Skip to content
MovieCove
Dixie Carter

Dixie Carter

Actor · Died April 10, 2010, aged 70 · McLemoresville, Tennessee, USA

Dixie Virginia Carter (May 25, 1939 – April 10, 2010) was an American actress. She starred as Julia Sugarbaker on the sitcom Designing Women (1986–1993) and as Randi King on the drama series Family Law (1999–2002). She was nominated for the 2007 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Gloria Hodge on Desperate Housewives (2006–2007). Carter made her professional stage debut in a Memphis production of the musical Carousel in 1960 and made her Broadway debut in the 1974 musical Sextet. After appearing for two years as District Attorney Brandy Henderson on the CBS soap The Edge of Night (1974–1976), she starred in the 1976 Broadway revival of the musical Pal Joey. Her other television roles included the sitcoms On Our Own (1977–1978), Filthy Rich (1982–1983) and Diff'rent Strokes (1984–1985). She returned to Broadway to play Maria Callas in the play Master Class in 1997 and to play Mrs. Meers in the musical Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2004. She was married to actor Hal Holbrook, her third husband, from 1984 until her death. Description above from the Wikipedia article Dixie Carter, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 25, 1939
Died
April 10, 2010 (aged 70)
From
McLemoresville, Tennessee, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
17 on MovieCove · 38 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 1% in 30 days

What are Dixie Carter's films like?

Across their 12 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 13th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
45%
Morality
17%
Self
16%
Survival
12%
Society
4%
Power
4%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship2 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 10 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 6 · Serious 2 · Dark 2

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 7 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 5 · Charged 3 · Intense 2

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 6 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 2

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 3 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 6 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 1

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 7 · Affecting 0 · Heavy 3

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 10 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

7 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 3 of 7 analyzed roles.

Ally
3 of 7
Shapeshifter
1 of 7
Shadow
1 of 7
Herald
1 of 7
Mentor
1 of 7
Show the 7 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
7
Warm
7
Joyful
4
Hopeful
4
Absurd
2
Other
10

How their films linger

Feel-good8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCozy2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet8
  • Ambiguous1
  • Cyclical1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Dixie Carter's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 11 of their 17 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Dixie Carter's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

38 credits, 17 with a MovieCove page; 9 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • That Evening Sun(2009)

    as Ellen Meecham

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Our First Christmas(2008)

    as Evie Baer

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Desperate Housewives(2004)

    Show 7 episodes · as Gloria Hodge

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Sudbury(2004)

    as Aunt Frances

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Comfort and Joy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Actor

  • Hope & Faith (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Joyce Shanowski

  • The Designing Women Reunion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Actor

  • The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus(2000)

    as Necile (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Big Day(1999)

    as Carol

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Family Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 68 episodes · as Randi King

  • Ladies Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 5 episodes · as Peaches

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Denise Brockmorton

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Fired Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 2 episodes · as Rita

  • Gone in the Night(1996)

    as Ann Dowaliby

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Dazzle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Lydie Kilkullen

  • Dazzle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lydie Kilkullen

  • Gambler V: Playing for Keeps(1994)

    as Lillie Langtry

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • A Perry Mason Mystery: The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle(1994)

    as Louise Archer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Christy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Julia Huddleston · as Mrs. Huddleston

  • Diagnosis Murder(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as D.A. Patricia Purcell

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Designing Women(1986)

    Show 163 episodes · as Julia Sugarbaker

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Crazy like a Fox (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Going Berserk(1983)

    as Angela

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Devlin Connection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Simone

  • Filthy Rich (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 15 episodes · as Carlotta Beck

  • Cassie & Co. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Evelyn Weller

  • Bret Maverick(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Best of the West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Mae Markham

  • The Greatest American Hero(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Samantha O'Neill

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows

  • The Killing of Randy Webster(1981)

    as Billie Webster

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • OHMS (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Nora Wing

  • Out of the Blue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 16 episodes · as Marion Richards

  • Diff'rent Strokes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 25 episodes · as Maggie McKinney

  • On Our Own(1977)

    Show 21 episodes · as April Baxter

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Lou Grant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Andros Targets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Rita

  • Quincy, M.E. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Edge of Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 306 episodes · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 86th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 38 titles from 1956 to 2009; peak year 1999.

Biggest box office

That Evening Sun (2009)

$281K worldwide

Highest rated

That Evening Sun (2009)

Midcredits 79th

Most popular right now

Designing Women (1986)

Film career

19562009

Peak 1999 · steadily prominent in film for years. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1978Screen debut· Diff'rent Strokes
  • 1983First film· Going Berserk

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting38 of 38: 38 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score60th

By decade

1950s1 · acting1970s6 · acting1980s11 · acting1990s12 · acting2000s8 · acting

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Dixie Carter's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 48th percentile, the median of all 10; across their 10 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 51st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Approval · how many liked their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Reach · how many have seen their films

37thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Midcredits score across 17 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th5
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

8 of their 17 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser8
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · actor

Sudbury (2004)

94th percentile spread · 39% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Desperate Housewives (2004)

Midcredits 81st · 82% liked

Reviewers score the acting 72/100 in their films, across 8 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 47. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Dixie Carter work with?

People who share at least 2 of Dixie Carter's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Hal Holbrook shares the most, 4.

Actors

Producers