Dixie Carter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dixie Carter
Carter in 1977
Born	Dixie Virginia Carter (1939-05-25)May 25, 1939 McLemoresville, Tennessee, U.S.
Died	April 10, 2010(2010-04-10) (aged 70) Houston, Texas, U.S.
Resting place	McLemoresville Cemetery
Education	Rhodes College
Alma mater	University of Tennessee at Knoxville, University of Memphis
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1960–2010
Known for	Julia Sugarbaker Randi King Gloria Hodge
Television	Diff'rent Strokes Designing Women Family Law Desperate Housewives
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Arthur L. Carter ​ ​ (m. 1967; div. 1977)​ George Hearn ​ ​ (m. 1977; div. 1979)​ Hal Holbrook ​ (m. 1984)​
Children	2
Awards	Full list

Dixie Virginia Carter (May 25, 1939 – April 10, 2010) was an American actress. She was famous for playing strong, smart women on TV. Her most well-known role was Julia Sugarbaker in the sitcom Designing Women (1986–1993). She also played Randi King in the drama series Family Law (1999–2002). Later, she was nominated for an Emmy Award for her role as Gloria Hodge on Desperate Housewives (2006–2007).

Dixie Carter started her acting career on stage in 1960. She made her first appearance on Broadway in 1974. She acted in many TV shows and plays throughout her life. She was known for her unique Southern charm and powerful performances.

Early Life and Education

Dixie Virginia Carter was born on May 25, 1939. Her hometown was McLemoresville, Tennessee. She spent much of her childhood in Memphis. Dixie went to college at the University of Memphis and Southwestern at Memphis.

While in college, she was part of the Delta Delta Delta sorority. In 1959, Dixie competed in the Miss Tennessee pageant. She finished as the first runner-up. The same year, she won the Miss Volunteer beauty pageant at the University of Tennessee.

Acting Career Highlights

Dixie Carter began her professional acting journey in 1960. Her first stage role was in a play called Carousel in Memphis. She moved to New York City in 1963 to pursue acting.

In 1967, she took a break from acting for eight years. She wanted to focus on raising her two daughters. Dixie returned to acting in 1974. She joined the cast of the soap opera The Edge of Night. She played Assistant District Attorney Olivia Brandeis "Brandy" Henderson. This role helped her become more widely known.

Television Roles

After The Edge of Night, Dixie Carter appeared in other soap operas. She then moved to Los Angeles to work on prime-time TV shows. She appeared in several sitcoms. These included On Our Own and Diff'rent Strokes. On Diff'rent Strokes, she played Maggie McKinney Drummond.

Her role in Filthy Rich led to her most famous part. This was playing Julia Sugarbaker in Designing Women. The show was set in Atlanta. Julia Sugarbaker was a sharp-tongued interior decorator. Her real-life husband, Hal Holbrook, also had a role on the show. Dixie's daughters even made guest appearances.

Later in her career, she played Randi King on the legal drama Family Law. She also had a memorable role as Gloria Hodge on Desperate Housewives. This role brought her new fans. It also earned her an Emmy nomination.

Stage Performances

Dixie Carter also had a successful career on stage. She made her Broadway debut in 1974. In 1997, she starred as Maria Callas in the play Master Class. She also appeared in the musical Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2004.

Voice Acting and Films

Dixie Carter also lent her voice to animated projects. She was the voice of Necile in The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus. She also voiced a character in the English version of the Japanese animated film My Neighbors the Yamadas.

Her last film was That Evening Sun in 2009. She filmed it with her husband, Hal Holbrook. The movie was based on a short story. It was well-received at film festivals.

Personal Life

Hal Holbrook and Dixie Carter at the 41st Emmy Awards, Sunday September 17, 1989

In 1967, Dixie Carter married businessman Arthur Carter. They had two daughters together. After their daughters were born, Dixie took a break from acting. She wanted to focus on her family.

She divorced Arthur Carter in 1977. Later that same year, she married actor George Hearn. They divorced two years later.

On May 27, 1984, she married actor Hal Holbrook. They met while working on a TV movie. Dixie and Hal lived in both Beverly Hills, California, and McLemoresville, Tennessee. She cared for her father in Tennessee until he passed away.

In 1996, Dixie Carter wrote a book about her life. It was called Trying to Get to Heaven. In the book, she shared stories about her life with Hal Holbrook and her time on Designing Women.

Political Views

Carter in 2000

Dixie Carter was a registered Republican. She described her political beliefs as libertarian. This means she believed in individual freedom and limited government. She once joked that she was "the only Republican in show business."

Interestingly, her character Julia Sugarbaker on Designing Women had very different views. Julia was known for her liberal political opinions. She often gave strong speeches about them. Dixie Carter and the show's creators had an agreement. If Julia gave a "Terminator" speech, Dixie would get to sing a song in a future episode.

Death and Legacy

Dixie Carter passed away on April 10, 2010, in Houston, Texas. Her husband, Hal Holbrook, said she died from complications of cancer. She was buried in McLemoresville, Tennessee.

A performing arts center in Huntingdon, Tennessee, is named in her honor. It is called The Dixie Carter Performing Arts and Academic Enrichment Center.

In 2003, Dixie Carter made a public service announcement. It was about a condition called spasmodic torticollis. This announcement helped people who suffered from this condition. It started appearing across the United States in 2010.

Filmography

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Dixie Carter para niños