Matt Clark, the prolific character actor whose rugged screen presence became a fixture in Hollywood Westerns and classic films, has died. He was 89. Clark passed away March 15 at his home in Austin, Texas, following complications from back surgery, according to family members.
Across more than five decades in film and television, Clark built a reputation as one of Hollywood’s most dependable character performers. His credits stretch back to the 1960s and include appearances in more than 120 productions. Audiences remember him from films such as “The Outlaw Josey Wales,” “Jeremiah Johnson,” “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid,” “The Cowboys,” and “The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean.”
Clark also appeared in “Back to the Future Part III,” where he played bartender Chester in the trilogy’s Old West chapter. Other notable roles include the prison clerk Purcell in “Brubaker,” appearances in “The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension,” “Return to Oz,” and “42,” as well as television work on series including “Grace Under Fire,” “The Waltons,” “Magnum, P.I.,” and “The Jeff Foxworthy Show.”
Born November 25, 1936, in Washington, D.C., Clark served in the U.S. Army before pursuing acting. He studied at HB Studio in New York with Herbert Berghof and William Hickey and joined the influential Living Theatre. His big-screen debut arrived in 1964 with “Black Like Me,” launching a career defined by steady, memorable performances alongside stars including Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, and Robert Redford.
Clark also stepped behind the camera, directing the 1988 film “Da,” starring Bernard Hughes and Martin Sheen. Throughout his career he remained known for the grounded authenticity he brought to every role, whether a sheriff, ranch hand, judge, or drifter.
He is survived by his wife Sharon, his children, grandchildren, and extended family. Clark’s long career left a deep mark on generations of film and television, particularly in the Western genre where his performances helped shape the atmosphere and realism of the era’s most enduring stories.