T.K. Carter, the veteran actor known for memorable roles in The Thing, Runaway Train, and the TV series Punky Brewster, has died. He was 69.
Carter was found dead at his home in Duarte, California, after deputies responded to a service call around 5:42 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 9, according to a statement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department obtained by PEOPLE.
Deputies said Carter was pronounced dead at the scene and that no foul play is suspected. Authorities did not release further details about the cause of death or what led to the call.
T.K. Carter was an American actor whose career spanned film, television, and theater, earning him recognition as a versatile and dependable performer in both dramatic and comedic roles.
Born on December 26, 1955, Carter built a steady acting career beginning in the late 1970s. He became especially well known to film audiences for his roles in John Carpenter’s sci-fi horror classic The Thing, where he appeared as one of the ill-fated members of an Antarctic research team, and in the gritty drama Runaway Train, which starred Jon Voight and Eric Roberts. Both films later gained cult status and remain staples of their respective genres.
On television, Carter was a familiar face throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He appeared in a wide range of popular shows, including Punky Brewster, where his work left a lasting impression on fans of the beloved family series. His television résumé also included guest roles on numerous hit shows, reflecting his ability to move comfortably between lighthearted sitcoms and more serious dramas.
In the 1990s, Carter played Iceman in Ski Patrol and later lent his voice to the character Nawt in 1996’s Space Jam. During that decade, he also appeared on several popular TV shows, including Moesha, The Steve Harvey Show, The Nanny, and NYPD Blue, according to PEOPLE.
Carter appeared in the TV series The Corner and several smaller films in the 2000s. In the 2010s, he returned to television with roles on shows such as How to Get Away with Murder, Everybody Hates Chris, Saints & Sinners, and The Bobby Brown Story.
He continued acting into the early 2020s, appearing on Stumptown, Fake Friends, and Dave. His final TV role was on The Company You Keep in 2023.