Known for his many TV and film roles over the past half-century, T.K. Carter actually started his career
as a stand-up comedian.
Thomas Kent Carter was born on December 18, 1956, in New York. His family moved to Los Angeles when he was a child. T.K. started performing comedy routines at the age of 12 and was soon center stage at the Comedy Store and the Improv, the two hottest Los Angeles-based comedy clubs in the 1970s.
After an invitation to a filming of the series Good Times, he was noticed by various show producers. This led to many recurring roles, including the character “Head” on Good Times and appearances on The Jeffersons. He also became the warm-up comedian (someone who hypes up the crowd before a sitcom starts filming) on hit shows like Chico & the Man and Welcome Back Kotter. He eventually became the opening act for Soul artists L.T.D., Gladys Knight & the Pips, Kool & the Gang, Patti LaBelle, and James Brown.
T.K. Carter was a hot young up-and-coming comic when the mainstays were older veterans such as
Richard Pryor, Bill Cosby, Flip Wilson, and Redd Foxx, but he was getting noticed. After many failed pilots, he finally earned his own television series titled Just Our Luck. Unfortunately, it was canceled after one season. He eventually ended up on Punky Brewster and Good Morning, Miss Bliss, a precursor to Saved by the Bell, and the Sinbad Show. He also made special guest appearances as a bandmember on The Steve Harvey Show. His stand-up was featured on the comedy series An Evening At the Improv and Comic Justice.
T.K. Carter’s most acclaimed work was not in comedy, but his portrayal of Gary on the HBO mini-series The Corner. The Corner could be viewed as the trailblazing show that opened doors for many current similar shows like The Wire, Power, and Snowfall, among others.
On the cinema side, he had a starring role in the cult classic film, The Thing, in 1982, and A Rage
In Harlem, in 1991. Behind the scenes, T.K. was a mentor to many, including a young Chris Tucker in
“Rush Hour,” coaching him and helping with lines. He did the same with NBA superstar Michael
Jordan in “Space Jam.”
T.K.’s talent was not limited to acting and stand-up comedy, he was also a great singer. He was a vocalist on the soundtrack of Doctor Detroit, one of the first films in which he starred. If you have a record player, his music is on some vinyl albums you can check out. He also sang background on Jermaine Jackson’s best-selling Motown album, “Let’s Get Serious.”
T.K. Carter passed away on January 9, 2026, at his home in Los Angeles, CA. He had just celebrated his 69th birthday three weeks prior. His death was ruled as natural causes. He reportedly suffered from diabetes and ongoing heart problems.
