Terrence C. Carson

Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Terence "T.C." Carson was the only child of his mother, who brought him up in the LeClaire Courts projects of the Chicago Housing Authority. Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/3kL6dCXr1GM Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20210106180653/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kL6dCXr1GM Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web |title=TC Carson on 'Living Single', Voicing 'Kratos' in 'God of War', Working with 2Pac (Full Interview) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kL6dCXr1GM |website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} 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. {{Citation |last=Ross Jr. |first=Lawrence C. |title=The Divine Nine: The History of African American Fraternities and Sororities |page=315 |year=2001 |publisher=Kensington |isbn=0-7582-0270-9}}

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.

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.{{cite web |date=December 6, 2020 |title=T.C. Carson Says He Was Fired from 'Living Single' After Calling Out Warner Bros |url=https://www.essence.com/celebrity/t-c-carson-fired-from-living-single-calling-out-warner-bros-friends/}} 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.

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 portrayed from 2005 until 2013, providing both voice and motion capture performances.  His first voicing of Kratos was for the original God of War for the PlayStation 2 and his final voicing of the character was in God of War: Ascension for the PlayStation 3, in which he also did the motion capture. Christopher Judge began to voice Kratos in God of War for the PlayStation 4 in 2018.{{cite web |last=Paget |first=Mat |date=June 15, 2016 |title=New God of War Does Not Feature Original Kratos Voice Actor |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-god-of-war-does-not-feature-original-kratos-vo/1100-6440925/?ftag=GSS-05-10aaa0a |access-date=June 15, 2016 |work=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive}} 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, Mortal Kombat (PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita versions, 2011 and 2012, respectively) and PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale.

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.

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.

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.

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.{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/STSMagazines/photos/pb.100063562912162.-2207520000../1392082777504619/ |title=T. C. Carson: 'Living Single' to Loving Music |magazine=STS Entertainment & Fashion |date=May 3, 2017 |via=Pinterest}}

• Truth (2002)
• Live in Beverly Hills (2014)

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Category:Living people

Category:21st-century African-American male actors

Category:21st-century American male actors

Category:20th-century African-American male singers

Category:20th-century American male singers

Category:20th-century American singers

Category:American jazz singers

Category:American male television actors

Category:American male video game actors

Category:American male voice actors

Category:Male actors from Chicago

Category:University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign alumni

Category:21st-century African-American male singers

Category:21st-century American male singers

Category:1958 births

Category:20th-century African-American male actors

Category:20th-century American male actors