TK Carter, the actor known for his roles in the horror classic “The Thing” and the TV series “Punky Brewster,” has passed away. He was 69 years old.
Carter died Friday at her home in Duarte, California, her publicist Tony Freeman told Variety in a statement. The cause of death has not been disclosed, but criminal activity is not suspected.
“TK Carter was a consummate professional and a true soul with talent that transcended genres,” Freeman said. “He brought laughter, truth and humanity to every role he played, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations of artists and fans alike.”
Carter made her professional acting debut in 1976 on NBC’s “Police Woman,” and went on to guest star on series such as “Quincy, ME” and “Good Times.” He appeared in several films before getting his break as roller-skating chef Naul in John Carpenter’s 1982 horror film The Thing. He then had a recurring role as Mike Fulton on the sitcom Punky Brewster, appearing from 1985 to 1986.
From 1993 to 1994, Carter played Clarence Hull for 24 episodes on The Sinbad Show. He provided the voice of Monster Note in the original 1996 version of Space Jam.
Born Thomas Kent Carter on December 18, 1956 in New York City, he grew up in Southern California’s San Gabriel Valley. He started performing stand-up comedy at an early age.
Other film and television credits include “Just Our Luck,” “Turbo Teen,” “Runaway Train,” “The Steve Harvey Show,” “Gem,” “He’s My Girl,” “Good Morning, Miss Bliss,” “Ski Patrol,” “Harlem Fury,” “Family Matters,” “A Different World,” “What a Cartoon!,” “Rush Hour,” and “The Corner.” “Domino,” “Everybody Hates Chris,” “How to Get Away with Murder,” “LA Riots Spectacular,” “Saints and Sinners,” and more.
Carter’s recent roles included the role of Russ in the 2020 film The Way Back, starring Ben Affleck. Uncle Jimmy from “Fake Friends” in 2022. Cliff from the comedy series “Dave”. He appeared as Pike in the crime show “The Company You Keep,” starring Milo Ventimiglia and Katherine Haena Kim.
Carter is survived by his mother and children.
