5 must-watch T.K. Carter movies and TV shows as we remember his legacy

Sad news for the T.K. Carter fans. Thomas Kent Carter, also known as T.K. Carter, died two days ago in his home in Duarte, California, at 69 years of age.

Carter is popularly known for his brilliant acting in films like The Thing and The Way Back, as well as his lead appearance as Reggie in He's My Girl. He also appeared in famous TV shows like Punky Brewster and The Corner.

Carter's publicist at MPRESS PR, Tony Freeman, said,

"T.K. Carter was a consummate professional and a genuine soul whose talent transcended genres."

Adding,

"He brought laughter, truth and humanity to every role he touched. His legacy will continue to inspire generations of artists and fans alike."

Carter won numerous accolades and awards, including a NAACP nomination for outstanding acting in The Corner and a Black Reel Award for Best Actor for his performance in the same TV show.

This article will guide you to 5 must-watch films and TV shows of T.K. Carter. The list comprises three films and two TV shows.

Disclaimer: This article is written according to the author's opinion. Readers’ discretion is advised.

The Thing (1982)

The Thing (1982) is an American science horror movie from Universal Pictures that revolves around an American research group encountering the eponymous "Thing", an extraterrestrial life form in Antarctica. In this movie, T.K. Carter plays the role of Nauls.

At the American Outpost 31, Naul is a high-energy and roller-skating cook. He is quite colourful and one of the likable characters in the film, who is seen skating through the hallways of the research station while listening to upbeat music on his Walkman.

The Way Back (2020)

The Way Back is an American sports drama movie from Warner Bros. about an alcoholic construction worker recruited for the position of head coach of the basketball team at a high school. The movie has been directed by Gavin O'Connor.

T.K. Carter performed as Russ Durrett. Carter performed an extraordinary performance as the father of Brandon Durrett. The team was coached by Jack Cunningham (played by Ben Affleck).

He's My Girl (1987)

In this movie, T.K. Carter got his first lead role as Reggie. It is an American comedy film starring T.K. Carter and David Hallyday. Gabrielle Beaumont directed this film. The story is about a talented struggling singer from Missouri, Bryan (Hallyday), and his best friend, Reggie. Reggie enters Bryan into a competition, with a trip to LA and a meeting with his idol rockstar, Simon Sledge, as the prize.

Although Bryan wins, Reggie ends up posing as a girl and his plus one to accompany him to LA. Both best friends travel to LA and fall in love with other people, while trying to maintain their cover.

Punky Brewster (1984-1988)

It is an American TV series that ran for four seasons. The story is based on a young girl who was raised by a foster parent in Chicago. This sitcom has a spin-off animated series titled It's Punky Brewster.

In this series, Carter played the role of Mike Fulton, an administrator at Fenster Hall. Later, he performed as Punky's dedicated fourth-grade teacher.

The Corner (2000)

The Corner won the Black Reel Award for Outstanding Television Movie or Limited Series. The series is based on a non-fiction novel titled The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood (1997) by David Simon and Ed Burns.

Set in West Baltimore, T.K. Carter plays the role of Gary McCullough, a drug addict, Fran's ex-husband, and DeAndre's dad. Gary drops out of college when Fran gets pregnant, and after resorts to drugs as his marriage comes to an end.

This miniseries premiered on HBO on April 16, 2000. In addition, the series won the Primetime Emmy Award in the same year.