> At a Glance
> – T.K. Carter, veteran actor known for The Thing and Punky Brewster, has died at 69
> – Found unresponsive Friday evening in Duarte, California; no foul play suspected
> – Career breakthrough came as Nauls the cook in John Carpenter’s 1982 horror classic
> – Why it matters: Carter’s memorable roles in film and TV shaped 1980s pop culture and left a lasting legacy
T.K. Carter, whose on-screen warmth and comic timing lit up projects from Antarctic horror to family sitcoms, has died at 69, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed.
From Cook to Cult Icon
Carter spent years hustling in Hollywood before landing the role that horror fans still celebrate: Nauls, the easygoing cook in John Carpenter’s 1982 masterpiece The Thing. The part turned a working actor into a cult favorite overnight.
Television soon came calling. He became a familiar face on NBC’s Punky Brewster, bringing laughter to living rooms throughout the mid-1980s.
Big-Screen Highlights
After The Thing, Carter stacked up credits that showed his range:
- Runaway Train (1985) – gritty action thriller
- Ski Patrol (1990) – alpine comedy
- Space Jam (1996) – family blockbuster alongside Michael Jordan
Key Takeaways
- Carter’s breakout role as Nauls remains a horror touchstone four decades later
- His recurring spot on Punky Brewster cemented him as a household name
- Deputies found him unresponsive in Duarte; cause of death not yet released
A performer who could make audiences laugh, scream, and cheer-sometimes in the same scene-T.K. Carter leaves behind a filmography that continues to entertain new generations.
