The trend continues. I had previously mentioned that the stars we remember from the 80s seem to be dying in clumps lately. Now another one has joined them.
Actress Dixie Carter passed away Saturday due to complications arising from her cancer. She was 70-years-old.
I definitely wouldn't go as far as to call Dixie an 80s icon. She made a decent enough splash on television during that era, just not enough that it would be considered historic. However, it was just enough so that she was unforgettable. Starting with her stint on "Diff'rent Strokes".
Dixie's role as Phillip Drummond's (Conrad Bain) new wife Maggie only lasted for two seasons, but it was my first introduction to her. One of my favorite childhood shows was coming to the end of an era and her entrance was their last ditch effort to stay relevant. Needless to say it didn't work. It wasn't entirely her fault though. It just didn't seem believable that someone like Mr. Drummond could pull someone like Maggie.
That gig would only last two seasons which was just enough time for Dixie to get her foot in the network door. Her next primetime series would fare much better as she became part of the ensemble cast of "Designing Women". I have to be honest and admit that I never watched a single show. Not nann episode during its seven year run. I would be hard-pressed to even tell you what the premise of the show was without looking it up.
I had also nearly forgotten that she had a little recurring role on "Desperate Housewives" as Gloria Hodge. That was just as recent as a few years ago. She didn't look the least bit sick then. As a matter of fact, she didn't look a whole lot different from her "Designing Women" days. A lot can change in just a few years though.
Rest in peace, Dixie.
