Veteran actor and comedian T.K. Carter, known for his roles in The Thing and the television series Punky Brewster, has died at the age of 69, authorities said. Carter was pronounced dead Friday evening after sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of an unresponsive man at a residence in Duarte, California. Officials said no foul play is suspected, and the cause of death was not disclosed.

Born Thomas Kent Carter in New York City and raised in Southern California, he began his career in stand-up comedy before moving into film and television. His breakout role came in John Carpenter’s 1982 cult horror classic The Thing, where he played Nauls, the base cook. He later became a familiar face on television in the 1980s.

Carter also appeared in films including Runaway Train, Ski Patrol and Space Jam, leaving behind a diverse body of work.