Dixie Carter, Star of 'Designing Women,' Dead at 70

By PopEater Staff Posted Apr 11th 2010 12:34AM

Legendary TV star Dixie Carter, who earned millions of fans on shows like 'Designing Women' and 'Diff'rent Strokes,' died Saturday morning, the AP is reporting. She was 70. Carter died in Houston of complications of endometrial cancer, The Associated Press reported.

Carter's death was confirmed Saturday by publicist Steve Rohn, who represents Carter and her husband, Oscar-nominated actor Hal Holbrook. Further details, including the cause of death, were not disclosed.

"This has been a terrible blow to our family. We would appreciate everyone understanding that this is a private family tragedy," Holbrook said in a written statement.

Carter's career spanned multiple decades on television and on the stage. TV fans may remember her best for her portrayal of Julia Sugarbaker on the CBS sitcom 'Designing Women,' on which she appeared in over 160 episodes from 1986-1993. The role came just one year following a two-season gig on NBC's 'Diff'rent Strokes,' as aerobics instructor Maggie McKinney.

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Dixie Carter Retrospective

American actress Dixie Carter, who was best-known for her long-running role in the sitcom 'Designing Women' from 1986–1993, died April 10. She was 70. Further details, including the cause of death, were not disclosed. In addition to her husband of nearly 26 years Hal Holbrook, Carter is survived by two daughters from a previous marriage.

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Dixie Carter Retrospective

Dixie Carter, who was born in McLemoresville, Tenn., started her acting career in a 1960 in a Memphis stage production of 'Carousel.' She also appeared numerous times on Broadway, with roles in Shakespeare's 'The Winter's Tale' and 'Pal Joey,' as well as recent productions of 'Master Class,' as Maria Callas, and 'Thoroughly Modern Millie.'

Dixie Carter Retrospective

Dixie Carter's role in 'Designing Women' came just one year after her two-season gig on 'Diff'rent Strokes,' in which she played aerobics instructor Maggie McKinney. Her acting career credits also included soap operas 'One Life to Live' and 'The Edge of Night' and TV series as 'Out of the Blue,' 'On Our Own,' 'Filthy Rich,' and 'Family Law.'

Dixie Carter Retrospective

Carter was married three times -- first, to Arthur Carter, with whom she had two daughters. The couple split in 1977, and that same year, she married actor George Hearn. Carter and Hearn divorced two years later, in 1979. On May 27, 1984, Carter married Hal Holbrook, and remained with him until her death.

Dixie Carter Retrospective

Hal Halbrook and Dixie Carter met on the movie set of 'The Killing of Randy Webster' in 1982. They also appeared together last year in 'That Evening Sun,' an independent film based on a short story by author William Gay.

Dixie Carter Retrospective

She received her first and only Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for 'Desperate Housewives' in 2007.

Dixie Carter Retrospective

Carter and Delta Burke played the sparring sisters on 'Designing Women.' The series also starred Annie Potts and Jean Smart. The show was unmistakably a comedy but tackled such topics as sexism, ageism, body image and AIDS.

"It was something so unique, because there had never been anything quite like it," Potts told The Associated Press at a 2006 cast reunion. "We had Lucy and Ethel, but we never had that exponentially expanded, smart, attractive women who read newspapers and had passions about things and loved each other and stood by each other."

Carter continued to find success in the latter part of her career, playing Randi King on three seasons of 'Family Law.' She recently appeared in a seven-episode arc on ABC's 'Desperate Housewives,' for which she received her first and only Emmy nomination.

Additional television roles included 'On Our Own,' 'Filthy Rich,' 'Lou Grant,' 'One Life to Live' and 'Out of the Blue.'

A native of McLemoresville, Tennessee, Carter also appeared numerous times on Broadway, with roles in 'Sextet' and 'Pal Joey,' as well as recent productions of 'Master Class,' as Maria Callas, and 'Thoroughly Modern Millie,' in which she played Mrs. Meers.

Carter's acting career dates back to a 1960 production of 'Carousel' in Memphis, Tennessee.

Carter was married three times -- first, to Arthur Carter, with whom she had two daughters. The couple split in 1977, and that same year, she married actor George Hearn. Carter and Hearn divorced two years later, in 1979.

