Star Of ??Designing Woman?� Dies At Age 70

LOS ANGELES – Actress Dixie Carter played Julia Sugarbaker in the hit 80’s TV show “Designing Women”. Her agent says she died Saturday at age 70. No other details are available.

“Designing Women” focused on the lives of four women and a man working at an Atlanta interior design firm. The show ran for seven seasons in the 1980’s. Julie Sugarbaker was a sharp-tongued character who advocated liberal causes and women’s rights.

Carter often picked roles portraying strong Southern women. She recently appeared on “Desperate Housewives” and was nominated for an Emmy in 2007.

Her husband, actor Hal Holbrook, told “Entertainment Tonight”, “This has been a terrible blow to our family. We would appreciate everyone understanding that this is a private family tragedy.”‘

Carter was born in McLemoresville, Tennessee in 1939. She is survived by her husband and two daughters, Mary Dixie and Ginna.