Personal Info
| Full Name | Thomas James Burris |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | November 30, 1940 |
| Age | 85 years old (as of 2025) |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Real Estate Developer |
| Famous For | Marriage to singer Karen Carpenter |
| Marriage Date | August 31, 1980 |
| Marriage Duration | 14 months |
| Children | One son from previous marriage |
| Current Status | Lives privately, away from public eye |
Who Is Thomas James Burris?
Thomas James Burris is an American businessman who worked in real estate. Most people know him as the former husband of Karen Carpenter, the famous singer from the music group The Carpenters. Before he married Karen, very few people knew about him. He was just a regular businessman living his life away from the cameras and media.
Thomas was born on November 30, 1940, in the United States. He had already been married once before and had an 18-year-old son when he met Karen Carpenter. His work in real estate development helped him make a living, but he was not wealthy or famous like his future wife.
Meeting Karen Carpenter
In early 1980, Thomas Burris met Karen Carpenter at a fancy restaurant called Ma Maison. Karen was already a famous singer at that time. She had won Grammy awards and sold millions of records with her brother Richard. Despite her success, Karen wanted to find love and start a family.
The romance between Thomas and Karen moved very quickly. They only dated for two months before Thomas asked her to marry him in June 1980. Many of Karen’s friends worried about how fast things were moving. They also noticed that Thomas was nine years older than Karen and already had a grown son.
The Wedding
Thomas Burris and Karen Carpenter got married on August 31, 1980, at the famous Beverly Hills Hotel in California. The wedding was beautiful and expensive. Karen’s mother had already paid for most of the wedding costs and sent out all the invitations.
However, something shocking happened just days before the wedding. Thomas told Karen that he had gotten a vasectomy years ago. This meant he could not have children naturally. Karen felt betrayed because she really wanted to become a mother. She wanted to cancel the wedding, but her mother told her it was too late to stop it.
Life During Marriage
The marriage between Thomas and Karen faced serious problems from the very start. After they got married, things became worse instead of better. Thomas liked to live an expensive lifestyle, even though he did not have enough money to pay for it.
He started asking Karen for money regularly. Sometimes he asked for $35,000 or even $50,000 at one time. Karen’s family and friends became worried. They saw that Thomas was spending Karen’s money on expensive cars, fancy clothes, and other things he could not afford on his own.
Reports from people close to Karen said that Thomas treated her badly. He said cruel things to her about her body and called her names. This hurt Karen deeply because she was already struggling with her health and self-image.
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Karen’s Health Problems
Karen Carpenter had been fighting an eating disorder called anorexia nervosa for many years. This serious illness made her eat very little food, and she became dangerously thin. The problems in her marriage made her condition even worse.
Thomas knew that Karen was very thin, but many people believe he did not understand how serious her illness was. During that time, not many people talked about eating disorders openly. However, instead of helping her, Thomas made things harder by criticizing her appearance.
Karen’s friends later said that the marriage was “the worst thing that could have ever happened to her.” The stress and unhappiness from her relationship with Thomas added to her existing health problems.
The Divorce
After 14 months of marriage, Karen decided she could not stay with Thomas anymore. In November 1981, she filed for divorce. Before filing, she changed her will to make sure Thomas would not get most of her money. She left her house to him but gave everything else to her brother Richard and her parents.
Karen’s fortune was worth between $5 million and $10 million. She wanted to make sure that her family, not Thomas, would receive this money after she died.
Karen’s Tragic Death
Sadly, Karen Carpenter died on February 4, 1983, before the divorce was finalized. She was only 32 years old. She died from heart failure caused by her long battle with anorexia nervosa. Her death shocked the music world and her millions of fans.
About 1,000 people came to Karen’s funeral at the Downey United Methodist Church. Famous singers like Dionne Warwick and Olivia Newton-John attended to say goodbye. Thomas Burris did come to the funeral, and he placed his wedding ring in Karen’s casket.
What Happened to Thomas Burris?
After Karen’s death, Thomas Burris disappeared from public life. He has not done any interviews or appeared in public since 1983. The last time anyone heard from him was in a brief interview in February 1983, where he talked about having his own work problems.
Today, Thomas Burris is 85 years old. Nobody knows where he lives or what he is doing now. He is not on social media, and he has kept his life completely private for over 40 years.
Some people wonder if he ever remarried or if he continued working in real estate. Because he values his privacy so much, these questions remain unanswered. His current net worth is also unknown, though some sources estimate it might be around $1 million.
Thomas Burris’s Legacy
Thomas James Burris remains a controversial figure in music history. Many fans of Karen Carpenter blame him for making her life difficult during their short marriage. They believe that his treatment of her made her eating disorder worse and contributed to her early death.
While Thomas himself has never spoken publicly about his marriage or Karen’s death, the stories from Karen’s friends and family paint a difficult picture. They describe a man who took advantage of a talented woman who was looking for love and happiness.
Conclusion
Thomas James Burris will always be remembered as the man who married one of the greatest singers of all time. His relationship with Karen Carpenter was short and troubled. While he has lived privately since her death, his role in Karen’s life story continues to interest people who love her music.
Karen Carpenter’s beautiful voice and timeless songs remain her true legacy. She touched millions of hearts with her music, and fans around the world still listen to her songs today. Though her marriage to Thomas Burris was unhappy, her artistic contribution to music will never be forgotten.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How old is Thomas James Burris now?
Thomas James Burris is 85 years old as of 2025. He was born on November 30, 1940.
2. How long were Thomas Burris and Karen Carpenter married?
They were married for about 14 months, from August 31, 1980, until Karen filed for divorce in November 1981.
3. Did Thomas Burris have any children with Karen Carpenter?
No, they did not have children together. Thomas had a vasectomy before meeting Karen, which prevented them from having children.
4. Did Thomas Burris inherit Karen Carpenter’s money?
No, he did not. Karen changed her will before she died and left everything to her brother Richard and her parents.
5. What does Thomas Burris do now?
Nobody knows what Thomas Burris does today. He has lived a private life since Karen’s death in 1983.
6. Did Thomas Burris attend Karen Carpenter’s funeral?
Yes, he attended the funeral and placed his wedding ring in her casket.
7. Why did Karen Carpenter marry Thomas Burris?
Karen wanted to find love and start a family. She married Thomas after dating him for only two months.
8. Was Thomas Burris rich?
No, he was not wealthy. He often asked Karen for money to support his expensive lifestyle.
9. Where is Thomas Burris today?
His current location is unknown. He has stayed completely out of the public eye for over 40 years.
10. Did Thomas Burris ever remarry?
There is no public information about whether Thomas Burris remarried after Karen’s death.
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