Mike Carter: key obituary facts
Is Mike Carter dead? Yes. Mike Carter died on November 7, 2026, at age 71.
Cause of death: Mike Carter's cause of death was reported as Medical complications.
What was Mike Carter known for?
He was an American basketball player.
More about Mike Carter
Born: 20 July 1955.
Place of birth: Los Angeles.
Gender: male.
Nationality: United States, Israel.
Education: Eagle Rock High School, Drury University.
Also known as: Michael Carter.
Mike Carter, the American–Israeli former basketball player, died November 7, 2026, aged 71, from complications during a medical procedure.
Born Michael Timothy Carter in Eagle Rock, in Los Angeles, California, on July 20, 1955, he was known by the nicknames “Jolly” and “Meshugah”; his name in Hebrew was מייק קרטר. At Eagle Rock High School, he played basketball.
He went on to Drury University, where he studied physical education and played for the Drury Panthers over two seasons, as a member of the class of 1979. The Panthers’ 1978–79 team finished with a 33–2 record and won the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics national championship. At the 1979 NAIA men’s basketball tournament, Carter received the Charles Stevenson Hustle Award. He later played 11 seasons in the Israeli Basketball Premier League, appearing for Hapoel Holon, Hapoel Jerusalem and Maccabi Ramat Gan. Standing 6 feet 8 inches, he played both forward and center. His mother was Sue Carter, née Rose Niedospal, who lived from 1922 to 2014.