A bitter legal dispute over the estate of actor T.K. Carter, best known for his role in the 1982 horror classic The Thing, has surfaced following his death earlier this year. The conflict, which involves his late wife's family, is now poised to continue with Carter's mother stepping in to take control of the actor's affairs.
Carter passed away on January 9, 2026, at age 69. According to recently filed court documents, his mother, Lois Gaston, has petitioned to become the administrator of his estate. In her filing, Gaston noted that the total value of Carter's assets remains unclear due to an ongoing legal battle over the estate of his wife, Sandra Collier-Carter, who died from cancer on November 18, 2024.
The core of the dispute centers on a will Sandra allegedly signed just three days before her death. The document, presented by her brother, Kenneth Collier, names him as the executor and primary beneficiary. It bequeaths him a California home valued at approximately $669,000, a leased Mercedes SUV, jewelry, and personal items including photographs of Barack Obama and Duke Ellington.
However, Carter had vigorously contested the validity of this will before his own passing. In a legal objection filed on December 11, 2024, he described the document as "questionable at best." He argued that his wife was in hospice care, heavily medicated, and under his constant supervision during her final days. Carter also stated he did not recognize the witnesses who allegedly observed Sandra signing the will.
"The will was signed on November 15, 2024, just three days prior to Sandra's death," Carter wrote in his court filing. "She was in her last days and on heavy painkillers. I was with her at all times and did not know the witnesses."
The legal proceedings regarding Sandra's estate were still unresolved at the time of Carter's death. With Lois Gaston's new petition, she is seeking authority to manage her son's estate, which would likely grant her the power to continue the legal challenge against Kenneth Collier on behalf of her late son's interests.
This development adds another layer to the already tragic circumstances surrounding the deaths of both Carter and his wife within a little over a year of each other. The outcome of the estate battle could determine the distribution of significant assets, including real estate and personal property left by the couple.