Nell Carter

Birth Name: Nell Ruth Hardy

Date of Birth: September 13, 1948

Place of Birth: Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.

Date of Death: January 23, 2003

Place of Death: Beverly Hills, California, U.S.

Ethnicity: African-American

Nell Carter was an American singer and actress. She was known for her roles on the show Gimme a Break! and in the Broadway musical Ain’t Misbehavin’. She was also billed as Nell Ruth Carter.

Nell was the daughter of Edna Mae and Horace Lee Hardy. Her father was adopted by his own grandparents, Ed Hardy and Francis/Frances Haleness.

Nell was initially a member of a Pentecostal church. She converted to Judaism in the 1980s, while married to her then-husband, mathematician and lumber executive George Krynicki, a Conservative Jew; George had tried to convince her not to convert. Nell was a practicing Jew until her death. She had three children.

Nell’s maternal grandfather was named Josh Lee.

Nell’s maternal grandmother was named Edna.

Sources: Article about Nell’s Judaism –

Marriage record of Nell’s parents –

Nell’s father on the 1920 U.S. Census –
Nell’s father on the 1930 U.S. Census –