on Ruth E. Carter(April 10, 1960) is an American costume designer who has worked on more than 60 films throughout her career. Carter is best known for her work on the Marvel Cinematic Universe films, including Black Panther, which earned her an Academy Award for Best Costume Design, making her the first African American woman to win the award. Her other notable works include Malcolm X, Selma, and The Butler. Carter’s work has been praised for its attention to detail and authenticity, and for the way it has helped to elevate and celebrate African culture and heritage in Hollywood.
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Ruth E. Carter Biography
Ruth E. Carter
April 10, 1960
Massachusetts, United States
Costume Designer
Academy Award for Best Costume Design
$10 million
- Twitter: @therealruthecarter
- Instagram: @ruthecarter
- Facebook: Ruth E. Carter
Early Life & Education
Ruth E. Carter was born on April 10, 1960, in Springfield, Massachusetts. She grew up in a family of artists and was inspired by her mother, who was a designer and seamstress. Her father was an educator and her grandparents were entrepreneurs, which instilled in her a strong work ethic and an appreciation for creativity.
Carter attended Hampton University in Virginia, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in theater. While studying there, she developed an interest in costume design and began exploring the art form. After graduating from Hampton, she moved to New York City to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she earned an associate degree in fashion design.
During her time at FIT, Ruth Carter developed a passion for designing costumes for theater productions. She started out designing for off-Broadway productions and gradually worked her way up to larger productions on Broadway. She also began working on film sets as an assistant costume designer, gaining valuable experience in the industry.
Career
Ruth E. Carter’s career in costume design spans more than three decades and includes work on over 60 films. She began her career in the 1980s, working as an assistant costume designer on films like School Daze and Do the Right Thing. She later worked on films such as Jungle Fever, Malcolm X, and Amistad, earning critical acclaim for her attention to detail and authenticity.
Carter’s work on Selma, a film about the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches, earned her a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design. She also worked on the biographical drama The Butler, which tells the story of an African American White House butler who served eight American presidents. The film earned her a nomination for the Costume Designers Guild Award for Excellence in Period Film.
However, it was Carter’s work on Black Panther that garnered her the most attention and acclaim. The film, which takes place in the fictional African nation of Wakanda, allowed Carter to showcase her creativity and celebrate African culture through her costume designs. Her work on the film earned her numerous awards, including an Academy Award for Best Costume Design, making her the first African American woman to win the award.
In addition to her work in film, Ruth Carter has designed costumes for music videos, stage productions, and television shows. She designed costumes for the Broadway musical The Color Purple, which earned her a Tony Award nomination for Best Costume Design. She has also designed costumes for television shows such as Roots, the remake of the classic miniseries.
Ruth Carter is a member of the Costume Designers Guild, and her contributions to the film industry have been recognized with numerous awards and honors. In 2019, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 2021, she was awarded the Career Achievement Award at the Costume Designers Guild Awards.
Personal Life
Ruth E. Carter is a private person and doesn’t share much about her personal life publicly. However, it is known that she has a daughter, named Kairo, whom she raised as a single mother. She has spoken in interviews about the challenges of balancing motherhood with a demanding career in the entertainment industry.
Ruth Carter is known for her activism and advocacy for diversity and representation in the film industry. She has been a vocal proponent of creating more opportunities for women and people of color in all areas of filmmaking, including costume design. In 2019, she was honored with the Visionary Award at the Costume Designers Guild Awards for her contributions to the industry and her advocacy for underrepresented voices.
In her free time, Carter enjoys travel and exploring different cultures, which is reflected in her work as a costume designer. She has also been known to participate in community events and mentor aspiring costume designers, sharing her knowledge and experience with the next generation of artists.
Awards & Achievements
Here are some of the awards and achievements that Ruth E. Carter has received throughout her career:
- Academy Award for Best Costume Design for Black Panther (2023)
- Academy Award for Best Costume Design for Black Panther (2019)
- Costume Designers Guild Award for Excellence in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film for Black Panther (2019)
- Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Costume Design for Black Panther (2019)
- Hollywood Walk of Fame Star (2019)
- Costume Designers Guild Career Achievement Award (2021)
- Visionary Award at the Costume Designers Guild Awards (2019)
- NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Costume Design/Outstanding Supporting Actress for Malcolm X (1992)
- Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Award for Excellence in Costume Design (2019)
- Designing Women Award at the Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon (2015)
- African-American Film Critics Association Award for Best Costume Design for Selma (2014)
Carter’s groundbreaking work on Black Panther not only earned her an Academy Award twice but also made her the first African American woman to win the award for Best Costume Design. Her contributions to the film industry and her advocacy for diversity and representation have also been recognized with several other awards and honors throughout her career.
Networth
Ruth E. Carter’s net worth was estimated to be around $10 million. Her successful career in costume design has led her to work on numerous high-profile films and TV shows, and she has received critical acclaim and numerous awards for her work. Her net worth is likely to have increased since then, particularly following her Academy Award win for Best Costume Design for Black Panther. However, as a language model, I do not have access to up-to-date information on individuals’ net worth, and any estimate beyond 2021 would be purely speculative.
Social Media Handles
Ruth E. Carter is very active on social media platforms, especially on Instagram where she has a verified account with over 198,000 followers. You can follow her through the following social media handles.
- Twitter: @therealruthecarter
- Instagram: @ruthecarter
- Facebook: Ruth E. Carter
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