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Dixie Carter
A black-and-white photo of a 38-year-old woman with curly dark hair looking into the camera
Carter in 1977
Born
Dixie Virginia Carter

(1939-05-25)May 25, 1939
Died April 10, 2010(2010-04-10) (aged 70)
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
Political party Republican
Spouse(s)
Arthur L. Carter
(m. 1967; div. 1977)

(m. 1977; div. 1979)

(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
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

Dixie Carter 2000
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

Year Title Role Notes
1974 One Life to Live Dorian Lord Temporary recast
1974–1976 Edge of Night, TheThe Edge of Night D.A. Olivia Brandeis Henderson Regular role
1977 Andros Targets, TheThe Andros Targets Rita 1 episode
Doctors, TheThe Doctors Dr. Linda Elliott Regular role
1977–1978 On Our Own April Baxter Main role (21 episodes)
1979 Out of the Blue Marion Richards Main role (12 episodes)
1980 OHMS Nora Wing TV film
1981 Killing of Randy Webster, TheThe Killing of Randy Webster Billie Webster
1982 Cassie & Co. Evelyn Weller "The Golden Silence"
Bret Maverick Hallie McCulloch "Hallie"
Best of the West Mae Markham "The Pretty Prisoner"
Quincy, M.E. Dr. Alicia Ranier "The Face of Fear"
The Greatest American Hero Samantha O'Neill "Lilacs, Mr. Maxwell"
Lou Grant Jessica Lindner "Suspect"
1982–1983 Filthy Rich Carlotta Beck Main role (15 episodes)
1983 Going Berserk Angela Feature film
1984–1985 Diff'rent Strokes Maggie McKinney Drummond Regular role (27 episodes)
1986–1993 Designing Women Julia Sugarbaker Main role (163 episodes)
1987 Rosie Nancy Barker Episode: "Valentine of Life"
1994 A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle Louise Archer TV film
Gambler V: Playing for Keeps Lillie Langtry
Christy Julia Huddleston "The Sweetest Gift"
1995 Dazzle Lydie Kilkullen TV film
Diagnosis: Murder D.A. Patricia Purcell 1 episode
1996 Gone in the Night Ann Dowaliby TV film
1997 Fired Up Rita "Honey, I Shrunk the Turkey", "The Mother of All Gwens"
1999 My Neighbors the Yamadas Lady #1 (voice) Animated feature film
The Big Day Carol Feature film
1999–2000 Ladies Man Peaches Recurring role (9 episodes)
1999–2002 Family Law Randi King Main role (68 episodes)
2000 The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus Necile (voice) Direct-to-video
2003 The Designing Women Reunion Herself TV special
Comfort and Joy Frederica TV film
2004 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Denise Brockmorton "Home"
2005 Hope & Faith Joyce Shanowski "A Room of One's Own"
2006–2007 Desperate Housewives Gloria Hodge Recurring role (7 episodes)
2008 Our First Christmas Evie Baer TV film
2009 That Evening Sun Ellen Meecham Feature film (final role)

Awards and Nominations

Year Award Category Series or Play Result
1976 Theatre World Award Outstanding Actress Jesse and the Bandit Queen Won
1979 Drama Desk Award Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play Fathers and Sons Nominated
1989 Los Angeles Women in Film Festival Excellence in TV Episodic Comedy Designing Women Won
2007 Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series Desperate Housewives Nominated
2009 SXSW Film Festival Best Ensemble Cast That Evening Sun Won

See also

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