Terry Carter Dead: 'The Phil Silvers Show,''Battlestar Galactica' And ...

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA - Pilot: "Earth Star" - Airdate: July 7, 1978. (Photo by ABC Photo ... [+] Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) TERRY CARTER

Terry Carter, who is known for his roles as Private Sugarman on sitcom The Phil Silvers Show, Sgt. Joe Broadhurst on crime solver McCloud, and Colonel Tigh on the original Battlestar Galactica, died at his home in New York on Tuesday morning. He was 95. No cause of death has been announced.

Born John Everett DeCoste in Brooklyn, New York, on December 16, 1928, Terry Carter began his career as a thespian in several productions on the Broadway and off-Broadway stage. His Broadway credits include playing the male lead opposite Eartha Kitt in the play Mrs. Patterson, and the title role in the musical Kwamina.

In 1955, Carter got his first big break on television in the sitcom The Phil Silvers Show. Originally titled You’ll Never Get Rich (and more commonly known as Sergeant Bilko), Carter was one of the first Black actors to be prominently featured in a regularly scheduled television series. He appeared in 92 episodes of The Phil Silvers Show through 1959.

Following The Phil Silvers Show, Carter made the rounds on television as a guest star in series like the anthology Playhouse 90; dramas Naked City, Breaking Point, Dr. Kildare, Combat!, and The Defenders; and comedies That Girl and Julia. He also co-starred in the film adaptation of the Mildred Savage novel Parrish in 1961.

From 1965 to 1968, Carter switched gears, working as a weekend newscaster for the station WBZ-TV in Boston as an anchor-reporter. During his tenure, he also served as the station’s drama and movie critic.

Carter’s next regular TV role on NBC’s McCloud, which was part of the part of the NBC Mystery Movie, airing from 1970 to 1977.

Terry Carter stars as sergeant Broadhurst in a scene from the television series 'McCloud', circa ... [+] 1972. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images)

In 1975, Carter launched his own production company, Meta/4 Productions, in Los Angeles, which produced more than 100 educational documentaries. Then, in 1978, he transformed himself into Colonel Tigh on Battlestar Galactica, which ran for one season before being reformatted into Galactica 1980 for an abbreviated second season.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA - "Fire in Space" - Airdate: December 17, 1978. (Photo by ABC Photo ... [+] Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) TERRY CARTER;LORNE GREENE;UNKNOWN

Carter also made appearances on TV shows like comedies The Jeffersons, Mr. Belvedere and 227, and serialized drama Falcon Crest. In 1985, he won a Los Angeles Emmy for “K*I*D*S,” a TV miniseries he created, directed and produced about a diverse group of teenagers who struggle to navigate the intense conflicts confronting American youth at the time.

Carter was twice widowed and is survived by his wife Etaferhu Zenebe-DeCoste, and his two children, Miguel and Melinda.

Terry Carter during 2003 Galacticon Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of "Battlestar Galactica" - Day ... [+] One at The Universal Sheraton Hotel in Universal City, California, United States. (Photo by Albert L. Ortega/WireImage)