TK Carter, famous for his performances in “The Thing” and “Space Jam,” has passed away at the age of 69.
According to reports, the actor, whose full name was Thomas Kent Carter, was found deceased at his home in Duarte, California, on Friday. Officers responded to a call and discovered his body around 5:40 p.m.
While there’s no indication of foul play, the cause of death remains undisclosed.
Carter was born in New York City on December 18, 1956, and later moved to Southern California, growing up in the San Gabriel Valley.
He emerged on television in the late 1970s with guest spots on popular shows like “Good Times,” “The Waltons,” and “The Jeffersons.” His breakout role came when he was cast as Nowles alongside Kurt Russell in John Carpenter’s iconic film, “The Thing.”
Following this success, he joined the cast of NBC’s “Punky Brewster” as teacher Mike Fulton. He appeared in the series from its season 1 finale in 1985 through season 2 in 1986, totaling over 20 episodes.
In the early ’90s, Carter also featured in other television projects, including “Family Matters,” “Different Worlds,” and “The Sinbad Show.”
In 1996, he lent his voice to the Nerdrak alien in “Space Jam,” which starred Michael Jordan and Wayne Knight. Alongside notable voice actors like Billy West and Danny DeVito, Carter was part of a memorable group of characters.
Since Carter’s passing, social media has seen an outpouring of tributes. One fan remarked, “Rest in paradise for sitcom/miniseries OG Thomas Kent ‘TK’ Carter; he really has been on nearly every show I’ve watched over the past 30 years.” Another noted, “I’ve seen him on so many shows, I literally couldn’t pinpoint which one.”
He continued to act in various projects after “Space Jam,” including “NYPD Blue,” “Everybody Hates Chris,” “How to Get Away with Murder,” and “The Way Back.” His final acting role was in the 2023 FXX sitcom “Dave,” where he had a recurring part as Cliff.
Carter is survived by his wife, Janet Carter.
