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 '.
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. 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 UrbanaâÂÂChampaign, majoring in architecture and interior design, and in 1981 became a member of the Iota Phi Theta fraternity.
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. 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 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 ' 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. Carson also provided Kratos's voice where Kratos was a downloadable character in Everybody's Golf 5 and a guest character in ', 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 '; he reprised his role as Mace Windu in the 2008 ' 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 '. 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:
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:
In 2017, Carson was featured on the cover of STS Entertainment & Fashion magazine.