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Known for her trademark sass and a uniquely adenoidal voice that rivaled the snarls of Eartha Kitt and Fran Drescher combined, Nell Carter was a short (4'11"), round, and sturdy dynamo... a fiery presence that made her a star. Born Nell Ruth Hardy in 1948 in Birmingham, Alabama, she was raised there as one of nine children of Horace and Edna Hardy. Growing up immersed in the sounds of Dinah Washington and Elvis Presley, she developed a passion for singing early on, performing in youth groups, her church choir, on local radio, and even the gospel circuit. These pursuits provided a positive outlet amid the major traumas of her early life, including her father's tragic death by electrocution and a harrowing gunpoint rape as a young teenager.
By 19, Carter had moved to New York, finding work singing in various nightspots including the Rainbow Room and Sweeney's, as well as cafés and musical revues. From 1970 to 1973, she studied at Bill Russell's School of Drama and made her Broadway debut in "Soon," a two-act musical that lasted only two days, featuring rising stars like Richard Gere, Peter Allen, and Barry Bostwick. She followed with roles in "Dude" (1972), "Be Kind to People Week" (1975), and "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope" (1976). After further training in London, Carter, who continued to grow in both size and talent, made a breakthrough when cast alongside Armelia McQueen, Charlayne Woodard, André De Shields, and Ken Page in the 1978 revue "Ain't Misbehavin'," a collection of Fats Waller songs. This hit show ran nearly four years, with Carter stealing the spotlight in numbers like "Mean to Me" and "Cash for Your Trash," earning numerous accolades including the Theatre World, Drama Desk, Obie, and Tony Awards. The 1982 TV taping of the show brought her an Emmy, and the original cast reunited for a Broadway revival in 1988. Later, she starred in a 1991 African-American revival of "Hello, Dolly!" as a spirited Dolly Levi.
Tough, temperamental, and larger-than-life, Carter gravitated toward television, beginning with roles on the daytime soap "Ryan's Hope" (1975) and the comedy "The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo" (1979), where she was perfectly cast as a police sergeant. Audiences quickly embraced her, leading to her starring role as the loving yet no-nonsense housekeeper on NBC's sitcom "Gimme a Break!" (1981), which ran six seasons and earned her two additional Emmy nominations for Best Actress in a Comedy. She later co-starred in "You Take the Kids" (1990), which was short-lived, and joined the established cast of "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper" (1992) as Mark Curry’s boss. Her spirited guest appearances spanned popular shows including "Amen" (1986), "227" (1985), "Touched by an Angel" (1994), "Ally McBeal" (1997), and "Reba" (2001), along with game show appearances on "Match Game" (1990) and "To Tell the Truth" (1990). Though her film work was less prominent, she delivered a notable musical performance of "White Boys" in Miloš Forman's "Hair" (1979) and a heartfelt role as Piper Laurie's housekeeper in "The Grass Harp" (1995).
Offstage, Carter was known for her candidness and resilience amid hardship. She struggled with weight issues and battled severe alcohol and cocaine addictions, from which she recovered. Her personal life included two divorces, a suicide attempt, multiple miscarriages, bankruptcy, the loss of a brother to AIDS, and numerous surgeries following a near-fatal brain aneurysm in 1992. Battling diabetes throughout adulthood, she once collapsed during a 1997 performance of "Annie," in which she played the boisterous Miss Hannigan. Seeking solace and fulfillment, she embraced Judaism. In 1989 and 1990, she adopted two infant sons, Joshua and Daniel, joining her daughter Tracey to complete her family.
After a life marked by highs and lows, Nell Carter died at age 54 on January 23, 2003, after collapsing alone in her Beverly Hills home. Her 13-year-old adopted son Joshua found her. The cause of death was later determined to be a fatal heart attack complicated by diabetes and obesity. She was laid to rest at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Culver City, California. At the time of her passing, she was rehearsing for the lead role in the Long Beach revival of the musical "Raisin," which opened as scheduled a few days later with her understudy stepping into the role.
