T.K. Carter, Beloved Actor from The Thing and Punky Brewster, Passes Away at 69

T.K. Carter in 2020; Carter in a ‘Just Our Luck’ promo photo in 1983.
Credit :

Eric Charbonneau/Getty; Bob D’Amico/American Broadcasting Companies via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• T.K. Carter, known for his roles in The Thing, Space Jam, and Punky Brewster, died on Friday, Jan. 9, at the age of 69.
• The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported that the actor was found dead in his home in Duarte, California.
• Carter’s career spanned several decades, featuring numerous credits in TV and film, including Runaway Train and The Corner.

T.K. Carter, a veteran actor noted for his performances in The Thing, Runaway Train, and Punky Brewster, has passed away at the age of 69.

According to a statement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Carter was found deceased at his residence in Duarte, California, following a service call made around 5:42 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 9.

Deputies on the scene indicated no signs of foul play, although the sheriff’s office did not provide further details regarding the cause of death or the circumstances surrounding the call.

Carter was born on December 14, 1956, and raised in Los Angeles. He began his acting career in his pre-teen years, doing stand-up at age 12. During high school, he participated in theater productions and earned a role in Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple.

T.K. Carter as Mike Fulton in a ‘Punky Brewster’ scene.

NBC

After high school, Carter continued his comedy career, performing at notable venues like the Comedy Store in Los Angeles, which contributed to his acting prowess through experiences at the Improvisation Cafe and Ye Little Club.

His on-screen journey began in the 1970s with appearances in TV shows such as Police Woman, The Waltons, and The Jeffersons. He achieved significant recognition for his role as Nauls in the 1982 horror film The Thing and played Dave Prince in the 1985 film Runaway Train.

During this period, he also gained a recurring role on the beloved 1980s series Punky Brewster, portraying Mike Fulton for two seasons, alongside a stint in the one-season sitcom Just Our Luck.

T.K. Carter in the 1980s.

Ralph Dominguez/MediaPunch via Getty

In the 1990s, he starred as Iceman in the comedy film Ski Patrol and voiced the character Nawt in the 1996 animated classic Space Jam. Additionally, he appeared in several television series during this decade, including Moesha, The Steve Harvey Show, The Nanny, and NYPD Blue.

T.K. Carter in a ‘How to Get Away with Murder’ scene.

Mitch Haaseth/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Later in his career, Carter appeared in the series The Corner and several smaller film projects in the 2000s. He returned to television in the 2010s, featuring in shows like How to Get Away with Murder, Everybody Hates Chris, Saints & Sinners, and The Bobby Brown Story.

His acting career continued into the early 2020s, with roles in Stumptown, Fake Friends, and the series Dave. His final television credit was in the show The Company You Keep, which aired in 2023.