Entertainment Tonight is reporting actress Dixie Carter has passed away. Carter's husband Hal Holbrook released a statement to ET saying,  

This has been a terrible blow to our family. We would appreciate everyone understanding that this is a private family tragedy. Thank you.

Carter, best known for her role as outspoken designer Julia Sugabaker on Designing Women, was 70-years-old. She also appeared briefly as Dorian Cramer on One Life to Live and starred on the now-defunct Edge on Night. Watch the famous "Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" scene after the jump.

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Before the role of Dr. Dorian Cramer Lord Callison Vickers Hayes on this ABC daytime drama was made famous by Robin Strasser, Dixie Carter filled in for the role's originator, Nancy Pinkerton, in 1974.

When Pinkerton returned after an illness, Dixie moved on to play Brandy Henderson on The Edge of Night for two years. Robin Strasser arrived in Llanview in 1979, added many extensions to Dorian's name throughout her run, and made her one of daytime's most beloved vixens.

Pop Quiz: what prime time show later made Dixie a household name?