Terry Carter
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Terry Carter (born December 16, 1928 in Brooklyn, New York as John E. DeCoste) is an African-American actor who is perhaps best remembered for his roles as Dennis Weaver's historical friendly partner, Sgt. Joe Broadhurst on McCloud and as Richard Hatch's commander, Colonel Tigh on the original Battlestar Galactica.
Carter graduated from the elite Stuyvesant High School in New York City in 1946. He attended Hunter College, Boston University, and U.C.L.A. and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Northeastern University in 1983.
Carter has had a varied career in television, film and theater, often portraying police officers and military personnel. He already had many credits in theater and radio before becoming one of the privates in Sergeant Bilko's platoon in the 1950s in The Phil Silvers Show. In that role, he was one of the first African-Americans appearing on equal-footing as a regular on a US TV sitcom series in the 1950s.
From 1965 to 1968, Carter worked as a newscaster for WBZ-TV in Boston becoming the world's first black TV news anchor. Later he worked as a commercial spokesman for Standard Oil. He returned to television in the late 1960s with roles in series like Mannix.
By the 1970s, Carter was becoming a familiar face on TV. In his recurring role on McCloud, Carter worked up from Sergeant in the first episode right up to Chief in the 1989 McCloud reunion movie.
In 1978, he was cast in Battlestar Galactica, originally as Lieutenant Boomer, but was cut following a roller skating accident that fractured his ankle. After replacing Carter with Herb Jefferson, Jr., Glen Larson instead offered Carter the role of Colonel Tigh, second in command of the ragtag fleet of starships.
Since the 1970s, Carter has been directing and producing, as well as creating training programs. He currently resides in both Scandinavia and New York City.
