Nell Carter
Nell Carter was an accomplished American actress and singer, known for her powerful vocal abilities and significant contributions to theater and television. Born on September 13, 1948, in Birmingham, Alabama, she was the daughter of Horace and Edna Hardy and grew up in a large family with nine siblings. Carter began her entertainment career in gospel music before pursuing acting, studying at Birmingham Southern University and later at a drama school in New York. Her breakout role came in the acclaimed musical *Ain't Misbehavin'*, for which she won a Tony Award and later received an Emmy for a televised version.
Carter became widely recognized for her role as Nell Harper on the popular sitcom *Gimme a Break!*, which aired from 1981 to 1987, earning her nominations for both an Emmy and a Golden Globe. Throughout her career, she faced personal challenges, including multiple marriages, health issues, and struggles with addiction, yet she maintained a passion for her craft. Beyond her television work, she appeared in various stage productions and was admired for her interpretation of classic theater songs. Carter passed away on January 23, 2003, but left behind a legacy marked by her talent, resilience, and ability to connect with diverse audiences.
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Subject Terms
Nell Carter
Actor and singer
- Born: September 14, 1948
- Birthplace: Birmingham, Alabama
- Died: January 23, 2003
- Place of death: Beverly Hills, California
Carter was an actor and singer on the stage, in films, and on television. Although she was best known for her portrayal of Nell Harper on the television comedy Gimme a Break!, she did her best work on Broadway and in television specials.
Early Life
Nell Ruth Hardy Carter was born on September 13, 1948, in Birmingham, Alabama. She was one of the nine children of Horace L. Hardy and Edna M. Hardy. Carter sang in her church choir as a child and later began her musical career as a gospel soloist. At the age of sixteen, she was raped and subsequently gave birth to a daughter, Tracey Jenniece.
Although Carter’s parents urged her to devote her life to teaching, she decided instead to study acting. She attended Birmingham Southern University before moving to New York at the age of nineteen. She continued her studies at Bill Russell’s School of Drama from 1970 to 1973. During this time, she supported herself with singing jobs in coffee shops and, later, nightclubs such as Reno Sweeney, the Rainbow Room, and Dangerfield’s. Her vocal style was influenced by singers including Elvis Presley, Johnny Mathis, Doris Day, and Barbra Streisand.
Carter first appeared on the New York stage in 1974. Her major professional breakthrough was in the musical Ain’t Misbehavin’, which ran from 1978 to 1981. She won a Tony Award for her performance and an Emmy Award for a 1982 television version of the show.
Life’s Work
Carter’s other stage performances included Hello, Dolly!, Annie, Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, and The Vagina Monologues. As a singer, she favored the classic theater songs of such composers as Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Kurt Weill, and Leonard Bernstein. She made few recordings, which became highly valued by admirers of her remarkable voice, which had superb expressive range and was praised by many critics.
Carter began working in television in 1975, winning recurring roles on shows such as Ryan’s Hope and The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo. In 1981, she won the lead role of Nell Harper on the comedy series Gimme a Break!; the show, which was on the air from 1981 to 1987, made her a television favorite and earned her Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. After the conclusion of the show, she continued to make appearances in other series and television specials, including a regular role in the series Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper and guest roles in Touched by an Angel and Ally McBeal.
During the 1980’s and early 1990’s, Carter’s personal life was tumultuous. She was married three times. Little is known about her first marriage. Her second husband was George Krynicki, a mathematician, whom she married in 1982; during their marriage, she left the Presbyterian faith in which she had been brought up and converted to Judaism. She divorced Krynicki in 1989 and briefly was married to Roger Laroque in 1992-1993. She adopted two sons, Daniel and Joshua. Carter also endured several significant health problems. She overcame alcohol and drug addictions and at various times was treated for heart problems, diabetes, ulcers, and aneurysms. Carter was obese through most of her professional life but succeeded in losing eighty pounds during work on Gimme a Break!
Carter died on January 23, 2003, in her home in Beverly Hills, at the age of fifty-four. She had been in rehearsal for a musical version of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun.
Significance
Carter was a versatile actor and singer who achieved an international career in spite of almost lifelong health problems and racial discrimination. Her repertoire as an actor and singer demonstrated an extremely wide range of knowledge and experience that was not influenced by any particular racial or ethnic group. Her strong will, ambition, beauty, and sense of humor ensured her a diverse and loyal audience and enduring reputation.
Bibliography
Boehm, Mike. “Nell Carter, 54; Tony-Winning Singer, Star of ’Gimme a Break!’” The Los Angeles Times, January 24, 2003. This obituary offers an overview of Carter’s career and her perseverance through many personal hardships.
Everett, William A., and Paul R. Laird. Historical Dictionary of the Broadway Musical. Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press, 2008. This useful resource offers details on Carter’s stage career.
Otfinoski, Steve. “Nell Carter.” In African Americans in the Performing Arts. New York: Facts On File, 2003. Offers a concise overview of Carter’s life and career.