Terry Carter, the acclaimed actor and television trailblazer who captivated audiences as Colonel Tigh in the original ‘Battlestar Galactica’ series, has passed away at the age of 95. Carter’s passing was confirmed by his son to The New York Times, reporting his peaceful passing at his home in New York City on Tuesday, April 23rd.
Carter’s illustrious career in television commenced in 1955, where he left an indelible mark as Private ‘Sugie’ Sugarman in ‘The Phil Silvers Show,’ a role he portrayed until 1959. Reflecting on his experience in 2018, Carter shared with The Times, ‘I am the last living survivor of ‘The Phil Silvers Show.’ But I’m reluctant to take too much credit for being the only Black man on the show. I was only a cog in the wheel. I slew the foe, but I was just a ham like everybody else. It was a wonderful bunch.’
Carter continued his path in the entertainment industry, venturing into the realm of theater. He notably produced an Off Broadway rendition of ‘A Streetcar Named Desire.’ His television journey extended across various genres, with notable appearances in ‘Foxy Brown,’ ‘The Jeffersons,’ and ‘Battlestar Galactica.’ Additionally, he appeared in 42 episodes of ‘McCloud’ as Sergeant Joe Broadhurst, a role he reprised in the 1989 TV movie ‘The Return of Sam McCloud.’
Breaking new ground, Carter made history as New England’s first Black news anchor during his tenure in Boston from 1965-1968. His impact extended beyond the screen, as he became a respected member of the Board of Governors for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Carter’s contributions to the Oscars included serving on both the Documentary Committee and the Foreign Films Committee.
Beyond his acting and television career, Carter embraced his passion for storytelling through educational documentaries with his own production company. Notably, he directed and narrated the Emmy-nominated documentary ‘A Duke Named Ellington’ for PBS’s ‘American Masters’ series, a testament to his love of jazz music. Describing his work on the 1988 documentary, Carter remarked, ‘I went through about 70 hours of film footage, over 90 percent of which has never been seen before. Going through this material was like discovering plutonium when you’re searching for a common metal.’
Carter’s final acting credit was in the 2012 thriller ‘Hamilton: In the Interest of the Nation,’ leaving behind a legacy of impactful performances. He is survived by his wife, Etaferhu Zenebe-DeCoste, two children, a step-daughter, and a granddaughter, all of whom cherish his memory and the extraordinary contributions he made to the world of entertainment.
