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.
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
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
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.
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'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.'
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.
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.
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.
Im really shocked!! Just hope she didnt suffer. May she rest in peace & special thoughts & strength to all her loved ones. I know she'll be missed by many!
I met Dixie at a booksigning she did in Dallas, Texas about ten years ago. She was such a nice person. Her real name is Virginia, as is mine. She told me this. She was such a nice lady. God bless her and her poor family. She did not have enough years with us. -Virginia, Texas
I am so saddend of the news! She was a beautiful and talented LADY and will be missed. I loved her in every role she played!! My thoughts and prayers are with family and all her fans!
I agree with every reply, but let us not let this insensitive individual distract us from offering our heartfelt love and condolences. Dixie Carter has provided us with many years of excellent entertainment – Singing and Acting. To the Holbrook/Carter family, God is with you during this time of loss.
I'm sorry to hear Ms. Carter died. Age 70 is really not "old" by today's standards. I've seen Ms. Carter in Public Service announcements recently , regarading a disease I've never heard of. I wonder if this disorder contributed to her death? If so, I wish we knew more about it. Maybe it would help other people who suffer from it, as well as their families.
WAS HAPPY TO SEE HER ON PSA'S FOR CERVICAL DYSTONIA. THERE ARE MANY FORMS OF DYSTONIA--OF WHICH FEW KNOW ABOUT--NOT A WELL PUBLICIZED CONDITION--AM SURE HER FACE ON THE TV WILL PUSH PEOPLE TO FIND OUT ABOUT IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO DIXIE FOR DOING THIS. I HAVE A DYSTONIA--CALLED BLEPHAROSPASM--EYELIDS DON'T WANT TO STAY OPEN. HER FACE ON THE ADS SHOULD GIVE AWARENESS TO MANY. THANK YOU TO "JULIA" FOR THIS AND REST HAPPY IN THE ARMS OF THE LORD.
I will miss Dixie. She was such an awesome lady and very beautiful even now. I loved to hear her talk with that accent. God Bless the family and she will always be looking down and smiling with her Angel wings and halo, which she was an Angel.
Those people that have rude and ugly remarks to make are doing nothing but showing their IQ. They also don't have a life and going to these sites just makes their day and they can use their limited vocabulary!!!!!!!!! RIP Dixie!! Our prayers are with your family!
I am still in shock! She was such a wonderful and entertaining actress. I loved her on "Designing Women" and "Family Law". I miss her as much as the deaths of our beloved "Golden Girls". I followed Bea Arthur on her show "Maude" to "Golden Girls", as well. Julia was a very honorable and lovable person. My heart breaks for her family and especially for her husband, Hal Holbrook. I love him as an actor and a man. He has the respect of many people in the industry. I will miss Julia very much. I hope everyone, including the journalists and photograhers, will follow Hal and the family's wishes, and let this be a private family time for them. I am sure the family will let the public know when they are to be included. I know that when I have lost family members, I didn't want newsmembers around, of course, we aren't celebrities. Still this is a private time, so let them have this moment, this is not celebrity time! God bless you, Julia, you are with God now. He will hold you in His arms and let you enter His kingdom. You will now join your friends and family. You will now act for everyone up there. Show that dazzling smile! God bless you, Hal, and your family. My arms are around (((((((you and your family))))))), even though you can't see me. He is there for you, even though she was taken too soon, know she is laughing and being loved. I know we all want her here, but, we can't do anything to change it. I, too, lost my dad, at the age of 47, I was angry, but later realized he was with God, even though I still miss him, I have learned to live with it. He died in '77 and I miss him as much now as I did then. Your family, friends and fans will be there for you. God bless, Linda Moberg and family
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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. 
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I watched Dixie on the soaps. Edge of Night. How long ago was that?
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Im really shocked!! Just hope she didnt suffer. May she rest in peace & special thoughts & strength to all her loved ones. I know she'll be missed by many!
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I love watching D W and Dixie. She was a woman with a great sense of humor and talent... She will be missed by all.. Love U Dixie
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what a sick thing to say at a time like this about such a wonderful person, sick!!!!!!
