‘Back to the Future Part III’ star Matt Clark dies at 89 in Texas home
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Fox News Digital has confirmed that “Back to the Future” star Matt Clark has died. He was 89 years old.
Matt’s daughter Aimee Clark confirmed her father’s death.
Accordingly TMZ, Matt died at his home in Austin, Texas, due to “complications following back surgery.”
Clark’s career spanned five decades, with his biggest role being Chester the bartender in “Back to the Future Part III.” He has also appeared on TV shows such as “Grace Under Fire,” “The Jeff Foxworthy Show” and “Little House on the Prairie.”
Matt Clark, star of “The Jeff Foxworthy Show,” has passed away. He was 89 years old. (Getty Images/Everett Collection)
Known especially for his work in Western films, Clark appeared in dozens of films and television programs from the late 1950s to the 2010s. According to Clark’s obituary obtained by Fox News Digital, his final role was in “A Million Ways to Die in the West,” which was released in 2014.
Aile describes his latest role as “a fitting farewell to the genre in which he lived for most of his career; more than thirty Westerns among the more than fifty features in which he appeared.”
Matt Clark at the premiere of “A Million Ways to Die in the West” in 2014. (Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage)
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER
Clark’s family told TMZ that he was an “actor” and not interested in fame. “He was impressed when he worked with good people who loved their families,” his family told the press.
They stated that he felt “lucky” in his career and that he “died living on his own terms.”
Robert Redford, Matt Clark in “Brubaker.” (Courtesy of 20th Century Fox Film Corp./Everett Collection)
DO YOU LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Director Gary Rosen wrote in Clark’s obituary: “He was the kind of actor who defined the greatest era of Hollywood filmmaking. A completely unique character actor who made every scene he appeared in unforgettable, often stealing them from such stars as Rod Steiger, Robert Redford, Clint Eastwood and John Wayne.”
Rosen’s statement continued: “His roles in ‘In the Heat of the Night,’ ‘Jeremiah Johnson,’ ‘The Outlaw Josey Wales,’ ‘The Cowboys,’ ‘Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid,’ and others helped elevate those films to classic status. He is leaving the stage, but his performances will be remembered forever.”
Matt Clark in the 1981 movie “The Kids Nobody Wanted.” (Warner Bros. / Courtesy: Everett Collection)
Clark was married three times during his life. His first marriage was to Erica Lann from 1958 to 1966. He then married Carol Trieste for a year in 1968, then married his third wife, Sharon Mays, in 2000.
The actor is survived by Sharon and daughter Aimee.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
