Trivia

Died a married woman. She was planning to officially sign divorce papers on the day she died.

After her recovery, she planned to go public about her battle with anorexia.

The Carpenters' famous Newville house, located at 9828 Newville Avenue, Downey, California, is pictured in their fifth album "Now & Then". This was also the same house where Karen died.

After the Carpenters became successful during the early 1970s, she and her brother bought two apartment buildings in Downey, California and called them "Close to You" and "Only Just Begun". Today, the "Close to You Apartments" can still be located at - 8356 East 5th, Downey, California.

Songwriter Paul Williams wrote "Rainy Days and Mondays" for her.

Had to have surgery on her ear, during the late 1970s, for impaired hearing.

The Carpenters are still A&M Records' biggest and bestselling artists.

While being treated for anorexia, she embroidered a sign above her hospital bed that read "You win, I gain!".

In 1970, "(They Long to Be) Close to You" became the Carpenters' first certified Gold single.

Her high-profile death is credited with creating a massive public awareness of Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia, and later, other forms of eating disorders. It is believed that the lives of many thousands of children, especially teenage girls, were saved when parents became aware that their daughters were not just unusually thin but had a disorder that was potentially fatal.

By June 1981, the Carpenters had sold over 55 million albums.

Through her German ancestry, she and her brother are distantly related to Catholic reformer Martin Luther.

As of April 2004, her brother Richard Carpenter has made four new Carpenters albums since her death. This is possible by using songs that were left off previous albums and making new albums out of them. He also uses songs that Karen recorded and then later arranges music to accompany them.

The song "Now", recorded in April 1982, was the last song she ever recorded.

In 1976, she bought a Century City condominium. she gutted two separate apartments and turned it into one. The address was 2222 Avenue of the Stars. As a housewarming-gift, her mother Agnes Carpenter gave her a collection of leather-bound classic works of literature.

Had her own personalized driver's license plate which was: KAC3.

The Carpenter Private Mausoleum in Westlake Village, California is a 46,000-pound, Partenope-style structure and was constructed in Texas over seven months. It is polished sunset red with beautiful warmth and color and lively crystal patterns. Similar structures have a price range of $600,000. Karen, Agnes, and Harold use up 3 out of 6 spaces in the mausoleum.

Her favorite T.V. shows included Dallas (1978), Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969), and I Love Lucy (1951).

Songwriter Peter Cetera wrote "Making Love in the Afternoon" for her.

On September 4, 1978, the Carpenters gave their last concert at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The doorbell in her Century City condo chimed the first six notes of "We've Only Just Begun".

At age 30, she made a solo album with producer Phil Ramone in 1980, titled "Karen Carpenter". However, it was shelved by A&M executive Herb Alpert. 16 years later in 1996, it was finally released.

Said that she never 'Smoked, did drugs, or drink,' with the exception of occasional wine.

Expressed interest in starring in a movie or a musical.

Was planning to go to the nail salon with Frenda Franklin the day she died in celebration of her divorce, as she was suppose to sign the papers to make her divorce from Tom Burris official that day.

She did not like the song "Superstar" until after hearing her brother's arrangement for it; she then considered it one of her favorites that the Carpenters had done.

Her family started the "Karen A. Carpenter Memorial Foundation", which raised money for research on anorexia nervosa and eating disorders. Today, the title has been changed to "Carpenter Family Foundation"... in addition to eating disorders, the foundation now funds the arts, entertainment and education.

She and her brother, Richard Carpenter, were both awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6931 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on October 12, 1983.

On Thursday, December 11, 2003 she, Agnes and Harold were exhumed from Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Cypress, California and were moved to Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Memorial Park in Westlake Village, California. Agnes, Karen and Harold remained in their original caskets. At 12:30pm PST, they were all re-interred and entombed in a private family mausoleum in the Tranquility Gardens section of the cemetery.

Sang "Because We Are In Love" at her 1980 wedding. The song was written by her brother Richard Carpenter and friend John Bettis.

Collected Disney memorabilia.

She befriended Cherry Boone while getting treated for Anorexia. Boone herself was a recovered anorectic.

In her mid 20s, she was still living with her parents.

Was born with dark blond hair.

Among her friends were Petula Clark, Olivia Newton-John and Dionne Warwick.

In 1976, the Carpenters' tour of Japan was the largest grossing in Japanese history.

Karen Carpenter died on February 4, 1983, a month away from what would have been her 33rd birthday on March 2.

Was married at the Beverly Hills Hotel in the Crystal Room.

Sang "Bless the Beasts and the Children" with her brother Richard Carpenter at The 44th Annual Academy Awards (1972).

Attended and graduated from California State University, Long Beach.

Has four nieces and one nephew: Richard Carpenter's five children.

She was managed by Jerry Weintraub from 1976 - 1983

Portrayed by Cynthia Gibb in The Karen Carpenter Story (1989).

Playboy Magazine ranked Karen as the best rock drummer of 1975 during its annual poll.

Was originally offered the songs 'Rock with You' and 'Off the Wall' but declined the offer to do these songs, declaring them 'too funky.' They were later given to Michael Jackson.

Was planning to dye her hair bronze when she died.

Was planning to become either a nurse or an artist for her profession.

Made her last public appearance on January 11, 1983 at a photo call of past Grammy winners to celebrate the Grammy's 25th anniversary. She appeared tired and frail, but was vibrant and outgoing.

The last show she ever watched was a recorded episode of Magnum, P.I. (1980) the night before she died.

Won three Grammy Awards.