| Karen Carpenter Quick Info | |
|---|---|
| Height | 5 ft 4 in |
| Weight | 45 kg |
| Date of Birth | March 2, 1950 |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown |
Karen Carpenter was an American singer and drummer who was one-half of the vocal and instrumental duo named The Carpenters along with her older brother Richard Carpenter. She gained acclaim for her musical talent both from her contemporaries as well as the critics and was also named as one of the Rolling Stone‘s 100 greatest singers of all time. She also struggled with eating disorders which later led to an increased awareness of anorexia and body dysmorphia.
Born Name
Karen Anne Carpenter
Nick Name
K.C., Freckle Face
Age
She was born on March 2, 1950.
Died
At the age of 32, Karen Carpenter passed away on February 4, 1983, in Downey, California, United States due to “emetine cardiotoxicity due to or as a consequence of anorexia nervosa.”
Resting Place
Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park, Westlake Village, California, United States
Sun Sign
Pisces
Born Place
Grace New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Nationality
Education
Karen Carpenter studied at Downey High School from where she graduated in the spring of 1967 and received the John Philip Sousa Band Award. Later, she attended California State University, Long Beach as a music major and performed in the college choir along with her brother.
She had also taken tap dancing and ballet lessons.
Occupation
Singer, Drummer
Family
- Father – Harold Bertram Carpenter (Worked in the Printing Business)
- Mother – Agnes Reuwer (née Tatum)
- Sibling – Richard Carpenter (Older Brother) (Musician, Record Producer, Arranger, Songwriter, Conductor)
Manager
Karen Carpenter was managed by –
- Sherwin Bash (1970-1975)
- Terry Ellis (1975-1976)
- Jerry Weintraub (1976-1983)
Genre
Pop, Easy Listening, Soft Rock, Jazz
Instruments
Vocals, Drums
Labels
A&M Records
Build
Slim
Height
5 ft 4 in or 162.5 cm
Weight
45 kg or 99 lbs
Boyfriend / Spouse
Karen Carpenter had dated –
- Bill Hudson
- Tony Danza
- Mark Harmon
- Frankie Chavez (1964)
- Mike Curb (1973-1974)
- Alan Osmond (1973)
- Terry Ellis (1975)
- John Adrian (1976-1977)
- Steve Martin (1977)
- Tom Bähler (1978-1979)
- Thomas Burris (1980-1983) – On August 31, 1980, she got married to real-estate developer Thomas James Burris in the Crystal Room of The Beverly Hills Hotel. She wanted to have children but her husband had undergone a vasectomy and was against the decision to get an operation to reverse it. This affected their marriage and she finally filed for divorce on October 28, 1982. The failure of her marriage had an adverse effect on the artist and one of her friends said the marriage was “the straw that broke the camel’s back. It was absolutely the worst thing that could have ever happened to her”.
Race / Ethnicity
White
Karen Carpenter was of English, German, Irish, Dutch, Scottish, and Welsh descent.
Hair Color
Dark Brown
Eye Color
Dark Brown
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
- 3-octave contralto vocal range
- Shoulder-length hair
- Sported forehead bangs
- Freckled face
Karen Carpenter Favorite Things
- TV Shows – Dallas (1978), Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969), I Love Lucy (1951)
- Drummers – Joe Morello, Ringo Starr
- Some Of Her Favorite The Carpenters Songs – “Superstar”, “I Need to Be In Love”
Karen Carpenter Facts
- Her first words were “bye-bye” and “stop it”, the latter spoken in response to Richard.
- She had won 3 Grammy Awards.
- Karen Carpenter was a huge fan of Matt Monro, Spike Jones and His City Slickers, Barbra Streisand, Dusty Springfield, and Ella Fitzgerald.
- She was good friends with Petula Clark, Dorothy Hamill, Olivia Newton-John, and Dionne Warwick.
- She enjoyed collecting Disney memorabilia.
- Karen Carpenter has been ranked at number #29 on VH1’s “100 Greatest Women of Rock N Roll” list.
- Her funeral took place on February 8, 1983, at the United Methodist Church in Downey, California, and was attended by around one thousand mourners.
Featured Image by White House photo by Knudsen, Robert L. / Executive Office of the President of the United States / Public Domain
