By Alicia Cruz
The Black Urban Times
Dixie Carter, the sexy, sassy, Southern designing diva of 80's hit TV series "Designing Women" died early Saturday morning, April 10. Carter was born in McLemoresville, Tennessee and was first runner-up in the Miss Tennessee pageant.
Carter made her acting debut in 1960 in a Memphis production of Carousel. She moved to New York City in 1963 embarked on a career in daytime television. She starred as Dorian Cramer on One Life to Live, then as Brandeis "Brandy" Henderson on the soap opera The Edge of Night.
Hal Holbrook, her real-life husband, had a recurring role as Reese Watson, Julia Sugarbaker's longtime love interest on "Designing Women." The hit series ran from September 29, 1986 until May 24, 1993.
Carter played the owner of Sugarbaker Designs, an Interior Design Firm in Atlanta, Georgia and the older sister of Suzanne Sugarbaker (Delta Burke).
Carter's role as Julia portrayed an elegant, eloquently outspoken liberal with quite a flair for design. Her character wasn't a far cry from her off-screen personality.
On May 27, 1984, Carter married her third husband, actor Hal Holbrook who was 14 years her senior.
Carter and Holbrook divided their time between their homes in Beverly Hills, California, and McLemoresville, Tennessee, after the two renovated Carter's childhood home.
Carter, a staunch advocate of the gay community, published a memoir in 1996 titled "Trying to Get to Heaven," in which she talked frankly about her life with Hal Holbrook, Designing Women, and undergoing plastic surgery during the life of the show.
Carter was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her 2007 role on the television show Desperate Housewives.
The Huntingdon, Tennessee Dixie Carter Performing Arts and Academic Enrichment Center (The Dixie) is named in honor of Carter.
The center, which has served as a premier venue for the performing, literary, visual and media arts for the last five years, was formed in an attempt to revitalize the business district. Since it's birth, it has offered opportunities for education and entertainment to local citizens.
When Mayor Kelley proposed to name the center after Carter and dedicate a theatre within the center to Hal Holbrook, the couple was moved and graciously accepted.
Carter died in Houston, Texas surrounded by her family. Her husband of 26 years said Carter died of complications associated with endometrial cancer.
In addition to her devoted husband, Carter,70, leaves to mourn her daughters, Ginna Carter of Los Angeles and Mary Dixie Carter of Brooklyn; a sister Melba Helen Heath of San Anselmo, California and a host of nieces and nephews.
Carter was preceded in death by her 96-year-old father, Halbert in 2007.
Media Outlets must credit The Black Urban Times
www.theblackurbantimes.com
twitter.com/alicia_c_
facebook.com/theblackurbantimes
The Black Urban Times
Dixie Carter, the sexy, sassy, Southern designing diva of 80's hit TV series "Designing Women" died early Saturday morning, April 10. Carter was born in McLemoresville, Tennessee and was first runner-up in the Miss Tennessee pageant.
Carter made her acting debut in 1960 in a Memphis production of Carousel. She moved to New York City in 1963 embarked on a career in daytime television. She starred as Dorian Cramer on One Life to Live, then as Brandeis "Brandy" Henderson on the soap opera The Edge of Night.
Hal Holbrook, her real-life husband, had a recurring role as Reese Watson, Julia Sugarbaker's longtime love interest on "Designing Women." The hit series ran from September 29, 1986 until May 24, 1993.
Carter played the owner of Sugarbaker Designs, an Interior Design Firm in Atlanta, Georgia and the older sister of Suzanne Sugarbaker (Delta Burke).
Carter's role as Julia portrayed an elegant, eloquently outspoken liberal with quite a flair for design. Her character wasn't a far cry from her off-screen personality.
On May 27, 1984, Carter married her third husband, actor Hal Holbrook who was 14 years her senior.
Carter and Holbrook divided their time between their homes in Beverly Hills, California, and McLemoresville, Tennessee, after the two renovated Carter's childhood home.
Carter, a staunch advocate of the gay community, published a memoir in 1996 titled "Trying to Get to Heaven," in which she talked frankly about her life with Hal Holbrook, Designing Women, and undergoing plastic surgery during the life of the show.
Carter was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her 2007 role on the television show Desperate Housewives.
The Huntingdon, Tennessee Dixie Carter Performing Arts and Academic Enrichment Center (The Dixie) is named in honor of Carter.
The center, which has served as a premier venue for the performing, literary, visual and media arts for the last five years, was formed in an attempt to revitalize the business district. Since it's birth, it has offered opportunities for education and entertainment to local citizens.
When Mayor Kelley proposed to name the center after Carter and dedicate a theatre within the center to Hal Holbrook, the couple was moved and graciously accepted.
Carter died in Houston, Texas surrounded by her family. Her husband of 26 years said Carter died of complications associated with endometrial cancer.
In addition to her devoted husband, Carter,70, leaves to mourn her daughters, Ginna Carter of Los Angeles and Mary Dixie Carter of Brooklyn; a sister Melba Helen Heath of San Anselmo, California and a host of nieces and nephews.
Carter was preceded in death by her 96-year-old father, Halbert in 2007.
Media Outlets must credit The Black Urban Times
www.theblackurbantimes.com
twitter.com/alicia_c_
facebook.com/theblackurbantimes
No comments:
Post a Comment
We appreciates all comments and fosters free speech, however, keep in mind that we have young readers who peruse our site. Having said that, please refrain from using profane language, and know that flaming will not be tolerated. Spam will not be tolerated.