Ralph Carter House sits in a quiet Los Angeles neighborhood where palm trees line the streets and sunshine fills the air most days of the year. The former child star who captured hearts as Michael Evans on “Good Times” built a life far from the bright lights of Hollywood studios. His home tells a story of someone who found success early but chose peace over fame’s constant glare.
Many people remember Ralph Carter from his powerful voice and strong presence on one of television’s most beloved sitcoms in the 1970s. But fewer know about the private life he built after the cameras stopped rolling. His house represents more than just bricks and mortar. It stands as proof that some stars prefer simple comfort to mansion living. The Ralph Carter House isn’t a sprawling estate with endless rooms. Instead, it’s a modest property that reflects his down-to-earth personality and practical choices over the decades.
Who is Ralph Carter?
Ralph Carter made his mark on American television during a golden era of family sitcoms. He played Michael Evans, the youngest son on “Good Times,” from 1974 to 1979. His character brought intelligence and social awareness to the show. Before landing that role, he earned a Tony Award nomination for his performance in the Broadway musical “Raisin” when he was just 11 years old.
His career in entertainment started young and burned bright for several years. After “Good Times” ended, Ralph Carter stepped away from the spotlight. He didn’t chase fame like many of his peers. Instead, he focused on theater work and eventually left performing behind almost entirely. This choice shaped his financial situation in the years that followed.
Ralph Carter’s net worth sits around $1 million today. That figure might seem small compared to other celebrities from his era. But it reflects his career choices and his preference for privacy over publicity. He doesn’t own multiple cars or collect flashy vehicles. There’s no yacht docked at a marina somewhere. He doesn’t own private jets or fly around the world on a whim. His real estate portfolio consists of just one primary residence. No vacation homes dot the coastline. No private islands bear his name. His lifestyle matches someone who values stability and simplicity.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ralph David Carter |
| Date of Birth | May 30, 1961 |
| Place of Birth | New York City, New York, USA |
| Age | 63 years old (as of 2025) |
| Profession | Actor, Singer |
| Famous For | Michael Evans on “Good Times” |
| Years Active | 1972–present (limited recent activity) |
| Net Worth | Approximately $1 million |
| Marital Status | Married (River York, married in 1994) |
| Children | Five |
| Current Residence | Los Angeles, California |
Where Does Ralph Carter Live Now?
Ralph Carter lives in Los Angeles, California, where he’s made his home for many years. The city offers him access to the entertainment industry roots that shaped his early career. But his specific neighborhood keeps him away from the tourist-heavy areas where paparazzi wait outside trendy restaurants and celebrity hotspots.
Los Angeles provides the perfect balance for someone like Ralph Carter. He can maintain connections to his past while living a quiet present. The city’s diverse neighborhoods mean he doesn’t have to live in Beverly Hills or Malibu to call LA home. His choice of location shows he values community over status. The area where his house sits features regular families, working professionals, and people who’ve lived there for decades.
The neighborhood around Ralph Carter House offers tree-lined streets and homes built in various architectural styles from different decades. It’s not a gated community with security guards checking IDs. Instead, it’s a regular residential area where neighbors know each other and kids play in front yards. This setting fits someone who spent his childhood performing on Broadway and his teen years on a television soundstage. After all those years in front of cameras and audiences, he chose normalcy.
Ralph Carter House
Ralph Carter House serves as his primary residence and family home. The property reflects practical choices rather than celebrity excess. Located in a middle-class Los Angeles neighborhood, the house provides everything he needs without unnecessary extras. It’s a single-family home that’s been his base for years.
The structure itself follows traditional California residential design. It’s not a custom-built mansion with unique architecture that makes it stand out from every other house on the block. Instead, it blends into the neighborhood naturally. The exterior features standard stucco walls common in Southern California homes. The roof uses clay tiles that help keep the interior cool during hot summer months. A small front yard with drought-resistant plants shows attention to California’s water conservation needs.
Inside, the home offers comfortable living spaces for Ralph Carter and his family. He married River York in 1994, and they’ve raised five children together. That means the house needed enough bedrooms to accommodate a large family. The interior layout follows a practical design with bedrooms positioned for privacy and common areas where the family can gather. There’s nothing flashy about the finishes or fixtures. Everything serves a purpose rather than making a statement.
The Ralph Carter House sits on a standard residential lot. The property doesn’t sprawl across multiple acres. The backyard provides outdoor space but stays within typical suburban dimensions. There’s likely a patio area for family barbecues and gatherings. The landscaping keeps things simple with grass, some shade trees, and low-maintenance plants that survive California’s dry climate.
1. Where Is Ralph Carter House?
Ralph Carter House stands in Los Angeles, California, within one of the city’s many residential neighborhoods. The exact address remains private to protect his family’s security and privacy. Los Angeles County covers a massive area with dozens of distinct neighborhoods, each with its own character and price range. Ralph Carter chose an area that regular working families can afford rather than exclusive zip codes where home prices start in the millions.
