Nell Carter, whose birth name was Nell Ruth Hardy, an American singer and actress, was born on September 13, 1948. One of the nine children that Edna Mae and Horace Hardy had in Birmingham, Alabama, was Nell Ruth. She was raised as a Presbyterian even though she was born into a Roman Catholic family.

Hardy came from Birmingham, Alabama, to New York City at the age of 19, changed her last name to Carter, and joined the Renaissance Ensemble.

In 1970, Carter started her professional career in theatre. She started watching television gradually. She was best recognized for her role as Nell Harper in the 1981–1987 sitcom Gimme a Break. For her work on the show, Carter was nominated for two Emmys and two Golden Globes.

Prior to Gimme a Break, Carter’s performance in the Broadway production of Ain’t Misbehavin’ earned her the 1978 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical. She also received a Primetime Emmy Award for the same character’s television portrayal in 1982.

Carter, 54, killed away suddenly in her Beverly Hills home on January 23, 2003. Her son Joshua found her body that evening. Carter left no instructions for an autopsy, as stated in his will.

Nell Carter’s Net Worth At Death

When Nell Carter passed away in 2003, she had a $2 million net worth.