> At a Glance
> – Veteran actor T.K. Carter passed away at 69
> – Friday evening deputies found him unresponsive in Duarte, California
> – No foul play suspected
> – Best known as Nauls in 1982’s The Thing
> – Also appeared in Punky Brewster, Runaway Train, Ski Patrol, Space Jam
> – Why it matters: A familiar face from iconic 80s-90s film and TV is gone
The screen has gone dark for character actor T.K. Carter, the reliable presence who turned bit parts into memorable moments across decades of film and television.
Friday Evening in Duarte
Los Angeles County deputies responded to a call and found Carter unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators quickly ruled out foul play; no other details were released.
Career Highlights
Carter had been working steadily long before landing his signature role as Nauls the cook in John Carpenter’s 1982 Antarctic horror classic The The Thing. He later popped up repeatedly on 1980s sitcom Punky Brewster and racked up credits in:
- Runaway Train (1985)
- Ski Patrol (1991990)
- Space Jam (1996)
Key Takeaways
- Carter died at 69
- No criminal investigation
- Leaves legacy of small but memorable roles
- The Thing fans remember him every time the creature thaw
Another quiet exit from an era when character actors filled out the corners of stories audiences still revisit today.
