Matt Clark, best known for his role as the bartender in Back to the Future Part III, has died at 89.
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According to Variety, the actor's death occurred yesterday, March 15, in Austin, Texas. His wife, Sharon Mays, confirmed that it was due to complications following back surgery.
Matt Clark Was Often Seen in Westerns, Including "Back to the Future Part III"
In Back to the Future Part III, the main character Marty McFly travels to 1885 to rescue Emmett "Doc" Brown from a shootout with rival Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen.
Clark made his name in Western films and TV shows. This like made him the perfect fit for the Western-themed sequel to the hit science-fiction film franchise. His credits include Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid, Bonanza, The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean, Jeremiah Johnson, and The Outlaw Josey Wales.
Over his six-decade-long career, the actor worked alongside icons such as Clint Eastwood and John Wayne. In 2014, he helped skewer the genre by playing the role of "Old Prospector" in the comedy A Million Ways to Die in the West.
Clark Was a Welcome Face in Other Genres as Well
According to his IMDb page, Clark was born on November 25, 1936, in Washington, D.C. He grew up in Arlington, Virginia. After serving in the Army for two years, he joined a theater troupe after leaving George Washington University.
Family members said Clark was an "actor's actor." He was dedicated to the craft and had little interest in stardom. He loved to work with peers who shared his passion for acting and were committed to their families.
In addition to Back to the Future Part III, Clark portrayed the prison clerk in the Robert Redford drama Brubaker.
Clark also appeared as the Secretary of Defense in the cult film, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension. He also starred in on Kung Fu, Dynasty, and Grace Under Fire.
Clark is survived by his wife and additional family members.
