Actor T.K. Carter dies at 69

Veteran comedian, histrion and Southern California autochthonal T.K. Carter has died. He was 69.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies arrived astatine the actor’s Duarte location Friday evening aft receiving a telephone astir an unresponsive male, the Associated Press reported. He was declared dormant astatine the scene. No foul play is suspected, though officials person not yet released a origin of death.

Born Thomas Kent Carter successful New York City, Carter was raised successful the San Gabriel Valley, according to IMDb.

After respective tiny roles successful 1970s sitcoms, including “Good Times,” “The Waltons” and “The Jeffersons,” helium recovered his breakthrough relation successful the 1982 fearfulness movie “The Thing” arsenic the cook Nauls.

He went connected to play teacher Mike Fulton successful “Punky Brewster” and Clarence Hull successful “The Sinbad Show,” among a big of different movie and tv credits done the 1980s and ‘90s.

In aboriginal decades of his career, helium took connected consulting roles successful summation to on-screen appearances.

He worked with Chris Tucker arsenic a dialect manager connected the 1998 movie “Rush Hour,” and was brought connected to the acceptable of the 1996 movie “Space Jam” to assistance the film’s star, Michael Jordan, larn lines and consciousness much comfy successful beforehand of the camera.

“T.K. was a terrific actor, and I wanted him to assistance Michael with his dialogue,” manager Joe Pytka told The Times successful 2020.

While Carter was champion known for his comedic work, describing himself successful his Instagram bio arsenic a writer and performer “born to enactment and marque you laugh,” helium besides took connected much superior roles.

He starred successful the 2000 HBO miniseries “The Corner,” a play successful which helium played Gary McCullough, a westbound Baltimore begetter struggling with addiction.

“I conscionable wholly felt for Gary,” Carter told The Times. “I’ve had cause problems and cocaine addiction. I mislaid my begetter to a drug-related death. I’ve mislaid a batch of friends. I was fortunate to travel retired connected the different broadside and get my beingness together. But I haven’t forgotten. I kept Gary with maine each the time. I slept Gary. I breathed Gary.”

As quality of the actor’s passing spread, friends and colleagues took to societal media with tributes.

“As a young kid, I looked up to T. K. due to the fact that seeing an African American histrion starring successful a large movie meant a batch to me. I ever felt helium was headed for stardom,” entrepreneur Shavar Ross posted connected X. “I privation to nonstop my heartfelt condolences to his family, his friends, and everyone who loved and admired his work. He volition ever beryllium remembered and respected.”