 eps
1975
Numéro unSelf (archive footage) · 1 eps
1975
The Muppet ShowSelf - Special Guest Star · 1 eps
1976
The BRIT AwardsSelf · 1 eps
1977
An Audience with...Self · 1 eps
1978
The Kennedy Center HonorsSelf · 1 eps
1978
Champs-ElyséesSelf · 1 eps
1982
Le monde est à vousSelf · 1 eps
1987
Sacrée soiréeSelf · 1 eps
1987
LIVE with Kelly and MarkSelf · 2 eps
1988
PM
Pebble MillSelf · 1 eps
1991
Intimate PortraitSelf · 1 eps
1993
Live & KickingSelf · 1 eps
1993
Inside the Actors StudioSelf · 1 eps
1994
TFI Friday1 eps
1996
GlastonburySelf · 1 eps
1997
The ViewSelf · 1 eps
1997
Slå på ring1 eps
2001
American IdolSelf - Guest Performer · 2 eps
2002
Ant & Dec's Saturday Night TakeawaySelf · 1 eps
2002
V Graham NortonSelf · 1 eps
2002
Celebrities UncensoredSelf · 1 eps
2003
Miley's New Year's Eve PartySelf - Musical Guest · 1 eps
2004
Soccer's American DreamSelf (archive footage) · 1 eps
2026

Photos

Diana Ross photo
Diana Ross photo
Diana Ross photo
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