Veteran Actor T.K. Carter Dead at 69; 'The Thing' and 'Punky Brewster' Star Remembered
Actor T.K. Carter, known for 'The Thing' and 'Punky Brewster,' died at 69 after being found unresponsive in Duarte; no foul play suspected, per deputies.
Overview
T.K. Carter, born Dec. 18, 1956, was declared dead Jan. 9 after deputies found him unresponsive in Duarte, California; authorities say no foul play is suspected.
Raised in Southern California, Carter began stand-up at age 12, later gaining breakthrough as Nauls in John Carpenter’s 1982 horror film 'The Thing'.
He had a recurring role as Michael 'Mike' Fulton on sitcom 'Punky Brewster' and appeared in Runaway Train, Ski Patrol, and voice work in Space Jam.
Carter continued acting into the 2020s with recent credits including roles on television series 'The Company You Keep' and 'Dave' in 2023.
Colleagues including Jamie Foxx and Viola Davis paid tribute, praising Carter's talent and humanity; his publicist said his legacy will inspire future artists and fans alike.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present this obituary without editorial framing: reporting sticks to factual biography, police statements (no foul play suspected), and a publicist tribute quoted as source content; language is neutral, lacks loaded terms or selective emphasis, and avoids speculation about cause—so the narrative remains straightforward and informational.
Sources (6)
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FAQ
T.K. Carter was found unresponsive at his home in Duarte, California, on a Friday evening and was declared dead after deputies responded to the scene; authorities have not released a cause of death but say no foul play is suspected.
T.K. Carter was best known for playing Nauls, the cook, in John Carpenter’s 1982 horror film "The Thing" and teacher Michael "Mike" Fulton on the 1980s sitcom "Punky Brewster," along with roles in films such as "Runaway Train," "Ski Patrol," and "Space Jam."
Carter began performing stand-up comedy around age 12 and later moved into acting, taking small roles in 1970s television sitcoms before gaining a breakthrough with "The Thing" in 1982.
Yes, in addition to acting he worked behind the scenes, including serving as a dialect coach for Chris Tucker on "Rush Hour" and helping Michael Jordan with dialogue and on-camera comfort during the production of "Space Jam."
His publicist Tony Freeman called him a consummate professional and a genuine soul whose legacy will inspire future artists and fans, and colleagues such as Jamie Foxx and Viola Davis have shared tributes praising his talent and humanity.
History
3 sources