• Ralph Carter is a former American television actor and singer
• He is best known for his role as Michael Evans in the 70s sitcom "Good Times"
• Carter's acting career began at age 9 and he won several awards for his performance in the musical stageplay "Raisin"
• He released his debut album "When You're Young and in Love" in 1976 and his single "Get It Right" in 1985
• He has an estimated net worth of $1 million as of mid-2020
Known for movies
Short Info
Net Worth | $1 million |
Date Of Birth | May 30, 1961 |
Fact | Showed up on an episode of "E! True Hollywood Story" (age 40+) for the story behind his landmark sitcom sporting a mustache. |

Contents
Who is Ralph Carter?
Ralph Carter is a former American television actor as well as a singer, who is probably still most famous for being the child star of the 1970s three-time Golden Globe-nominated TV sitcom series “Good Times”, in which he appeared as Michael Evans.
Early Life
Ralph David Carter was born under the astrological sign of Gemini on the 30 May 1961, in New York City.
Except that he is of American nationality and African American ethnicity, there aren’t any other relevant details regarding his early life, family members or educational background.
Acting and Music Career
Ralph’s acting career began at his age of only nine, when he made his debut appearance on Broadway in the musical stageplay “The Me Nobody Knows” in 1971. This was followed by a streak of appearances in theatrical productions such as “Dude” and “Via Galactica”.
Being recognized as a rising star and honored with the Drama Desk Award as the Most Promising Performer, young Ralph was cast for the role of Travis Younger in the Judd Woldin’s Broadway musical entitled “Raisin”. This performance had earned him another Drama Desk Award in 1973 as well as the Theatre World Award in 1974, which were both eventually followed by a nomination for the prestigious Tony Award later in 1974.
Carter’s critically acclaimed Broadway’s performances caught the eye of the American Oscar-nominated director, producer and writer Norman Lear, who in 1974 cast Ralph for the recurring role of Michael Evans in his television comedy series “Good Times“. A spin-off show of “Maude”, the CBS’ sitcom follows a story of Florida and James Evans, portrayed by Esther Rolle and John Amos respectively, and their three children living in Chicago’s black neighborhood housing project.
Ralph portrayed the character of the couple’s youngest child who, due to his passionate activism earned the nickname ‘the militant midget’. Carter continued his role through the show’s run of six seasons and over 130 episodes, until 1979 when it was eventually cancelled.
After performing several songs from the original soundtrack of “Good Times”, at the age of 15 in 1976, Mercury Records released Carter’s debut studio album entitled “When You’re Young and in Love” – it premiered on the TV program “Soul Train”, after which the album’s single named “Extra Extra (Read All About It)” peaked at No. 12 on the US Billboard’s chart.
In 1985, Carter released a single entitled “Get It Right”.
Carter’s latest on-screen acting engagement occurred in 1987, when he starred in the short ‘rock operetta’ movie “Donny’s House”, while his most recent on-stage appearance dates back to 2005 when he starred in The Classical Theater of Harlem company’s stageplay “Ain’t Supposed to Die a Natural Death”.
In 2002 Carter wrote a premise for an episode for the Primetime Emmy Award-nominated TV comedy series “The King of Queens”, while in 2006 he wrote lyrics for the song “Shakin'” that was featured in the comedy movie “The Groomsmen”.
Personal Life
At a Christmas Party in 1982, Carter first met Lisa Parks with whom he shortly after began a relationship.
After almost four years of dating, the couple became engaged in 1986, and married six months later in February 1987. Prior to their separation in 1992, the couple was blessed with two children, sons named Michael and James. Since 1994, Ralph has been married to River York, with whom he’s welcomed two daughters, named Jessica and Vivica and a son called Phoenix.
Net Worth
Have you ever wondered how much wealth this former juvenile acting star has accumulated so far? How rich Ralph Carter is nowadays? Authoritative sources in the field have estimated that, speaking as of mid-2020, the total of his net worth revolves around $1 million, primarily acquired through his previous acting career, as well as his efforts in the music industry.