On May 27, 1984, Carter married Hal Holbrook, and remained with him until her death. The couple appeared together in the film 'That Evening Sun,' her last credited role.

Tags: dixie carter

Comments

(471)

Sunday 11 April

By Wayne

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This woman was so good that if I was flipping through and saw her, I would watch whatever it was. Now that's a star.

By DeeDee

Dixie and Hal were always one of my favorite hollywood couples, they stayed together and thats saying a lot. She was so young at 70, thats not old in this day and time, wonder what she died from. God Bless her.

By feherszarvas

I am younger generation, but I loved that show! Julia character, and I am sure Dixie Carter in real life also was a real lady feminine yet strong willed and successful! Reminds me of European women. You can be smart (unlike kendra, but she is cute) and beautiful sexi!!Delta Burk... they were all great. So sorry to hear the bad news! RIP Dixi We loved you

By Mary Anne

May the peace of the Lord be with the Family of Miss Dixie Carter, a true lady in every sense of the word. You were loved by many, and greatly admired, I would have loved to have met you Miss Carter, you were always the lady I wish I could be. May you rest in peace. And to the family I am deeply sorry for your lose.

By Pam

Rest in peace, Miss Dixie. To Dixie's family... know that we loved Dixie and she'll live in our hearts, and yours, forever.
What a lady. In the truest sense of the word, a lady.

By rjmcmurray

Bummer!
I always liked the characters she played. I didn't know Ms. Carter personally, but I am sure she was a joy to be around, not to mention a very fine looking woman.

By Christina

I always loved how she was such a lady, no matter what role she played. She had this beautiful, feminine way about her that I admired and tried to incorporate into my personality. The world lost a flower on Saturday morning..

By eddie

I had the pleasure of meeting her....she was funny and lived life to the fullest.

By Jane

If you have nothing to ADD, then please go away!!!! You are rude, crude and socially unacceptable!!!! So far beneath Dixie Carter, intellectually, that you are a blot on this site!!!!

By Gonepecan

First, my sincere condolences to Mr. Holbrook and her entire family on such a shocking loss. My thoughts and prayers are with the family during this most difficult situation in their lives.

Ms. Carter was the epitome of a Southern Lady.....all across the South she was loved because she always was impeccably dressed, smart, proper, loved to laugh, and gave all us Southern gals something to br proud of. She truly was a "G.R.I.T.S" (Girl Raised in the South)...thank you for letting the world know what we always knew,
a true Southern Lady to be proud of......God Bless

By Mary Jo

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well said

By pam

@lakergregg
You should be ashamed of yourself. Something tells me you're not, though. Too much of a tool to give a damn.

By CD

moron!

By Edward

Shocked, she will be missed, my sympathy goes out to her family, freinds and all who loved her.

By Sam

Dixie Carter was such a lovely, strong woman. She was a rallying banner for Southern women and we loved her for it. My condolences to her husband and children. She will be sorely missed.

By michael

I know I'll remember Dixie in my favorite episode. It's the one where she's talking to Jean's character about falling in love again after losing a loved one. She says something in the area of how you don't stop loving someone just because they died. At the time I saw that episode, I was at a low point in my life. It was the perfect thing to hear. I would love to see that and all the other episodes again. TV Land, bring back Designing Women!!

R.I.P. You will be missed.

By Dollie

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Michael,
I just want to let you know that you can get Designing Women on dvd now. I have 2 seasons and I love watching them. My mom and I made a day of it one Saturday. Dixie will be missed.

Thanks
Dollie

By j.

Shocking and sad. Rest in peace, Dixie. I was a huge fan of "Designing Women."

By luctionbaby

You are a true STEEL MAGNOLIA "DIXIE" !!! Peace be with your family.Thank you for Julia Sugarbaker watching that show was like a visit home for us G.R.I.T.S. ( Girls Raised In The South)!!!!!!!!Peace and Chicken Grease

By Judy

I remember it was in the '80's. I was boarding a train in London. There was a flurry of activity and when the crowd cleared there was a man in a long fur coat holding two leashed Afghan hounds. Right next to him was this incredibly elegant woman...Dixie Carter. The man was Hal Holbrook. I remember they were all so lovely I stopped to watch them board the train. I think it was the Orient Express. I am really sorry to hear about Dixie's death. There are some people who die way before their time. Dixie is one of them.

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