Terry Carter dead at 95: Battlestar Galactica star who broke barriers as the only black actor in 1965’s Combat! passes away ‘peacefully’ at New York home
- The star died ‘peacefully’ on Tuesday at his home in New York, according to a statement on his website
- Terry Carter is best known for his roles as ‘Sgt. Joe Broadhurst” in the TV series McCloud and as “Colonel Tigh” in the original Battlestar Galactica died peacefully at home on April 23, 2024.”
- Carter became one of the first black actors to be cast as a series regular in a TV sitcom when he landed the role of Pvt. Sugarman on “The Phil Silvers Show” in 1955
Iconic Battlestar Galactica and McCloud actor Terry Carter has passed away at the age of 95.
The star died ‘peacefully’ on Tuesday at his home in New York, according to a statement on his website.
Terry Carter is best known for his roles as ‘Sgt. Joe Broadhurst” in the TV series McCloud and as “Colonel Tigh” in the original Battlestar Galactica died peacefully at home on April 23, 2024.”
Born to a Dominican mother and a father of Argentine and African-American descent, Carter became one of the first black actors to be cast regularly in a TV sitcom when he landed the role of Pvt. Sugarman on “The Phil Silvers Show” in 1955.
Carter is survived by his wife, Etaferhu Zenebe-DeCoste, and his two children, Miguel and Melina, his wife’s daughter, a granddaughter and numerous nieces and nephews.
Iconic Battlestar Galactica and McCloud actor Terry Carter has died at age 95 (pictured in 1978 as Colonel Tigh)
Carter pictured in 2003
Carter appeared in a 1965 episode of the series Combat! from World War II, and was the only black actor cast as a GI during the show’s 152 episodes.
He was married twice before: to Anna DeCoste and Beate Glatved, both of whom are now deceased.
The New York Times confirmed his death along with his son, Miguel, reporting that the actor had died at his home in Midtown Manhattan.
Carter’s prolific career spans decades and saw him play Deputy Marshal Sam McCloud on McCloud for seven years.
Carter appeared in a 1965 episode of the series Combat! from World War II and was the only black actor cast as a GI during the show’s 152 episodes, according to the Times.
His other notable roles came in the 1970s ‘Company of Killers’, but he is perhaps best known to more modern audiences for his role as Colonel Tigh in ABC’s science fiction series ‘Battlestar Galactica’ in the 1970s.
Speaking to the New York Times in 2018, Carter revealed that a conversation with actor Howard Da Silva convinced him to pursue an acting career.
Carter’s prolific career spans decades and saw him play Deputy Marshal Sam McCloud on McCloud for seven years
“It was Howard who convinced me to become an actor – he’s the one who changed my life,” he said. “I dropped out of law school and went to Howard’s acting school. I think he called it the Mobile Theater Workshop.”
Before landing his role on The Phil Silvers Show, Carter’s career took him to the stage, where he appeared in a number of performances on and off Broadway with a black cast, according to The Times.
In 1979, Terry founded the Council for Positive Images, a nonprofit organization that helps increase intercultural and interethnic understanding through audiovisual communications.
He also directed documentary specials for PBS that focused on historical and cultural topics.
In 1980, he served two terms on the Board of Directors of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and worked with the Documentary Committee and the Foreign Film Committee for the Oscars.
His awards include a Los Angeles Emmy Award for his involvement in the TV miniseries “K*I*D*S,” in which multiracial young teens face conflict.
In 1988 he produced and directed a TV movie about jazz icon Duke Ellington.