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I met Dixie at a booksigning she did in Dallas, Texas about ten years ago. She was such a nice person. Her real name is Virginia, as is mine. She told me this. She was such a nice lady. God bless her and her poor family. She did not have enough years with us. -Virginia, Texas
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I am so saddend of the news! She was a beautiful and talented LADY and will be missed. I loved her in every role she played!! My thoughts and prayers are with family and all her fans!
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Oh what a shock!She will be missed. Sympathy to her family. Rest in peace, Little Lady.
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I agree with every reply, but let us not let this insensitive individual distract us from offering our heartfelt love and condolences. Dixie Carter has provided us with many years of excellent entertainment – Singing and Acting.
To the Holbrook/Carter family, God is with you during this time of loss.
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Dixie was a true lady. I enjoyed watching her on Designing Women.
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I'm sorry to hear Ms. Carter died. Age 70 is really not "old" by today's standards. I've seen Ms. Carter in Public Service announcements recently , regarading a disease I've never heard of. I wonder if this disorder contributed to her death? If so, I wish we knew more about it. Maybe it would help other people who suffer from it, as well as their families.
Reply
WAS HAPPY TO SEE HER ON PSA'S FOR CERVICAL DYSTONIA. THERE ARE MANY FORMS OF DYSTONIA--OF WHICH FEW KNOW ABOUT--NOT A WELL PUBLICIZED CONDITION--AM SURE HER FACE ON THE TV WILL PUSH PEOPLE TO FIND OUT ABOUT IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH TO DIXIE FOR DOING THIS. I HAVE A DYSTONIA--CALLED BLEPHAROSPASM--EYELIDS DON'T WANT TO STAY OPEN. HER FACE ON THE ADS SHOULD GIVE AWARENESS TO MANY. THANK YOU TO "JULIA" FOR THIS AND REST HAPPY IN THE ARMS OF THE LORD.
She was very talented and a beautiful woman.
I send my sympathies to her family and friends.
Rest in Peace Dixie.....you always had the voice of an angel...
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I will miss Dixie. She was such an awesome lady and very beautiful even now. I loved to hear her talk with that accent. God Bless the family and she will always be looking down and smiling with her Angel wings and halo, which she was an Angel.
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What a sweet and lovely Lady.
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Im stund she was a great actress she will be missed, I always watched her shows. RIP Dixed, My heart goes to her family. God Bless!
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Rest in Peace.
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Those people that have rude and ugly remarks to make are doing nothing but showing their IQ. They also don't have a life and going to these sites just makes their day and they can use their limited vocabulary!!!!!!!!! RIP Dixie!! Our prayers are with your family!
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I am still in shock! She was such a wonderful and entertaining actress. I loved her on "Designing Women" and "Family Law". I miss her as much as the deaths of our beloved "Golden Girls". I followed Bea Arthur on her show "Maude" to "Golden Girls", as well. Julia was a very honorable and lovable person. My heart breaks for her family and especially for her husband, Hal Holbrook. I love him as an actor and a man. He has the respect of many people in the industry. I will miss Julia very much. I hope everyone, including the journalists and photograhers, will follow Hal and the family's wishes, and let this be a private family time for them. I am sure the family will let the public know when they are to be included. I know that when I have lost family members, I didn't want newsmembers around, of course, we aren't celebrities. Still this is a private time, so let them have this moment, this is not celebrity time!
God bless you, Julia, you are with God now. He will hold you in His arms and let you enter His kingdom. You will now join your friends and family. You will now act for everyone up there. Show that dazzling smile! God bless you, Hal, and your family. My arms are around (((((((you and your family))))))), even though you can't see me. He is there for you, even though she was taken too soon, know she is laughing and being loved. I know we all want her here, but, we can't do anything to change it. I, too, lost my dad, at the age of 47, I was angry, but later realized he was with God, even though I still miss him, I have learned to live with it. He died in '77 and I miss him as much now as I did then. Your family, friends and fans will be there for you. God bless, Linda Moberg and family
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Thank you for all the laughter and smiles you brought into my life. Rest in peace. I'm sure you will brighten Heaven with your style and grace.
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GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY JULIA SUGARBAKER AND SING WITH THE ANGELS BABY. WE LOVE YOU DIXIE CARTER.
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