Olga James , a talented singer and actress best known for her role in the 1954 film Carmen Jones , passed away at the age of 95. According to her niece, actress, and acting teacher Janet Adderley , James passed away on January 25 at an assisted living facility in Los Angeles due to complications from a fall that resulted in a broken pelvis.

James gained recognition for playing Cindy Lou in 'Carmen Jones,' a film directed by Otto Preminger . Her character was the heartbroken fiancée of Joe, played by Harry Belafonte. In the movie, she sang emotional songs like My Joe and He Got His Self Another Woman. A trained opera singer, James had studied at the Juilliard School of Music before landing her breakout role in the all-Black musical, which also featured Dorothy Dandridge, Pearl Bailey, and Diahann Carroll .

Throughout her career, James performed in various productions, including the Broadway musical Mr. Wonderful (1956-57), where she starred opposite Sammy Davis Jr. as his character’s fiancée. She also appeared on The Bill Cosby Show (1969-71), playing Verna Kincaid, the sister-in-law of Cosby’s character. In addition to acting, she became a well-known nightclub performer, making her first television appearance in 1955 when she sang during halftime at a Harlem Globetrotters game.

Born on February 16, 1929, in Washington, D.C., James was raised by her grandparents after her parents separated. Her father was a saxophonist, and her mother was a dancer. After completing her studies at Juilliard, she toured with an opera company and later performed in Smart Affairs, an all-Black revue organized by Larry Steele.

Author Foster Hirsch wrote in his 2007 book, 'Otto Preminger: The Man Who Would Be King,' that James impressed the director with an opera performance during her 'Carmen Jones' audition. She recalled that after her audition, "everybody applauded," and she became one of the first actors to be cast in the film, following Belafonte and Bailey.

James was married to jazz saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley from 1962 until his passing in 1975. She later married folk singer and civil rights activist Len Chandler in 1990, and they remained together until he passed away in 2023.

James is survived by her niece Janet Adderley, nephew Nat Adderley Jr., niece Alison, and great-nieces Akina and Alana. She also leaves behind her great-great nephew William and great-great niece Amelia.