T.K. Carter, a veteran actor known for roles in The Thing and Punky Brewster, has died at the age of 69, according to reports. He was found dead on January 9, 2026, at his home in Duarte, California.
Authorities said no foul play is suspected, and an official cause of death has not yet been released.
Born Thomas Kent Carter on December 18, 1956, in New York City, he began his acting career in the 1970s and went on to build a résumé of more than 60 film and television credits.
Carter made his television debut in 1976 on Police Woman and quickly became known for his strong comedic timing and versatile character work.
He appeared in several popular 1980s and 1990s films, including John Carpenter’s horror classic The Thing (1982), Doctor Detroit, Runaway Train, and Space Jam.
On television, Carter was a familiar face on shows such as Punky Brewster, Good Morning, Miss Bliss (the precursor to Saved by the Bell), The Sinbad Show, and The Steve Harvey Show.
His long list of guest roles included The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Martin, Living Single, Family Matters, and Married… with Children.
Carter’s final on-screen appearance was in 2023, in a recurring role on the drama series The Company You Keep, closing a career that spanned nearly five decades.
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