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“Karen Carpenter: Starving for Perfection”
“She had the voice of an Angel.”
Karen Carpenter’s life was cut shockingly short at the age of 32. Hers was the instantly recognizable voice of the 1970s super duo The Carpenters. Together with her song-crafting brother Richard, the sibling sensations ruled radios with enduring hits like “Close to You”, “Rainy Days and Mondays,” and “Top of the World.” The recent documentary, Karen Carpenter: Starving for Perfection (Amazon Prime), focuses a spotlight on a generational talent who, tragically, never felt that this was good enough.
Karen was a Southern California tomboy who loved playing both baseball and the drums. In fact, she was The Carpenter’s primary drummer during the initial years of the group’s ascension. But Karen’s stunning vocals eventually led to her nixing the sticks and grabbing the mic.
Ostensibly forced out front by her brother, Karen assumed a position where she was never fully at ease. It was a place plagued with an unrelenting drive for perfection that she never achieved.
Following a television appearance in which she determined that she looked overweight, Karen embarked on a dangerous road. It would descend into the vice grip of a ravaging condition just beginning to enter the public consciousness, anorexia nervosa. For Karen, her punishing path proved a fatal one.
Starvation, years of regurgitating the little food she did allow herself to swallow, all conspired to prove too much for her withered body to sustain. Karen collapsed of heart failure in Los Angeles, in the house where she grew up.
Several giants of entertainment reflect upon a brief life and lasting legacy over the course of Karen Carpenter: Starving for Perfection. Carol Burnett, Bob James, and Carnie Wilson (one of the film’s Executive Producers) all contribute heartfelt words. Many of those featured knew and performed with Karen. Among them is legendary singer and actress Olivia Newton-John, who passed in 2022 before the release of this documentary. Newton-John was a close confidante. The Australian superstar was to meet Karen for lunch on the day she died, learning that her friend was gone by way of a news report on the radio.
Cherry Boone O’Neill, daughter of iconic musician Pat Boone, authored a book about her own battle with eating disorders. She confirms that Karen reached out to talk about how the disease was tearing her life to shreds. It was a sign of encouragement that Karen knew she needed help. And she did succeed in bolstering both her weight and her health– for a time.
But her disease wouldn’t tolerate retreat.
Soon, and very sadly, Karen once again succumbed to the insidious call.
This documentary is an enlightening look at a disease that has plagued many bright lights, from Princess Diana to the sublime Karen Carpenter.
[If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, contact the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD). hello@anad.org (888) 375-77657]
-John Smistad
Photo: Karen Carpenter (public domain)
Beautiful & impactful piece, John! This human tragedy continues to haunt. Such a bright, shy light. She deserved a far better fate.
The soundtrack of our young lives year after year, ja?
She took what could have been maudlin done by another voice and just enormously and genuinely moved us.
Thanks Ellen!
First of all, please stop using the word “passed,” to say someone died. Nobody passes. Second and all, missing from this brief article was that Karen was not only a drummer, but considered by many to be one of the best ion the world.
Thanks VERY much for reading, David.
A small correction, John. Karen grew up in East Haven, CT. Her family lived in a modest but nice suburban home. It’s said that people passing by it on the sidewalk could hear Karen & Richard practicing. An interesting thought.
Right, LL. Karen was a teen when the family moved to California. She was born and lived thru adolescence in New Haven.
I absolutely can NOT imagine hearing the young siblings playing music in that house in Connecticut.
Thanks VERY much for reading, sir!