Terry Carter, known for his roles as Sergeant Joe Broadhurst in McCloud and Colonel Tigh in the original Battlestar Galactica, has died.
Miguel Carter DeCoste, Carter’s son, confirmed the actor’s passing on Tuesday at his home in Midtown Manhattan, per The New York Times. Carter was 95 years old.
Born on December 16, 1928, and raised in Brooklyn, Carter broke barriers as the first Black news anchor in New England, serving at WBZ-TV in Boston from 1965 to 1968. His entry into show business began with performances in both on and off-Broadway productions.
Throughout the 1950s, he expanded his repertoire to include appearances in television shows and movies. Notably, one of his earliest significant roles was as Pvt. Sugie Sugarman in The Phil Silvers Show, a part he played from 1955 to 1959.
As an actor, Carter is perhaps most renowned for his portrayal of Colonel Tigh, a principal character in the hallmark sci-fi TV series Battlestar Galactica. He’s also known for playing Sergeant Joe Broadhurst, Dennis Weaver’s partner, in the 1970s detective series McCloud. He returned to this role for the 1989 TV movie The Return of Sam McCloud.
Carter also appeared in a variety of other TV roles, such as Combat!, Naked City, Dr. Kildare, The Defenders, and The Fall Guy.
Carter has also showcased his talent in an array of films, such as Attraction, Brother on the Run, Benji, Abby, and Parrish. However, Carter’s most iconic film role is probably in the 1974 movie Foxy Brown, starring alongside Pam Grier
Terry Carter Ventures Behind the Camera
In 1975, Carter ventured into a new role behind the camera by establishing his own production company, focusing on educational documentaries. Among its notable works is the 1984 PBS series *K*I*DS, which earned an Emmy Award for Best Series for Children and Youth.
His 1988 documentary, A Duke Named Ellington for PBS’s American Masters Series, earned an Emmy nomination. The film also won the CINE Golden Eagle and Golden Antenna Awards. Carter also produced and directed Katherine Dunham: Dancing With Life, previewed at Town Hall in Manhattan in 2013.
Carter, who was widowed twice, is survived by his wife, Etaferhu Zenebe-DeCoste, and his two children, Miguel and Melinda.