Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

Gender

Female

Birthday

1948-09-13

Deathday

2003-01-23 (54 years old)

Place of Birth

Also Known As

Nell Ruth Carter

Nell Carter

Biography

Nell Carter (born Nell Ruth Hardy; September 13, 1948 – January 23, 2003) was an American singer and actress.

Carter began her career in 1970, singing in the theater, and later crossed over to television. She was best known for her role as Nell Harper on the sitcom Gimme a Break! which originally aired from 1981 to 1987. Carter received two Emmy and two Golden Globe award nominations for her work on the series. Prior to Gimme a Break!, Carter won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical in 1978 for her performance in the Broadway musical Ain't Misbehavin' as well as a Primetime Emmy Award for her reprisal of the role on television in 1982

Known For

8.3%

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Acting

2005

Back By Midnight as Waitress

2004

Broadway's Lost Treasures II as Performer (segment "Ain't Misbehavin'")

2003

Swing as Grace

2001		Reba
2001		Perfect Fit as Mrs. Gordy

2000

The Tulsa Lynching of 1921: A Hidden Story

1999		My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies as Self - Performer
1999		Sealed with a Kiss as Mrs. Wheatley
1999		We Wish You a Merry Christmas as Mrs. Claus (voice)

1998

Seven Days

1997		Mother Goose: A Rappin' and Rhymin' Special as Mary (voice)
1997		Ally McBeal as Harriet Pumple
1997		Fakin' Da Funk as Claire

1996		A Benefit Celebration: A Tribute to Angela Lansbury as Self
1996		The Proprietor as Millie Jackson
1996		The Rosie O'Donnell Show as Self

1995		Can't Hurry Love as Mrs. Bradstock
1995		Brotherly Love as Nell Bascombe
1995		The Grass Harp as Catherine Creek
1995		Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child as Mary (voice)
1995		The Misery Brothers as Courtroom Singer

1994		The Crazysitter as The Warden
1994		Spider-Man as Glory Grant (voice)
1994		Touched by an Angel as Cynthia Winslow

1992		Hangin' with Mr. Cooper as P.J. Moore
1992		Bebe's Kids as Vivian (voice)
1992		Final Shot: The Hank Gathers Story as Lucille Gathers
1992		Maid for Each Other as Jasmine Jones

1991

Voices That Care as Self - Choir Member

1990

You Take the Kids as Nell Kirkland

1989

Morton's by the Bay as Maggie

1988		Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz as Nell Carter
1988		Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration as Self

1987

Jake and the Fatman

1986

Amen

1985		227
1985		The Best of Broadway as Herself
1985		Night of 100 Stars II as Self

1984

Christmas in Washington

1982		Christmas in Washington as Self
1982		Ain't Misbehavin' as Performer
1982		Night of 100 Stars as Self
1982		The Billy Crystal Comedy Hour

1981		Modern Problems as Dorita
1981		Gimme a Break! as Nell Harper
1981		Back Roads as Waitress

1980		Baryshnikov on Broadway as Self
1980		The Big Show as Self

1979		The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo as Sgt. Hildy Jones
1979		Hair as Ain't Got No' / 'White Boys

1978

Cindy as Olive

1975

People's Choice Awards as Self - Presenter

1971

Great Performances as Self

1962

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as Self

1953

The Oscars as Self