Veteran American actor T.K. Carter, celebrated for his performances in the 1982 horror classic The Thing and the 1980s sitcom Punky Brewster, has died at the age of 69. Carter was found unresponsive at his home in Duarte, California, on January 9, 2026, and later pronounced dead by authorities; no foul play is suspected and a formal cause of death has not yet been released, according to local law enforcement and reports.
Born Thomas Kent Carter on December 18, 1956, in New York City, he began performing stand-up comedy as a child and transitioned into television and film roles in the 1970s. His breakthrough came with the role of Nauls, the roller-skating cook, in John Carpenter’s The Thing, which earned him lasting recognition among horror and cult-film fans. Throughout his nearly five-decade career, Carter appeared in projects spanning genres, including the family sitcom Punky Brewster as Mike Fulton, comedic films such as Runaway Train and Ski Patrol, and voice work in Space Jam.
Carter’s television credits included appearances on popular series such as A Different World, Family Matters, The Sinbad Show and The Corner, where he demonstrated his range as an actor. His final screen roles included episodes of the series Dave and The Company You Keep. Colleagues and fans have paid tribute on social media to Carter’s warmth, humour and versatile presence on film and television, noting his ability to bring depth and humanity to every role.