Biography
Actress Dixie Carter belied the stereotypical image of a Southern belle with her smart choices in roles that often showcased strong-willed and steely characters. Audiences loved her as the classy-yet-brassy Julia Sugarbaker on "Designing Women" (CBS, 1986-1993), a Southern-flavored sitcom centered on four women who worked together at an interior design firm. On "Designing Women," Carter imbued her character with the perfect combination of wit, …
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Dixie Carter SlideShow
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Career Milestones
1959 | Placed first runner-up in the Miss Tennessee pageant |
1961 | Made stage debut as Julie in "Carousel" at the Front Street Theatre in Memphis |
1963 | Made off-Broadway debut as Perdita in the New York Shakespeare Festival's production of "A Winter's Tale" |
1974 | First appeared on television in the role of Brandy Henderson on long-running ABC soap opera "The Edge of Night" |
1974 | Returned to acting after an eight-year hiatus to co-star on Broadway in the musical "Sextet" |
1976 | Appeared as Melba in New York stage revival of "Pal Joey" |
1977 | Cast in the role of copywriter April Baxter on the CBS sitcom "On Our Own" |
1979 | Portrayed Aunt Marion on short-lived ABC comedy "Out of the Blue" |
1980 | Played Hannah Mae Bindler in New York stage production of "A Couple of White Chicks Sitting Around Talking" |
1981 | Met future husband Hal Holbrook while starring opposite him in the CBS movie "The Killing of Randy Webster" |
1982 | First collaboration with producer Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, played the role of Carlotta Beck, on the CBS comedy "Filthy Rich"; Delta Burke was also prominent in cast |
1983 | Made London stage debut as Liz Conlon in "Buried Inside Extra" at the Royal Court Theatre |
1983 | Made film debut in the comedy "Going Berserk" |
1984 | Played the recurring role of Maggie McKinney, Mr. Drummond's girlfriend, on NBC's popular sitcom "Different Strokes"; role later played by Mary Ann Mobley |
1986 | Played interior decorator Julia Sugarbaker on the successful CBS sitcom "Designing Women"; re-teamed with Bloodworth-Thomason and Burke |
1989 | Began annual nightclub engagements singing at the Cafe Carlyle in New York City |
1992 | Released "Dixie Carter's Unworkout" exercise tape |
1993 | Performed live at the White House, singing three songs as part of "Cabaret" (aired on PBS in 1994) |
1994 | Acted with husband Hal Holbrook in "A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle" (NBC) |
1994 | Portrayed Lillie Langtry in "The Gambler V: Playing For Keeps," a CBS miniseries starring Kenny Rogers |
1997 | First played Sharon Lawrence's mother in an episode of the NBC sitcom "Fired Up" |
1997 | Replaced Patti LuPone in the role of Maria Callas in the Broadway production of "Master Class" |
1999 | Had recurring role as Lawrence's mother in the CBS sitcom "Ladies Man" |
1999 | Portrayed Randi King on the CBS legal drama "Family Law" |
2004 | Guest-starred on an episode of NBC's "Law and Order: SVU" playing a defense attorney named Denise Brockmorton |
2004 | Played the role of Mrs. Meers in the Broadway musical "Thoroughly Modern Millie" |
2006 | Had a recurring role on ABC's "Desperate Housewives" as Orson's (Kyle MacLachlan) mother; re-teamed with creator Marc Cherry who was once her personal assistant; earned an Emmy nomination for the role |
2009 | Co-starred with her husband Hal Holbrook in her final film appearance, "That Evening Sun" |
Awards
2007 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress In a Comedy Series in Desperate Housewives |