T.K. Carter, the versatile character actor whose career spanned nearly five decades across television, film, and voice acting, has died at the age of 69, authorities confirmed.
Carter was found unresponsive at his home in Duarte, California, on Friday. Los Angeles County Fire personnel pronounced him dead at the scene after responding to an emergency call, according to a representative for the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.
Officials said no foul play is suspected.
“It is with profound sadness and deep respect that we announce the passing of Thomas Kent ‘T.K.’ Carter, the acclaimed actor and comedian whose work spanned nearly five decades and left an indelible mark on American film and television,” his publicist, Tony Freeman, said in a statement.
“T.K. Carter was a consummate professional and a genuine soul whose talent transcended genres,” Freeman added. “He brought laughter, truth, and humanity to every role he touched. His legacy will continue to inspire generations of artists and fans alike.”
Born in New York City on December 18, 1956, Carter was raised in Southern California’s San Gabriel Valley. He made his television debut in 1976 on Police Woman before becoming a familiar face on popular shows such as Good Times, The Jeffersons, and The Waltons.
His film debut came in 1978 with Corvette Summer, notable as Mark Hamill’s first movie following the massive success of Star Wars. Carter went on to build a steady film career, appearing in projects ranging from Walter Hill’s thriller Southern Comfort to cult comedies like Underground Aces and The Hollywood Knights.
One of his most enduring performances came in John Carpenter’s 1982 sci-fi horror classic The Thing, where he played Nauls, the roller-skating cook stationed at a remote Antarctic research base. His character survives until the film’s final act, disappearing while attempting to set explosives and leaving Kurt Russell’s MacReady and Keith David’s Childs as the story’s final survivors.
Beyond film, Carter became a staple of 1980s and 1990s television. He voiced Alex in the animated series Turbo Teen in 1984 and joined NBC’s Punky Brewster the following year as Mike Fulton, one of Punky’s teachers. He later appeared regularly on Good Morning, Miss Bliss, which evolved into Saved by the Bell, and on The Sinbad Show.
His television résumé also included recurring roles on Dave and The Steve Harvey Show, as well as guest appearances on A Different World, Family Matters, NYPD Blue, Everybody Hates Chris, and How to Get Away with Murder.
In 2000, Carter earned critical acclaim for his role as Gary McCullough, a drug addict, in HBO’s Emmy-winning miniseries The Corner, a raw portrayal of a family grappling with poverty and addiction in West Baltimore.
With a career defined by range, consistency, and authenticity, Carter leaves behind a body of work that continues to resonate with audiences across generations.
