Actress Nell Carter Dead At 54

The Denver Channel ^ | UPDATED: 1:17 p.m. EST January 23, 2003

[RoughDobermann]

Actress-Singer Collapses, Found By Son

Actress Nell Carter, who starred in the television comedy "Gimme A Break," died at her Beverly Hills home Thursday of natural causes, her publicist announced. She was 54.

Carter had won an Emmy for her role in "Gimme a Break!" and a Tony for her performance in the Broadway musical "Ain't Misbehavin."

The actress-singer collapsed and was found by one of her 13-year-old adopted sons.

[RoughDobermann]

From CNN

BEVERLY HILLS, California (CNN) -- Actress and singer Nell Carter died Thursday. She was 54.

Carter's publicist Roger Lane said Carter collapsed and died of natural causes in her Beverly Hills home.

One of Carter's 13-year-old adopted sons discovered her body. Carter is survived by her sons and an adult daughter.

She had suffered from diabetes and had recovered from a near-deadly bout with a brain aneurysm in the 1990s. Lane said he did not know if her diabetes contributed to her death.

The Birmingham, Alabama, native may have been best known as the sassy housekeeper in the 1980s NBC sitcom "Gimme a Break," but she also was known for her stage work. Carter's performance in the 1977-78 Fats Waller musical "Ain't Misbehavin'" garnered her an Obie and a Tony award.

[Samizdat]

RIP. But it is a good way to go. Just like that. Lights out. No suffering.

[ewing]

Didn't she win a Tony or Emmy for 'Ain't Misbeahving?'

[ErnBatavia]

She could really belt out a song.

[homeschool mama]

Perhaps her diabetes had a part...

[homeschool mama]

Amen.

[netmilsmom]

She won a Tony and all of you who find this the right time to comment on her weight, please keep it to yourself. Somethings are evident and do not need to be stated. Nell Carter was a great and talented lady. No need to be mention any more than that.

[Dubh_Ghlase]

Amen...

[Billthedrill]

Ya know, 54 used to sound old...

[ewing]

Nell Carter was great on Broadway, and she may have been a 'closet' Hollywood conservative as well!

[rintense]

She was a diabetic, I believe. Very sad. Beautiful voice and soul.

[Constitutional Patriot]

Sorry to hear this.

[RepoGirl]

She could really belt out a song.

Man, you ain't kidding. What a beautiful voice! A talented lady and a conservative, rest in peace, Nell.

[homeschool mama]

**She was a diabetic, I believe. Very sad. Beautiful voice and soul. **

Agreed.

How're you doing, rinny?

[amused]

Too bad, she was soo, how do I say.. morbidly obese

I believe she also had diabetes. I also wonder how her earlier in life cocaine problems affected her.

She had such a voice, may she rest in peace.

[CyberAnt]

She was diagnosed with diabetes several years ago; may have had complications.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Yes, but diabetes causes high blood pressure which in turn damages the small arteries around the heart (also eyes, and kidneys) and causes a heart attack. Also, if you are overweight, you are much more likely to become diabetic.

[homeschool mama]

Thank you for that information, B.

May she rest in peace.

[NormsRevenge]

Thu Jan 23, 1:11 PM ET

The sight of her children at her hospital bed made Nell Carter, shown in a May16,1994 file photo, think the end was near. Carter, who had gone from nightclub gigs in Birmingham, Ala., to a Tony-winning performance in 'Ain't Misbehavin,'' lay deathly ill four years ago with a double aneurysm in the brain. But after a second operation followed by therapy to relearn all her motor skills, Carter has bounced back. (AP Photo)

Thu Jan 23, 1:39 PM ET

Singer-actress Nell Carter, best known for her role as the matronly housekeeper in the 1980s television sitcom 'Gimme a Break', died on January 23, 2003 of natural causes at the age of 54, her publicist said. Carter collapsed at her Beverly Hills home in the early morning and was found by one of her adopted sons, spokesman Roger Lane Carter is seen at the Women In Film Crystal Awards in Los Angeles in this June 8, 2001 file photo. (Fred Prouser/Reuters)

A Classy Lady... Go with God

[fieldmarshaldj]

We all love you, Nell... RIP.