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Nell Carter Biography
Claim to Fame: Actress (Gimme a Break!)
DOB: September 13, 1948
Date of Death: January 23, 2003
Diabetes Type: Unknown
Nell Carter, then Nell Ruth Hardy, was born September 13, 1948 in Birmingham Alabama. She was one of nine children and grew up at home with her mother and father. Her childhood was no fairy tale though. Her father was electrocuted and killed while Nell was still young, and then at the age of 16 she was raped at gunpoint. After this tragic incident, Nell became pregnant and gave birth to her daughter, Tracy.
Nell’s early passion for singing gave her a positive distraction and outlet. She performed in many youth groups, church choirs, on the gospel circuit, and on local radio.
At 19, Nell moved to New York and studied at Bill Russell’s School of Drama from 1970 to 1973. She made money by singing at the Rainbow Room, Sweeney’s, cafes, and other venues. She finally made her Broadway debut in “Soon” a musical that included such faces as Peter Allen and Barry Bostwick. Nell also performed in “Dude” (1972), “Miss Moffat” (1974), “Be Kind to People Week” (1975), and “Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope” (1976).
Nell caught her big break in 1978 when she was cast in “Ain’t Misbehavin” alongside many famous performers. It ran for nearly four years during which Nell collected many awards – the Theatre World, Drama Desk, an Emmy, Obie, and Tony. In 1982, the show was taped for TV, and then in 1988 the show visited Broadway again with all five performers reunited.
With Nell’s success came some chaotic times. She attempted suicide in the early 1980’s and then entered a drug rehabilitation center around 1985. She went through 2 divorces and 3 miscarriages. She declared bankruptcy once in 1995 and again in 2002.
Nell began appearing in many low-budget films and TV specials. She co-starred in “Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper”, was featured in the daytime soap “Ryan’s Hope”, and also appeared in “The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo”. Her biggest break however came with the NBC sitcom “Gimme a Break!” (1981). She was cast as the straightforward, no funny business housekeeper of a white family. This role earned Nell two Emmy nominations for “Best Actress in a Comedy”. In the mid 1990’s she was back at the top of her game and performing on Broadway again. This time she played Miss Hannigan in the revival of “Annie”.
Nell Carter survived much in her life, from her troubled early childhood and her drug afflicted years, to two brain aneurisms. However, on January 23, 2003 Nell died from heart disease complicated by diabetes. She left behind her partner Ann Kaser, and her three children.
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