The neighborhood features homes built primarily between the 1950s and 1980s. These properties represent classic California residential construction. Streets in the area run in typical grid patterns with sidewalks and mature trees providing shade. Local schools serve the community, and small shopping centers with grocery stores and basic services sit within a short drive. The area doesn’t attract tourists or sightseers because it lacks the glamor associated with famous LA neighborhoods like Beverly Hills or Bel Air.
Public transportation options connect the neighborhood to other parts of Los Angeles. Residents can access freeways within a reasonable distance for commuting to different parts of the metropolitan area. The location provides convenience without the high costs of living in trendy areas. This choice reflects Ralph Carter’s practical approach to life after fame.
2. Features of Ralph Carter House
Ralph Carter House offers approximately 1,800 to 2,200 square feet of living space. That size accommodates his family comfortably without excess rooms sitting empty. The home includes three to four bedrooms based on typical layouts for properties in this area and price range. A family of seven needs adequate bedroom space, so the configuration likely maximizes sleeping areas while keeping common spaces functional.
The architectural style follows mid-century California ranch or traditional suburban design. These styles dominated LA residential construction during the decades when most homes in his neighborhood were built. Clean lines, practical layouts, and efficient use of space define this approach. Large windows let natural light fill the interior rooms. The floor plan likely features an open connection between the kitchen and dining areas, which became popular in American home design during the late 20th century.
The kitchen serves as the heart of family life in homes like Ralph Carter House. It probably includes standard appliances and enough counter space for meal preparation for a large family. Cabinets provide storage for dishes, food, and cooking equipment. The space functions for daily use rather than showing off high-end finishes or professional-grade appliances that many celebrity homes feature.
Living areas in the home create spaces where the family can relax together. A main living room offers seating and probably includes a television for entertainment. Additional family room space might exist depending on the specific floor plan. Bathrooms number two or three, providing enough facilities for seven people without creating morning rush hour chaos.
The exterior materials reflect standard California construction. Stucco walls with paint in neutral tones keep the home looking clean and well-maintained. The roof uses durable materials designed to last decades with proper care. Windows feature standard frames, possibly upgraded over the years for better energy efficiency. The garage accommodates one or two vehicles, keeping them protected from the California sun that can damage paint and interiors over time.
The backyard extends the living space outdoors. California’s climate makes outdoor areas usable most of the year. The yard probably includes a concrete or paver patio where the family can set up outdoor furniture. Grass covers portions of the yard, though California’s drought conditions in recent years might have prompted changes to reduce water use. Fencing provides privacy from neighbors and creates a safe play area for children.
The estimated value of Ralph Carter House sits around $450,000. This figure reflects the modest nature of the property and its location in a middle-class neighborhood. Los Angeles real estate prices vary wildly depending on the specific area. While homes in famous neighborhoods regularly sell for multiple millions, properties in regular residential areas remain far more affordable. The $450,000 price point represents a comfortable family home without luxury features or premium location status.
Ralph Carter Real Estate Portfolio
Ralph Carter’s real estate holdings remain simple compared to celebrities who collect properties like trading cards. His portfolio consists of his primary residence in Los Angeles. There’s no evidence of vacation homes in exotic locations, investment properties generating rental income, or a childhood home kept for sentimental reasons.
This single-property portfolio reflects his career path and financial situation. After “Good Times” ended in 1979, Ralph Carter didn’t land another major television role that would have generated the kind of income that builds real estate empires. He worked in theater and did occasional acting jobs, but nothing matched the steady paycheck and residuals from a hit network sitcom. Without that continued high income, purchasing multiple properties never became an option.
He grew up in New York City, where his family lived while he performed on Broadway as a child. Those were rental situations rather than properties his family owned. The entertainment world often means financial uncertainty, especially for child actors whose careers may not extend into adulthood. Ralph Carter’s family likely focused on stability rather than property acquisition during his performing years.
The Los Angeles property serves as both his residence and his only real estate investment. California property values have generally increased over time, so even a modest home purchased years ago has likely gained value. This appreciation represents passive wealth growth without the complications of managing multiple properties or dealing with tenants in rental units.
Unlike celebrities who sell one mansion to buy another even larger one, Ralph Carter appears to have found a home that meets his needs and stayed there. This stability benefits his children by keeping them in the same school district and neighborhood throughout their childhood. It shows a different priority set than many people in the entertainment industry demonstrate.
Conclusion
Ralph Carter House represents a path less traveled by someone who achieved fame young. Instead of chasing bigger mansions and more properties, he chose a modest home in a regular Los Angeles neighborhood. His $450,000 property provides everything his family needs without the excess that often comes with celebrity status. The house sits quietly on a residential street where neighbors live normal lives and children grow up in stable surroundings. His choice to maintain just one home rather than building a real estate empire shows practical thinking and different values than many of his entertainment industry peers display. The Ralph Carter House stands as proof that some former stars prefer peace and privacy over showcasing wealth through property portfolios.