Veteran American actor Matt Clark, known for his role in Back to the Future Part III, has died at the age of 89.
Clark passed away on Sunday morning at his home in Austin, Texas, after complications following back surgery. His death was announced publicly on Monday.
He was best known to many audiences for playing Chester the bartender in the final instalment of the Back to the Future trilogy, starring Michael J Fox and Christopher Lloyd.
Though a minor role, his appearance became a memorable part of the 1990 film.
Over a career spanning five decades, Clark built a reputation as a dependable character actor, appearing alongside major Hollywood figures including Clint Eastwood, Jeff Bridges and John Wayne.
His film credits ranged widely, from early roles in Black Like Me and In the Heat of the Night to later appearances in titles such as The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension and A Million Ways to Die in the West.
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He also featured in the baseball biopic 42, which charted Jackie Robinson’s historic career.
On television, Clark was part of the long-running sitcom Grace Under Fire and made appearances in series including The Waltons, Magnum, P I, and The Practice.
Paying tribute, director Gary Rosen described Clark as “the kind of actor that defined Hollywood filmmaking in its greatest era,” adding that his performances often left a lasting impression, even alongside leading stars.
Born in 1936, Clark made his big-screen debut in the 1960s before becoming a familiar face in American cinema throughout the 1970s and 1980s, with roles in films such as The Bridge at Remagen, White Lightning and The Driver.
His work in westerns, including collaborations with Eastwood, further cemented his standing in the industry.
He is survived by his wife Sharon, whom he married in 2000, his children and stepchildren, nine grandchildren and a great-grandson. One of his daughters, Alexandria, predeceased him.
Clark's family described him as a man of strong character and enduring loyalty, who “showed up for the work, and for his people, every time.”
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