In 1928 she made eight films. One of them, Easy Come, Easy Go, made her a star. In 1930 she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for The Devil's Holiday.
Carroll retired from films in 1938, but starred in the early television series The Aldrich Family in 1950. In the following year, she starred in the televison version of The Egg and I.
She returned to the stage in the 1950s, and was found dead of a heart attack after failing to show up for a performance.
She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1719 Vine Street.