Brad Carter Makes a Splash in 'True Detective'

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Actor Brad Carter is known for his roles in “Dexter,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,”  “Justified,” and other series over the past few years.  Today, Carter has carved out a perfect niche for himself in film and television series portraying complicated characters on the edge. And that’s exactly where he wants to be.

For example, one need look no further than HBO’s new powerhouse mini-series “True Detective” starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, where Carter plays the recurring character Charlie Lange, a low-brow white supremacist and ex-husband of Dora Lange whose murder the series revolves around. 

“True Detective” follows the lives of detectives Rust Cohle (McConaughey) and Martin Hart (Harrelson) as they lead the 17-year hunt for a bizarre serial killer. The show airs Sundays at 9 p.m. Carter, who was featured in the show’s premiere on Jan. 12, is set to appear again in the Feb. 9 episode.

“Charlie Lange is kind of a lowlife with a troubled background who’s on the edge.” Carter Said. “We don’t know whether to trust him or not, and that’s exactly the kind of character I love to play.”

With a slew of roles over the past 10 years, playing characters from the guy next door to cold-blooded killers, Carter has made his mark with his intensity and ability to own a role like few other actors in television and film today.

Carter gained attention for his role of Rankin in “Dexter” during the premier episode of the show’s fifth season in 2010, where he played a biker who is killed by the show’s star in the heat of the moment.  He became the first victim who is killed by Dexter (Michael C. Hall) who went against his own code of only killing criminals who have escaped justice.

“People remember that character I played because he’s the kind of guy you love to see get what’s coming to him. I have to say I’m a little bit proud that I played the first character that was killed against Dexter’s own code, I mean how cool of a club is that to be in?” Carter said.

Although he’s from Georgia and knows how to tap into his southern roots, his ability to play complex characters goes far beyond that. In 2013 alone Carter had non-southern guest-star roles in “Bones,” “The Mentalist,” “Longmire,” and “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” where he played “Rudy” a schizophrenic homeless man, who’s at the center of a frightening series of murders.

Carter is just as at home playing leading comedic roles as seen in “True Blood,” “New Girl,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” a recurring role on “Disney’s Zeke and Luther,” and the 2011 pilot “Crash and Burn” where he played a down-home stuntman with a taste for ladies.

“I would love to do more roles that are more comedic in nature. I used to do standup and I love the fact that I can make people laugh. There’s just no better feeling.” he said.

With a slew of acting credits under his belt there’s no doubt the Georgia native is man on demand in Hollywood. But besides his acting, Carter is also a respected guitarist who has played his own brand of bluesy-rock at clubs around the country for many years. Already, he’s working with a producer on his first album made up of his own original compositions.

Many may remember seeing Carter in the news and on the “Today Show” in May of 2013, when he made history as the first person to ever have brain surgery Twittered and Vined live. Carter strummed his guitar while UCLA surgeons placed an electrode deep into his brain to try and control a hand tremor that had been plaguing Carter for years. Today, he is fully recovered and hard at work.

Carter just returned from Denver, Colorado as a special guest speaker and performer at the “A toast for Hope” event for Parkinson’s and Essential Tremor. More and more he is being asked to be a part of special events and lend his story and musical talents. 

As for Carter’s album, it is set for release later this year. To learn more, please visit www.BradCarter.me.