‘The Thing’ Star Passes Away

T.K. Carter, the versatile actor who left his mark in films from “The Thing” to “Space Jam,” has died. He was 69.

Carter, whose full name was Thomas Kent Carter, was found dead Friday at his home in Duarte, California, according to TMZ. Police were called to the residence and discovered his body around 5:40 p.m.

No foul play is suspected, but his cause of death has not been released. The Post has reached out to his representative for comment.

Born in New York City on Dec. 18, 1956, Carter moved with his family to Southern California and grew up in the San Gabriel Valley. He began his career with guest roles on popular shows in the late 1970s, including “Good Times,” “The Waltons” and “The Jeffersons.”

His big break came when director John Carpenter cast him as Nauls in the 1982 sci-fi horror classic “The Thing,” starring Kurt Russell. The role made him a recognizable face in Hollywood and opened the door to a steady run of film and TV work.

Carter later joined NBC’s “Punky Brewster,” playing teacher Mike Fulton. He came on during the Season 1 finale in 1985 and stayed through Season 2 in 1986, appearing in more than 20 episodes.

“T.K. Carter in “How To Get Away With Murder.” (Disney/Screenshot)

Throughout the early 1990s, he popped up on hit shows such as “Family Matters,” “A Different World” and “The Sinbad Show,” continuing to build a career as a reliable character actor.

In 1996, Carter reached a new generation of fans when he voiced the Nerdluck alien Nawt in the blockbuster “Space Jam,” which starred Michael Jordan and Wayne Knight. He was one of the five aliens who transformed into the Monstars for the movie’s climactic showdown.

After “Space Jam,” Carter kept working steadily, with roles on “NYPD Blue,” “Everybody Hates Chris,” “How to Get Away With Murder” and in the 2020 sports drama “The Way Back.”

News of his death quickly sparked tributes online from fans who remembered seeing him across decades of television and film.

“Rest in Paradise to sitcom/mini series OG Thomas Kent ‘T.K.’ Carter damned if he wasn’t on almost every TV show I watched over the course of 30 years,” one fan wrote on X.

“I literally couldn’t pin down a show because I’ve seen him on so many,” another added. “He will be missed severely.”

“Farewell to the fantastic T. K. Carter, always having a rough time, whether out in the Antarctic base of The Thing, John Carpenter’s awesome flick, or on maneuvers with the National Guard in The Siege, Walter Hill’s masterpiece,” a third wrote. “He fared better on TV as the Mike of Punky Brewster.”

Carter’s long career made him a familiar face to generations of viewers, whether battling aliens in Antarctica, teaching kids on “Punky Brewster,” or lending his voice to one of the Monstars in “Space Jam.”

Download the FREE Trending Politics App to get the latest news FIRST >>