T.K. Carter, Veteran Comedian and ‘The Thing’ Actor, Dies at 69
Written by b87fm on 01/12/2026
T.K. Carter, the beloved comedian and character actor best known for his breakout role in the 1982 sci-fi horror classic The Thing, has died. He was 69.
TMZ first reported the news. Carter was found dead at his California home on Friday, January 9. Authorities say no foul play is suspected.
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A true character actor with range, Carter built a career that spanned decades across film and television. He first gained attention in the late 1970s with guest appearances on iconic Black sitcoms such as Good Times and The Jeffersons. His career-defining moment came when he starred opposite Kurt Russell and Keith David in John Carpenter’s The Thing, playing Nauls, the ship’s cook trapped in Antarctica as an alien life form terrorizes the crew.
Following the film, Carter became a familiar face on television, appearing in recurring and guest roles throughout the 1980s and ’90s. His credits included Punky Brewster (as Michael “Mikey” Fulton), 227, A Different World, Moesha, NYPD Blue, and numerous other series.
One of Carter’s most acclaimed yet underrated performances came in HBO’s 2000 drama The Corner, where he portrayed Gary McCullough, the patriarch of a Baltimore family devastated by addiction and the drug trade. The series later served as a creative precursor to The Wire. Despite the role becoming a career highlight, Carter later revealed he initially struggled just to land an audition.
Appearing on the Live From the Green Room podcast in August 2025, Carter reflected on the experience, saying the role was divinely meant for him.
“They finally gave me an audition to play Glen Plummer’s role, but I didn’t want it,” Carter said. “But I was all or nothing. Tell them, ‘I am Gary. I am that guy!’ This role is me! One thing Eddie Murphy said was, ‘That boy got chops.’ They ain’t saying it just to say it.”
Carter ultimately secured the role after being encouraged by a manager who believed he was right for the part.
In his later years, Carter portrayed Herbert Brown, Bobby Brown’s father, in BET’s The Bobby Brown Story, introducing his work to a new generation of viewers.
With a career defined by versatility, authenticity, and quiet impact, T.K. Carter leaves behind a legacy that resonated far beyond leading roles.
May he rest in peace.
