Photos: Celebs pay tribute as 1st black woman to star in a non-servant role, Diahann Carroll dies

Diahann Carroll, the trailblazing Tony-winning actress who received critical acclaim as the first black woman to star as a lead character in a non-servant role in a TV series as 'Julia,' has died.

She was 84.
Carroll's daughter, journalist Suzanne Kay, confirmed her mother died on Friday in Los Angeles of cancer. During her illustrious career, Carroll earned a Tony Award for the musical 'No Strings' and an Academy Award nomination for 'Claudine'. Her Tony win made her the first black woman to win the lead actress award.
'We are sad to say goodbye to a true icon, Diahann Carrol, the Tony Awards shared on Twitter. 'The first African-American Tony winner in a leading role, winning for her performance in No Strings in 1962. #DiahannCarroll' But she was perhaps best known for her pioneering work on 'Julia.' Carroll played Julia Baker, a nurse whose husband had been killed in Vietnam, in the groundbreaking situation comedy that aired from 1968 to 1971. Although she was not the first black woman to star in her own TV show (Ethel Waters played a maid in the 1950s series 'Beulah'), she was the first to have her own show for a role that was not stereotypical.
Many remembered the talented performer who transcended racial barriers on Twitter.

Rest in perfect peace Ms. Carroll.