Thomas Kent Carter (December 18, 1956 – January 9, 2026) was an American actor best known for his roles in the films Corvette Summer (1978), Southern Comfort (1981), The Thing (1982), Doctor Detroit (1983), Runaway Train (1985), Space Jam (1996) and The Corner (2000), as well as for the TV series Just Our Luck (as the series' lead), Punky Brewster, The Sinbad Show, Dave, and Good Morning, Miss Bliss, also known as Saved by the Bell: The Junior High Years. He was also the voice of the animated character Anthony Julian from 1985 to 1988 on the series Jem.
Early life Thomas Kent Carter was born in New York City on December 18, 1956. He grew up in the San Gabriel Valley area of Southern California."Meet T.K. Carter". The Beaufort Gazette. November 25, 1994. p. 43.
Career In films, he was mostly known for his many comedic performances, such as the street-smart Chester in Seems Like Old Times and the karaoke-singing Iceman in Ski Patrol. He is also known for playing slightly nervous characters, such as the rollerskating chef Nauls in John Carpenter's The Thing, as well as the unfortunate National Guardsman, Cribbs, in Walter Hill's Southern Comfort.
On television, he was known for playing Michael "Mike" Fulton, an elementary schoolteacher, on the NBC series Punky Brewster and Mylo Williams on the Disney Channel series Good Morning, Miss Bliss. Carter is also well known for playing the role of drug addicted Gary McCullough in the HBO miniseries The Corner, a performance that The Boston Globe said "perfectly captures the gentleness and passivity that can be addiction's easiest conquest".Gilbert, Matthew (April 14, 2000). "Heartbreak 'Corner'". The Boston Globe. p. D1, D22."T.K. Carter". Yahoo Movies. Accessed July 18, 2012. Carter's first starring role on television was on Just Our Luck.Lewis, Dan (October 23, 1983). "Carter needs 'Luck' to gain superhero status". The Daily News Leader (Staunton, Virginia). p. 59.
His acting debut was on an episode of Police Woman. Carter also made appearances on Good Times, The Sinbad Show, The Steve Harvey Show, A Different World, and in the television films Polly and its 1990 sequel.
Personal life Carter was married to Sandra Collier for 15 years before she died from colon cancer around 2025.
Carter died at his home in Duarte, California, on January 9, 2026, at the age of 69.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1977–1978Good TimesHead 2 episodes1978The WaltonsJody Foster1 episode1978Corvette SummerCar Wash Employee 1978YoungbloodBubba Cosell1978The JeffersonsRichard 1 episode1980Seems Like Old TimesChester1980The Hollywood KnightsDoo Wop Street Singer1980Seed of InnocenceCaptain1981Underground AcesDee Jay 1981Southern ComfortCribbs 1982The ThingNauls1983Just Our LuckShabu 13 episodes, main role1983CarpoolOtis1983Doctor DetroitDiavolo Washington 1984Turbo TeenAlex (voice)13 episodes, main role1985–1986Punky BrewsterMike Fulton24 episodes1985Runaway TrainDave Prince 1985JemAnthony Julian (voice)1985The TransformersRocksteady (voice)1 episode1987He's My GirlReggie/Regina 1987Amazon Women on the MoonHost (segment "Silly Pate") 1988Good Morning, Miss BlissMylo Williams13 episodes1989PollyGeorge DoddsTV movie1989227 Gary Hunt1 episode1990Ski PatrolIceman1990Polly: Comin' HomeGeorge DoddsTV movie1991A Rage in HarlemSmitty1992Family MattersTy, Laura's Guardian Angel1 episode1993A Different WorldDarnell Gaines1 episode1993The Sinbad ShowClarence Hull 24 episodes, main role1993A Cool Like That ChristmasDead BoyTV movie1995What a Cartoon!Sledgehammer O'Possum, Santa Claus, Steve, Lion (voice) 3 episodes1996Space JamMonstar Nawt (voice)1996–1998The Steve Harvey ShowT-Bone4 episodes1997MoeshaT.K. Smooth1 episode1998The Gregory Hines ShowRoger Baron1 episode1998Oh Yeah! CartoonsVarious voices1998The NannyTy1 episode1999My Favorite MartianLenny 1999NYPD BlueDerrick1 episode2000The CornerGary McCullough6 episodes2003Baadasssss!Bill Cosby2005DominoLester Kincaid2007Everybody Hates ChrisCouncilman Johnson1 episode2013Love That Girl!Immunique's father1 episode2016How to Get Away with MurderThelonious Harkness1 episode2018The Bobby Brown StoryHerbert Brown TV film2020StumptownLataurus Price1 episode2020The Way BackRuss Durrett2023DaveCliff5 episodes, recurring role2023The Company You KeepPike3 episodes
References
External links
T.K. Carter (Aveleyman)