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October 05, 2006 @ 10:31 am
Actress Tamara Dobson, Star of 'Cleopatra Jones,' Dies At 59
Dobson, who was diagnosed with MS six years ago, passed away at Baltimore's Keswick Multi-Care Center, the rehabiliation center where she had lived for the past two years, reports the Associated Press.
right Besides starring in 1973's and 1975's Cleopatra Jones, and modeling for magazines such as Vogue, Essence, and Ebony, to list a few, Dobson also appeared in the movies Come Back; Charleston Blue; Norman, Is That You?; Murder at the World Series and Chained Heat.
In the early '80s she had TV roles in Jason of Star Command and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century and appeared in ads for both Chanel and Revlon.
In 2002, Cleopatra Jones was parodied in the movie Austin Powers in Goldmember, which starred Mike Myers
and Beyonce Knowles as Foxxy Cleopatra.
As if those accomplishments weren't enough, Dobson was also recognized by the Guiness Book of World Records as the "Tallest Leading Lady in Film."
"It was tough going through that debilitating disease, especially with her athleticism and involvement in karate," Peter Dobson says. "That was something she had to fight, and that fight was horrendous ... and being a proud individual, the fight was even harder for her."
"She was the perfect combination of power and kindness," he added.
Ms. Dobson is survived by her brother, Peter, and sister, Darilyn, a model who became known as the Palmer's Cocoa Butter girl. She was also a devoted aunt to her brother's three children: Kaleb, 10; Valyn, 12; and Aaron, 17.
Article tags: Austin Powers, Austin Powers In Goldmember, Beyonce, Beyonce Knowles, Cleopatra Jones, Foxxy Cleopatra, Mike Myers, Tamara Dobson
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Comments
1.
ora nicole says:
I just found out this great icon of the 70s has passed away. About three years old I watched the Cleopatra Jones Movies, and was impressed with Ms.Dobson's class and sassiness while keeping it real in those movie. As a dark skinned woman she made me proud by how beautiful she represented she heritage and skin tone. There will never be another Cleopatra Jones like Tamara.
March 16, 2007 at 11:20 pm
2.
johnny S says:
you'll always be in my heart ms. Dobson. Rest in peace.
Love,
Johnny from Indonesia
March 1, 2007 at 7:30 am
3.
Teejay says:
I was watching the Oscars and found out about Tamara Dobson's death in the segment on those in the film industry who died in the last year. I was so sad. She was an inspiration to me and I was incredibly happy when i first found that Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold were available on DVD. She was so beautiful and amazing. When I was a teenager I had her name emblazoned on a T shirt so that everyone would know who CLeopatra JOnes was. Tamara Dobson rest in peace - we, your fans love you and will always pray for your soul. Be beautiful always sister.
Love,
Teejay from Australia
February 27, 2007 at 8:05 am
4.
evelyn white says:
I am sad to hear of Ms Dobson passing.
I hadn't read or heard anything on the news that she had passed.
May she rest in peace. She was one of my favorite actor during my youth. I never missed any of her films and I still can enjoy her on videos.
February 25, 2007 at 11:09 pm
5.
Gloria says:
I didn't know Ms. Dobson had died until I read last month's issue of Essence. I was truly sorry to hear that. A few months before she died I was doing a search for her & couldn't find a thing. Now that she has died, I have found serveral sites. I pray for her family.
January 9, 2007 at 1:11 pm
6.
Jackie & Joyce Brazil says:
We are sorry to learn about the homegoing of Tamara Dobson, a dear black sister that enjoyed entertaining african americans in the 20th century films. She was inspiring and made black females feel as though they can accomplish anything if they put their minds to it. She represented and motivated females as a whole. May she rest in peace and the family be comforted.
January 4, 2007 at 9:54 pm
7.
Janna Yisrael says:
Im terribly shocked!!! She was so beautiful! I loved her in Cleopatra Jones! She epitimized beauty,strength and brains. I saddened that she's gone from us. All the Best to her loves ones and family. Love you sista!!!
December 30, 2006 at 12:54 pm
8.
David Dixon says:
Wow, I didn't know about her passing until I was watching a movie on TCM and they were remembering those that passed this year. I always thought Tamara was a beautiful looking sista and wish she'd done more acting. As a young boy, I can remember all of us guys getting together and deciding who we'd want for our girlfriend, Tamara, Pam Grier, Lynetta McGee, Frieda Payne or Lola Folana. Of course, we'd all switch form week to week, but she was one of my favorites. May she rest in peace and my condolences to her and her family.
December 29, 2006 at 9:14 pm
9.
Sonia Jackson says:
I always wonder what had happened to her. I love all her movies. She was a beautiful woman and had wonderful style.
God bless her and her family.
December 29, 2006 at 5:23 pm
10.
Claude Evans says:
I will always remember Tamara Dobson as the leading black actress in the very well produced 1970's "Cleopatra Jones" movie that made many people proud about this very unique accomplishment for its time. She is an icon and she did her profession PROUD. I miss you Ms. Dobson.
December 27, 2006 at 10:35 pm