They Were ‘On Top Of The World’: The Real Story Of The Carpenters

Surprise!

Despite the difficulties, Karen got her wish. She met real estate developer Thomas James Burris in the Beverly Hills Hotel in August 1980. Burris had an 18-year-old son from an earlier marriage and was nine years older than her, but Karen did not mind.

Surprise

A Perfect Suitor

Tom Burris was 39 years old, and he seemed like the perfect match, or at least Karen thought. Burris was attractive, nice, and very generous… but that would all come crashing down not long before they were to tie the knot.

A Perfect Suitor