Carow was a German director and screenwriter. As a young man he was part of a theatre group. In 1950 he enrolled in DEFA’s film school to study directing, and made educational films. His most influential professor was Gerhard Klein whose influence is evident in Carow’s first feature film Sheriff Teddy (1957). His most famous film is The Legend of Paul and Paula (Legende von Paul und Paula, 1972) that achieved cult status already at the time it was made. His other films include Sie nannten ihn Amigo (1959), Das Leben beginnt (1960), The Lanneken Wedding (Die Hochzeit von Länneken, 1964), The Russians Are Coming (Die Russen kommen, 1968/1987), Ikarus (1975.), Until Death Do Us Part (Bis daß der Tod euch scheidet, 1979), So viele Träume (1986), Coming Out (1989), Die Verfehlung (1992). Starting in 1991, he worked in television.