Actor T.K. Carter dies at 69

"Veteran comedian, actor and Southern California native T.K. Carter has died. He was 69. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputies arrived at the actor's Duarte home Friday evening after receiving a call about an unresponsive male, the Associated Press He was declared dead at the scene. No foul play is suspected, though officials have not yet released a cause of death."

"In later decades of his career, he took on consulting roles in addition to on-screen appearances. He worked with Chris Tucker as a dialect coach on the 1998 film "Rush Hour," and was brought on to the set of the 1996 movie "Space Jam" to help the film's star, Michael Jordan, learn lines and feel more comfortable in front of the camera."

""T.K. was a terrific actor, and I wanted him to help Michael with his dialogue," director Joe Pytka told The Times in 2020. While Carter was best known for his comedic work, describing himself in his Instagram bio as a writer and performer "born to act and make you laugh," he also took on more serious roles. He starred in the 2000 HBO miniseries "The Corner,""

T.K. Carter, aged 69, was found dead at his Duarte home and declared dead at the scene; officials say no foul play is suspected and have not released a cause. Born Thomas Kent Carter in New York City and raised in the San Gabriel Valley, he began with small roles in 1970s sitcoms and broke through as the chef Nauls in the 1982 horror film The Thing. He played roles in Punky Brewster and The Sinbad Show and maintained film and television work through the 1980s and 1990s. He later worked as a consultant and dialect coach, including on Rush Hour and Space Jam, and took on serious roles such as starring in the 2000 HBO miniseries The Corner.

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