Accomplished director and impresario of the English stage and noted director of British TV turned busy journeyman helmer of American episodic TV. Carson built a strong reputation in his native England for his inventive staging of both traditional and contemporary theater. He founded the London Theater Company and the Direct Theater Company and served as the artistic director of two regional theaters at Leeds and Canterbury. Carson was also a leading director at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He worked extensively in Britsh TV, notably on the "Sherlock Holmes" series in the mid-1980s, and directed numerous music videos. Carson came to Hollywood in 1989 and quickly demonstrated a propensity for thoughtful sci-fi with several episodes of "Alien Nation". He demonstrated diversity as a helmer of episodes of "L.A. Law", "Doogie Howser M.D.", "Northern Exposure" and "Homefront".

Most significantly Carson became one of the leading directors on the syndicated hit "Star Trek: The Next Generation". This led to the plum assignment of directing the hugely popular $12 million two-hour pilot of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (syndicated, 1993). Carson also helmed several other pilots and premieres. He segued to features with an extremely high profile debut, "Star Trek: Generations" (1994). Carson demonstrated equal comfort with both special effects and special stars. While delivering several outstanding action setpieces, he also smoothly bridged the gap between what some reviewers have described as the campy nostalgia of William Shatner's Captain Kirk and the earnest thesping of Patrick Stewart's Captain Picard.