‘Battlestar Galactica’ actor Terry Carter dies aged 95

The actor, broadcaster and documentarian Terry Carter, best known for his role in the original Battlestar Galactica, has died.

Carter’s manager Ken Leicht confirmed to Entertainment Weekly that he died on Tuesday (April 23) at his home in Manhattan. He was aged 95.

Carter’s cause of death has not been provided, however according to Leicht, he “had been ill for some time.”

Born in 1928, Carter grew up in Brooklyn, New York City. He attended several universities following high school, including University of California, LA, Boston University and St John’s University’s School of Law.

He gained theatre experience on and off Broadway, before working for three years as a newsreader between 1965-1968 in Boston. While at WBZ-TV, he served as the first black opening-night movie and theatre critic on New England television.

Carter produced more than 100 documentaries and presentations for the federal government under his media corporation Meta/4 Productions, Inc. He was also the president of Council for Positive Images, Inc., which he formed in 1979 to improve and advance interethnic and intercultural understanding.

Among these projects was a two-part documentary exploring the life and work of jazz pianist Duke Ellington, which received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Informational Special.

He is perhaps best-known for his role as second-in-command Colonel Tigh in sci-fi TV series Battlestar Galactica, distinguishing the series in its casting of more than one regular African-American character in the main cast.

He also starred as Sergeant Joe Broadhurst in the detective series McCloud for seven years, acting with late actor and former SAG president Dennis Weaver.

In the 1974 blaxploitation film Foxy Brown, Carter starred opposite Jackie Brown, Mars Attacks! and Larry Crowne’s Pam Grier.

Carter is survived by his wife and two children. His manager, Leicht said about the late actor: “Terry was a really nice guy. He’ll be missed.”