T.K. Carter, the versatile actor whose career spanned comedy, drama, television, film, and voice work, has died. He was 69.
Carter—born Thomas Kent Carter—was found dead Friday at his home in Duarte, California, after calling 9-1-1 around 5:42 p.m., according to TMZ. Authorities have indicated that foul play is not suspected. A cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
Born December 18, 1956, in New York City, Carter later moved with his family to Southern California and grew up in the San Gabriel Valley. A natural performer from an early age, he began doing stand-up comedy at just 12 years old and went on to perform at venues including the Comedy Store, laying the foundation for a career defined by range and adaptability.
Carter made his onscreen debut in a 1976 episode of Police Woman and quickly became a familiar face on television throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, with appearances on Good Times, The Waltons, and The Jeffersons. His breakout film role came in 1982 when he played the rollerskating chef Nauls in The Thing, John Carpenter’s now-iconic sci-fi horror classic starring Kurt Russell.
He soon followed that with a prominent television role as Mike Fulton during the first two seasons of Punky Brewster, appearing in more than 20 episodes between 1985 and 1986 and helping anchor the early years of the beloved NBC series.
Carter was especially respected for his dramatic work, most notably his acclaimed performance as Gary McCullough in HBO’s The Corner. The role showcased his ability to portray layered, deeply human characters and remains one of the most powerful performances of his career. He also made memorable appearances on A Different World, Saved By The Bell, 227, Moesha, The Sinbad Show, The Steve Harvey Show, Family Matters, and Everybody Hates Chris.
Carter’s versatility extended into voice acting as well. In 1996, he voiced Nawt, one of the Nerdluck aliens who transform into the Monstars, in Space Jam, alongside a cast that included Billy West and Danny DeVito. His film credits also included Hollywood Shuffle, Southern Comfort, Doctor Detroit, The Beastmaster, Ski Patrol, Corvette Summer, My Favorite Martian, and Seems Like Old Times.
In later years, Carter continued working steadily. His final acting role was as Cliff on the FXX comedy series Dave, appearing in five episodes in 2023—an understated but fitting cap to a career marked by consistency and longevity.
Across decades of work, T.K. Carter earned admiration for his dynamic presence and ability to move seamlessly between comedy, drama, genre films, and voice performance. From gritty HBO dramas to mainstream blockbusters and classic sitcoms, his contributions left a lasting imprint on television and film history.
He is remembered not only for the roles he played, but for the depth, warmth, and authenticity he brought to each of them.