Ralph David Carter (born May 30, 1961) is an American actor and singer, best remembered as Michael Evans, the youngest child of Florida and James Evans Sr., on the CBS sitcomGood Times from 1974 to 1979.[1] Before joining Good Times, Carter appeared in the BroadwaymusicalRaisin, based on the Lorraine Hansberry drama A Raisin in the Sun, as was noted in the credits during the first season.[2]
Norman Lear was enjoying huge success in the 1970s, with the hit television series All in the Family, Sanford and Son, and Maude. Lear developed Good Times as a spin-off series for Maude's housekeeper, Florida Evans (portrayed by Esther Rolle) and her husband Henry (John Amos), who was renamed James.[5] Because of Carter's success in Raisin, Lear bought out the remainder of his Broadway contract to cast him as the first original character of Good Times, James and Florida's youngest son, Michael.
In 1975, Carter recorded an album titled Young and in Love, which was released by Mercury Records,[6] and it included a cover of the Ruby & the Romantics 1964 song "When You're Young and in Love". That song would become the first single from the album. Carter performed the song on the musical variety television show Soul Train. That song, along with the second single "Extra, Extra (Read All About It)", charted at No. 37 and No. 59, respectively, on the US Billboard R&B chart.[7] In 1985, Carter had another single released, "Get it Right", without an accompanying album, though it did not chart.
In 2005, Carter appeared in the cast of "Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death" for the Classical Theatre of Harlem Company.[8]
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