Terrence C. Carson
American actor (born 1958)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Terrence "T.C." Carson (born November 19, 1958) is an American actor known for his performances across television, film, stage, and video games. He is best known for portraying Kyle Barker on the Fox sitcom, Living Single, and is the original voice of Kratos in the God of War video game series, playing the role in every installment set within the Greek pantheon. Additionally, Carson lent his voice to Mace Windu in various Star Wars media, including Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
Terrence C. Carson | |
|---|---|
Carson in 2019 | |
| Born | November 19, 1958 |
| Occupations | Actor, singer |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Television | Living Single |
| Website | www |
Early life and education
Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Terrence "T.C." Carson was the only child of his mother, who brought him up in the LeClaire Courts projects of the Chicago Housing Authority.[1] He credits his mother, who was a seamstress and a nurse's aid, with instilling in him a love of the arts. He pursued higher education at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, majoring in architecture and interior design, and in 1981 became a member of the Iota Phi Theta fraternity.[2]
Career
Carson's artistic journey began on stage, where he showcased his talents in numerous plays and musicals. His performances include roles in The Wiz, Dreamgirls, and Ain't Misbehavin'. He also toured nationally with productions such as Sesame Street Live.
Television
Carson is best known for his role as Kyle Barker on the hit sitcom Living Single, which aired from 1993 to 1998. His portrayal of the suave stockbroker earned him critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base. Years later, he would characterize his departure as a firing.[3] He also appeared in other television series, including Greenleaf, where he had a recurring role, and guest appearances on shows like Black Lightning and Nashville.
Voice acting
In addition to his on-screen roles, Carson has an extensive voice acting portfolio. His most prominent voice role is that of Kratos in the God of War video game series, a character he originally portrayed from 2005 until 2013. His first voicing of Kratos was for the original God of War for the PlayStation 2 and continued the role until God of War: Ascension for the PlayStation 3, in which he also did the motion capture. Christopher Judge took over the role in God of War for the PlayStation 4 in 2018 and its 2022 sequel God of War Ragnarök.[4] Carson also provided Kratos's voice where Kratos was a downloadable character in Everybody's Golf 5 and a guest character in Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny, the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita versions of Mortal Kombat, and PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale. Carson returned as Kratos in the God of War series for the 2026 title, God of War Sons of Sparta, and will reprise the role again for the upcoming God of War Trilogy Remake.
Carson voiced Mace Windu in the 2003 animated series Star Wars: Clone Wars; he reprised his role as Mace Windu in the 2008 Star Wars: The Clone Wars series. He has provided the male voice of Guillo in the GameCube RPG Baten Kaitos Origins and is the voice of Touchstone in the PlayStation Portable shooter Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror. Carson provided the voices of Samuel and Mr. Carson in the PBS Kids animated series Clifford the Big Red Dog.
Film
Carson's filmography includes roles in movies such as Livin' Large! (1991), U-571 (2000), and Final Destination 2 (2003), where he played Eugene Dix, a schoolteacher and one of the survivors of the Route 23 crash. Carson portrayed Marcus Elkins in the A Wesley Christmas film series, beginning with A Wesley Christmas (2022), A Wesley Christmas Wedding (2023), and A Wesley South African Christmas (2024). He earned an NAACP Image Award nomination for his role at the 54th NAACP Image Awards in 2023. In 2024, Carson made his directorial debut with The Love Doctor, a feature film written by David L. Rowell and Anthony Guilianti.
Music
As a vocalist, Carson has released a few albums and singles showcasing his jazz and funk influences. His discography includes:
- Truth (2002): A jazz/funk album featuring a mix of ballads, mid-tempo tracks, African rhythms, and dance funk tunes.
- Live in Beverly Hills (2014): A live recording capturing Carson's dynamic performance style.
- Come Together (2020): A single blending jazz, R&B, and soul influences offering a message of unity and connection in the aftermath of George Floyd's killing in May 2020.
- InnerCity Jazz (LIVE) (2024): An eclectic mix of classics and new grooves.
Carson's performance of "My Funny Valentine" on Living Single remains a fan-favorite moment from the series, showcasing his rich, velvety baritone and jazz-influenced vocal style. As his character, Kyle Barker, serenades Maxine Shaw (Erika Alexander) with the classic ballad, the scene captures the depth of their complex romance, blending passion, vulnerability, and undeniable chemistry.
Awards and honors
Throughout his career, Carson has received several accolades:
- Emmy Award for "Fast Break to Glory"
- Three-time NAACP Image Award nominee:
- Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special for A Wesley Christmas
- Two nominations for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series for Living Single
- Young Artist Award for Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast for A Mother's Courage: The Mary Thomas Story
- Joseph Jefferson Award for his performance in The Colored Museum at the Victory Gardens Theater
In 2017, Carson was featured on the cover of STS Entertainment & Fashion magazine.[5]
Discography
- Truth (2002)
- Live in Beverly Hills (2014)
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Livin' Large | Dexter Jackson | [6] |
| 1997 | Gang Related | Manny Ladrew | |
| 1998 | Relax...It's Just Sex | Buzz Wagner | [7] |
| 2000 | U-571 | Seaman Eddie Carson | |
| 2003 | Final Destination 2 | Eugene Dix | |
| 2007 | What Love Is | Kwame | Credited as T.C. Carson |
| 2016 | Justice League vs. Teen Titans | Ra's al Ghul | Voice[8] |
| 2022 | A Wesley Christmas | Marcus Elkins | |
| 2023 | A Wesley Christmas Wedding | Marcus Elkins | |
| Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls | Mr. Duke | ||
| 2024 | A Wesley South African Christmas | Marcus Elkins |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Key West | Abednigo 'JoJo' Nabuli | Main role (13 episodes) |
| 1993–1998 | Living Single | Kyle Barker | Main role (108 episodes) |
| 1995 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | Tree | Voice, episode: "Beauty and the Beast" |
| 1995–1998 | Life with Louie | Norton Jensen, Gus | Voice, 16 episodes[a] |
| 1999 | Rugrats | Officer Dan | Voice, episode: "Officer Chuckie"[a] |
| 2000–2002 | Clifford the Big Red Dog | Fire Chief Campbell, Mr. Carson the Mailman, Samuel/Charley's Dad | Voice, 2 episodes[9] |
| 2005 | Half & Half | Kyle Barker | Episode: "The Big Performance Anxiety Episode" |
| Star Wars: Clone Wars | Mace Windu, Saesee Tin, General Oro Dassyne | Voice, 4 episodes | |
| 2007 | Afro Samurai | Swordsmaster, Brother #4 | Voice, 3 episodes; English dub[9] |
| 2008–2010 | The Life & Times of Tim | Jazz Musician | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2008–2014, 2020 | Star Wars: The Clone Wars | Mace Windu, Cultist, Council Member, Tactical Droid | Voice, 45 episodes[9] |
| 2011 | The Mentalist | Joe Reyes | Episode: "Bloodsport" |
| 2017 | Greenleaf | Reggie | 3 episodes |
| 2018 | Black Lightning | Eldridge | Episode: "And Then the Devil Brought the Plague: The Book of Green Light" |
| 2022 | Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi | Mace Windu | Voice, episode: "Choices" |
| 2025 | She the People | Danny | 2 episodes |