Esther originated the role of Florida Evans in the All in the Family spin-off Maude in 1972. Two years later, she got her own spin-off Good Times. After Good Times ended in 1979, she played Rita, the White House chef in My Fellow Americans; Mammy in Scarlett; and Aunt Annie Sinclair in Down in the Delta.
Her sister, Rosanna Carter made a guest appearance on Good Times.
Esther passed away on November 17, 1998, due to complications form diabetes.