Matt Clark, the veteran American character actor best known for his role as bartender Chester in Back to the Future Part III, has died aged 89. His daughter Aimee Clark confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter, while his wife Sharon Mays cited complications following back surgery as the cause of death.
Clark appeared in over 100 film and television productions across five decades, becoming a familiar face in Westerns. His credits include Jeremiah Johnson (1972) with Robert Redford, High Plains Drifter (1973) with Clint Eastwood, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973) and The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976).
In a statement, his family said: 'He built his own house with his own hands. He kept his closest friendships for sixty years. He showed up for the work, and for his people, every time. He was complex. He was tough. He could be gruff. But the moral compass never wavered, and the love was never in doubt.'
Born in Washington, D.C., on November 25, 1936, Clark began acting in theatre before moving to television and film in the 1960s. He appeared in series such as Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie and The Waltons.
Director Gary Rosen paid tribute, saying: 'He was the kind of actor that defined Hollywood filmmaking in its greatest era. The utterly unique character player who made every scene he appeared in memorable, often stealing them from stars like Rod Steiger, Robert Redford, Clint Eastwood and John Wayne.'
Clark is survived by his sons Matthias, Jason and Seth, and his daughter Aimee.
