Quick answer: Suzanne Kay is an American writer, journalist and documentary producer, and the only child of actress Diahann Carroll and talent manager and producer Monte Kay. Born on September 9, 1960, she co-wrote and produced the 2004 film Cape of Good Hope and co-produced Sullivision, a documentary about Ed Sullivan and the civil rights movement.
Suzanne Kay at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Born | September 9, 1960 |
| Parents | Diahann Carroll (actress) and Monte Kay (producer and talent manager) |
| Siblings | None; she is Carroll’s only child |
| Profession | Writer, journalist, screenwriter, documentary producer |
| Known for | Cape of Good Hope (2004); Sullivision: Ed Sullivan and the Struggle for Civil Rights |
| Former spouse | Mark Bamford, filmmaker (divorced 2016) |
| Children | Two |
Sources: Wikipedia: Diahann Carroll, Wikipedia: Mark Bamford
Early Life and Parents
Suzanne Kay was born in 1960 during her mother’s first marriage, to Monte Kay, a jazz producer and talent manager. Her parents married in 1956 and divorced in the early 1960s. She grew up around the entertainment business as her mother’s career took off.
Her Mother, Diahann Carroll
Diahann Carroll (1935–2019) was a groundbreaking actress and singer:
- 1962: won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for No Strings, the first African American woman to win it
- 1968–1971: starred in the NBC series Julia, the first American TV series to star a Black woman in a role that wasn’t a servant
- 1974: Oscar nomination for Best Actress for Claudine
- 1984–1987: played Dominique Deveraux on Dynasty
Carroll died on October 4, 2019, at age 84 in West Hollywood, California. Her daughter confirmed her death to the Associated Press (PBS NewsHour).
Career
Journalism
According to published profiles, Kay began her career in journalism. She worked in news, including as a writer for CNN, and as an editor at Essence magazine, before moving into entertainment television.
Film: Hero and Cape of Good Hope
Kay worked closely with her then-husband, filmmaker Mark Bamford:
- Hero (2000): a short film directed by Bamford that won AtomFilms’ “Director to Watch” award and aired on PBS.
- Cape of Good Hope (2004): a feature film set in Cape Town, South Africa, that Kay co-wrote and produced. It received an honorable mention for the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival and recognition from the National Board of Review and the NAACP Image Awards (Daughters of the Movement).
The family moved to Cape Town in 2004.
Documentary: Sullivision
Kay co-produced Sullivision: Ed Sullivan and the Struggle for Civil Rights with Margo Precht Speciale, Ed Sullivan’s granddaughter. The documentary looks at how The Ed Sullivan Show gave national TV exposure to Black performers during the civil rights era, including Kay’s own mother. It screened at the March on Washington Film Festival in 2017 (Eye On Annapolis).
Writing
Kay has written essays on race, family and identity for outlets including HuffPost, The Southampton Review and BigCityLit. She has also spoken publicly about raising biracial children and her own path to racial awareness, and has been working on a documentary about her mother.
Marriage and Family
Kay was married to Mark Bamford, an American screenwriter and director, until their divorce in 2016. They have two children. Kay keeps her family life largely private.
FAQs
Who is Suzanne Kay? A writer, journalist and documentary producer, and the only child of actress Diahann Carroll.
Who are Suzanne Kay’s parents? Actress Diahann Carroll and producer and talent manager Monte Kay.
How old is Suzanne Kay? She was born on September 9, 1960, so she is 66 as of October 2026.
What films has Suzanne Kay worked on? She co-wrote and produced Cape of Good Hope (2004) and co-produced the documentary Sullivision: Ed Sullivan and the Struggle for Civil Rights.
Who was Suzanne Kay married to? Filmmaker Mark Bamford. They divorced in 2016 and have two children.
Did Diahann Carroll have other children? No. Suzanne Kay was her only child.
Read about more celebrities.
This article uses publicly reported information only. Facts were checked on October 3, 2026.
