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.