Dixie Carter, DESIGNING WOMEN Star Dead At 70

Dixie Carter, the wife of great character actor Hal Holbrook, has died at the age of 70. While Hal Holbrook is best known for his great dramatic roles, Dixie Carter was a great comedy presence in both DESIGNING WOMEN and DIFFERENT STROKES. Most recently she starred in a seven episode storyline in DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES.

DESIGNING WOMEN was especially a hit among Southern women, as the show was about a family of successful Southern businesswomen. Dixie Carter was especially popular on DESIGNING WOMEN as she played an intelligent and opinionated Southern Woman, busting some of the unfortunate stereotypes of some other past shows.

On the CBS schedule, DESIGNING WOMEN easily found a receptive audience. At one time, CBS had many hit shows with rural themes, and DESIGNING WOMEN somehow fit in well over at CBS because of audiences from the South and rural areas especially loving many shows historically shown at the network. In later years, CBS reorganized itself around a strong presence of crime dramas such as the CSI franchise, CRIMINAL MINDS, WITHOUT A TRACE, NCIS, NUMBERS and other shows.

The cause of death of the actress was not immediately known.