The world lost another television favorite with actress Dixie Carter, who passed away Saturday morning at the age of 70. The Southern-born actress is best known for her role as the fiery and passionate Julia Sugarbaker on CBS’ Designing Women from 1986-93, in which her husband Hal Holbrook had a recurring role as her love interest Reese Watson. The couple guest-starred in a 2005 episode of ABC’s Hope & Faith, and appeared most recently in the independent film That Evening Sun, which won the Special Jury Award at last year’s South By Southwest Film Competition (SXSW).
Carter’s television resume includes a regular role on Diff’rent Strokes as Maggie McKinney from 1984-85; the CBS legal drama Family Law from 1999-2002; guest spots that includes The Greatest American Hero and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and a recurring role on ABC’s Desperate Housewives that earned her a Emmy nomination in 2007.
There has been no word on what caused Carter’s death.
She is survived by husband Hal and daughters Mary Dixie and Ginna.
Watch Dixie Carter’s guest-starring role on The Greatest American Hero entitled “Lilacs, Mr. Maxwell” written and directed by the late Robert Culp online at Hulu.
