‘The Thing’ actor T.K Carter passes away at 69; Tony Freeman pays tribute by calling him 'a genuine soul whose talent transcended genres'

Famed veteran star T.K Carter has passed away at the age of 69. The star was best known for his roles in ‘Space Jam’, ‘Punky Brewster’, and ‘The Thing.’ According to recent reports, he was found in his home on January 9 in Duarte, California, by the authorities.

TMZ reported that a call of service was made on Friday at 5:42 pm, after which law enforcement went to the actor’s residence for a wellness check. It was noted that there was no foul play reported. His publicist, Tony Freeman, also confirmed the news to Variety. The cause of his death has not been confirmed to the public.

T.K Carter passes away at 69

Tony Freeman also shared an official statement about the veteran actor’s demise. The passage read, “T.K. Carter was a consummate professional and a genuine soul whose talent transcended genres. He brought laughter, truth, and humanity to every role he touched. His legacy will continue to inspire generations of artists and fans alike.”

More about T.K Carter

Carter was born on December 14, 1956, in Los Angeles. He began his career in the entertainment industry in his preteens. He started off with stand-up comedy acts at the age of 12. He shifted to theatre, and later landed a role in Neil Diamond’s ‘The Odd Couple.’ His debut as an actor came in 1976 when he starred in ‘Police Woman’, which helped him rise to fame. He later featured in guest roles in ‘Good Times’ and ‘Quincy, M.E.’

His breakout role in the industry came with ‘The Thing,’ which was released in 1982. He played the role of Naul, the roller-skating chef in the horror film. Some of his other notable works include ‘Space Jam,’ where he starred as the voice actor for Monstar Nawt. Some of his other works include ‘The Steve Harvey Show,’ ‘Just Our Luck,’ ‘Turbo Teen,’ ‘Runaway Train,’ ‘Jem,’ ‘He’s My Girl,’ ‘Ski Patrol,’ ‘A Different World,’ ‘What a Cartoon!,’ ‘Family Matters,’ and many others.

He last appeared in the 2023 American drama series ‘The Company You Keep’ for three episodes.