T K Carter
About
Biography
Biography
A talented black stand-up who branched out into comedy roles, T K Carter astounded critics and audiences with his richly textured portrait of a successful businessman who descends into heroin addiction in the acclaimed HBO drama "The Corner" (2000). While he had demonstrated his dramatic capabilities previously in supporting roles in films (e.g., "A Rage in Harlem" 1991) and TV (i.e., "Billy: Portrait of a Street Kid" CBS 1977), the performer hadn't had a meaty lead before. Ken Tucker in Entertainment Weekly was so impressed that in his April 14, 2000 review, he wrote "Carter's performance here -- the way he conveys hopelessness, guile, and outrage just by shifting his gaze -- is as good as anything you'll see on the big or small screen. . . .
A native of Los Angeles, Carter was a strong athlete in high school, becoming a track star and at one time even considered a career as a professional baseball player. Show business, however, won out. As early as age 12, he performed comedy routines and gravitated toward the clubs as a teenager. After making his TV acting debut in an episode of the NBC series "Police Woman," Carter began a successful career as the opening act comic for such musicians and groups as Gladys Knight & the Pips, James Brown, Kool & the Gang and Patti LaBelle. Concurrently, he began to rack up numerous guest appearances and roles in sitcoms like "Good Times" and "Family Matters" and was featured in several unsold pilots. His first regular series role came as the genie Shabu beholden to a wishy-washy TV reporter in the ABC sitcom "Just Our Luck" (1983-84). Carter later joined the struggling NBC comedy "Punky Brewster" in 1985 as the tiny tot's teacher and was back in the classroom for the Disney Channel's "Good Morning, Miss Bliss" (1988). After several years, he returned to series work as the former roommate of a man who takes in two foster children in the short-lived Fox sitcom "The Sinbad Show" (1993).
Carter made the leap to the big screen in a bit part as a car wash worker in the comedy "Corvette Summer" (1978). He first drew the attention of moviegoers as the chauffeur to Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn in "Seems Like Old Times" (1980) and as Dan Ayckroyd's assistant in "Doctor Detroit" (1982). In 1985, he provided the comic relief as the station controller in the thriller "Runaway Train," starring with Jon Voight, Eric Roberts and Rebecca DeMornay. Carter then got his first shot at a lead playing a man who dons drag in order to accompany his buddy to Hollywood in the amiable if silly comedy "He's My Girl" (1987). While the film did not exactly elevate the actor to household name status, it did provide an amusing vehicle for his talents. Still, it took "The Corner" to make people aware of his dramatic capabilities. Carter also impressed in his role as the legendary comedian Bill Cosby in "Baadasssss!" (2004), when the comic, very popular with mainstream audiences, comes to the rescue of director Melvin Van Peebles (played by the film's director and Van Peebles' son, Mario) in his effort to shoot what would become the first "blacksploitation" film, "Sweet Sweetback's Baadassss Song" (1971).
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Misc. Crew (Special)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1977
Had featured role in the CBS TV-movie "Billy: Portrait of a Street Kid"
1978
Feature film debut in bit part of a car wash employee in the comedy "Corvette Summer"
1979
Acted in the busted NBC pilot "Car Wash"
1980
Played the chaffeur working for Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn in "Seems Like Old Times"
1982
Was cast as one of the researchers in the horror remake "The Thing"
1982
Portrayed the assistant to Dan Aykroyd's "Doctor Detroit"
1983
Co-starred as a woker at a community center in Chicago in the unsold CBS pilot "Adams House"
1983
Played the genie Shabu on the ABC sitcom "Just Our Luck"
1987
Played a man who poses as a woman to accept a trip to Hollywood in the genial if pedestrian comedy "He's My Girl"
1988
Cast as Mylo Williams in The Disney Channel series "Good Morning, Miss Bliss", starring Hayley Mills
1989
Appeared in "Polly", the NBC musical remake of "Pollyanna" directed by Debbie Allen
1990
Reprised role in the NBC sequel "Polly Comin' Home"
1991
Appeared in "A Rage in Harlem"
1993
Had regular role as the ex-roommate of a man who takes in two foster kids on the short-lived Fox sitcom "The Sinbad Show"
1998
Served as dialogue coach for Chris Tucker on "Rush Hour"
2000
Offered a tour de force performance as a heroin addict in the acclaimed HBO miniseries "The Corner"
2004
Portrayed Bill Cosby in Mario Van Peebles' "Baadasssss!"