General Info
Full Name | Ralph Carter |
Net Worth | $1 million |
Date Of Birth | May 30, 1961 |
Profession | Actor, Singer |
Nationality | American |
Accomplishments
Awards | TV Land Impact Award, Drama Desk Award for Most Promising Performer |
Nominations | Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical |
TV Shows | Good Times |
Social profile links
Facts
# | Fact |
---|---|
1 | Currently living in New York City [2005] |
2 | Best known as a juvenile player on 70s TV with his portrayal of spunky activist son Michael, the youngest sibling in the Evans household, on the popular sitcom Good Times (1974). |
3 | In 2005 he appeared in the cast of "Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death" for the Classical Theatre of Harlem company. |
4 | For his work in the 1973 musical "Raisin", Carter won the Theatre World Award was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Supporting or Featured Actor in a Musical. That same season he also appeared in "Dude", for which he won the Drama Desk Award for Most Promising Performer, "Via Galactica" (both of which were short-lived) and "The Karl Marx Play", which performed off-Broadway. Prior to this he came in as a replacement in the Broadway musical "The Me Nobody Knows" in 1971 at the age of 10. |
5 | At the height of his Good Times (1974) run, Carter was groomed for teen-idol singing status. Mercury Records produced Carter's one and only release -- the 1976 "Young And In Love". Ralph's two singles were "Extra Extra (Read All About it)" and "When You're Young And In Love." He also sang on a couple of his TV show's episodes. |
6 | On June 28, 2006, Carter appeared at the BET Awards in a mini-"Good Times" reunion, joining former cast members Jimmie Walker (J.J.), BernNadette Stanis (Thelma) and Janet Jackson (Penny). |
7 | Showed up on an episode of "E! True Hollywood Story" (age 40+) for the story behind his landmark sitcom sporting a mustache. |
8 | Had an 80s singing nightclub act and performed mainly as a baritone balladeer performing in such NY clubs as Sweetwater's. |
9 | Like other TV child stars, Ralph's on-camera career fell away after his popular show's cancellation, unable to transition into adult roles. |
10 | Ralph released a record, "Extra Extra," that was a minor hit in the mid-1970's. |
11 | Was nominated for Broadway's 1974 Tony Award as Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Musical) for "Raisin." |
Pictures
Movies
Actor
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Donny's House | 1987 | TV Movie | |
Good Times | 1974-1979 | TV Series | Michael Evans |
Soundtrack
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
The Groomsmen | 2006 | writer: "Shakin'" | |
The King of Queens | 2002 | TV Series writer - 1 episode | |
Good Times | 1976-1978 | TV Series performer - 6 episodes | |
The 28th Annual Tony Awards | 1974 | TV Special performer: "Sidewalk Tree" |
Self
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Steve Harvey | 2016 | TV Series | Himself |
Extra | 2015 | TV Series | Himself - Good Times |
Face of Darkness: Journey to Healing | 2014 | Documentary | Himself |
Life After | 2012 | TV Series | Himself |
Stars & Music | 2011 | Himself | |
TV Land Confidential | 2007 | TV Series documentary | Himself - Interviewee |
BET Awards 2006 | 2006 | TV Special | Himself |
The 4th Annual TV Land Awards | 2006 | TV Special | Himself |
E! True Hollywood Story | 2000 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
Ebony/Jet Showcase | 1986 | TV Series | Himself |
The Merv Griffin Show | 1977 | TV Series | Himself |
Wonderama | 1976 | TV Series | Himself |
New American Bandstand 1965 | 1975-1976 | TV Series | Himself |
Soul Train | 1975 | TV Series documentary | Guest |
Dinah! | 1974 | TV Series | Himself |
The 28th Annual Tony Awards | 1974 | TV Special | Himself - Performer and Nominee: Best Featured Actor in a Musical |
The Mike Douglas Show | 1973 | TV Series | Himself - Actor |
Awards
Won Awards
Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
---|---|---|---|---|
2006 | Impact Award | TV Land Awards | Good Times (1974) |
Source: IMDb, Wikipedia