Dixie Carter has died at the age of 70.
Carter, best known for her role in hit sitcom Designing Women, passed away on Saturday (10Apr10). Her cause of death has not yet been released.
Her husband, actor Hal Holbrook, says in a statement, "This has been a terrible blow to our family. We would appreciate everyone understanding that this is a private family tragedy."
Carter began her small-screen career in 1974 when she was offered a role on U.S. soap opera One Life to Live, and later appeared in series such as Family Law and Diff'rent Strokes before playing her most famous role as Julia Sugarbaker on Designing Women.
In 2007, she received an Emmy nomination for her guest run on Desperate Housewives, playing Marcia Cross' onscreen mother-in-law.
She met her partner Holbrook after the pair worked together on 1980 TV movie the The Killing of Randy Webster, and they married in 1984.
Holbrook appeared alongside Carter in her final acting project, That Evening Sun, in 2009.
The star is survived by Holbrook and two daughters, Mary Dixie and Ginna.