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.

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=868163&pid=868162&uts=1271070035

http://www.popeater.com/mm_track/popeater/tv/?s_channel=us.tvpop&s_account=aolpopeater,aolsvc&omni=1&ke=1

http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf

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 vgkflc

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Dixie Carter !! Wow she was really something. The roles she would play were just like some ladies I know from all over. Way to go girl. We are going to miss the laughs and the way you could make us think at the same time. Rest well .

By Becca

What a shock. LOVED her in DW. She always seemed to be so down to earth in all interviews that i ever saw with her. Any time she was on a show I watched. My sincerest sympathies to her family and friends. May they find peace in knowing how much her fans love her. Dixie rest in peace and love.

By Donna

Awwww, I was so shocked, after you left the air in DW and Johnny Carson died, my life has never been the same. My oldest and dearest friend, Cathy, and I both loved you! Cathy is gone now too...........makes me so sad. Sorry to the family.........I know she adored her Hal.

By George Earl

Yes, she has gone, but the fine memories this woman instilled in us are here to stay. Even looking at her picture here does make me smile. God, she was a strong one, and I'm sure will continue to be. Thanks, honey. You never were taken for granted.

By never

I can not believe it I am in shock I loved Dixie Carter and her husband Hal Holbrook he must be devastated I am

By DecaturDog

Rest in peace, dear Dixie. She represented the South with charm and beauty - what a loss.

By doreen scavuzzo

I watched Designing Women faithfully when it was on the air. Dixie Carter was such a warm loving and funny person. I am so sorry for the family of her loss. Our prayers and thoughts are with all of you.

By Taisha Shealy

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

My heart goes out to the family. It's shocking that a beautiful and caring person is now gone. Now she is one of the Angels watching over us.

By lorie

RIP DIXIE, U WERE GREAT!!!!!!!!

By raiderintacoma

I remember thinking to myself while watching DW that she was so SEXY.......a nice Southern accent and wearing those nice tight skirts. She made it easier to enjoy the "old ball and chain" after watching DW. She will be missed.

By Dave

My thoughts and prayers go out to Dixie Carters family, may she rest and peace and soar in the heavens with the angels. I always enjoyed watching her on Designing Woman. Grant her eternal rest oh Lord!!

By Mrs. E

....A true Southern Belle is gone. Goodbye Dixie.

By JW

We've lost a role model of grace and decorum. May she rest in peace.

By Davinci

Vote down Vote up Report this

Now there's one for privacy. Now that she is gone we can say it. She had cancer and she faught the good fight. But as usual 'C' won.
She was to star in a movie with her husband and she became too ill. Her husband carried on at her request and now the film is due out this summer. Too bad she couldn't be here to share it with him
May she rest in peace and find beauty up there !!!!

By Lynda

Was very fortunate to meet Dixie Carter. She was a great Southern Lady. My prayers are with her family!

By Liure32e

RIP, Dixie.

By Terry Langford

Not one thing bad should ever be said about Dixie. DW was one of the best shows then and over and above 99% of now. She was a crown jewel on every level. God bless her and her family.

By patti

loved her..she was great..loved designing women..they should bring that show back...when something works why change it or quit it? anyway, i hope she died peacefully
lots of hugs go to her family
:>

By BILL

About two months ago I visited All Saints Episcopal Church in Beverly Hills and just sitting a few rows up was Dixie Carter and Hal Holbrook. I recognized them immediately. Really sad to hear this.

By sharpnslick666

She was a GREAT ACTRESS!!! I LOVED her on DW she WAS the voice of REASON on that show !! May she RIP!!! and my Condolences 2 her Family!!! Rawk On Julia!!

Page 6 of 24