A prominent actor from “Back to the Future” III has passed away following complications from back surgery. Matt Clark, known for his roles in the iconic film featuring Michael J Fox and Christopher Lloyd, as well as the TV series “Grace Under Fire,” died at his residence in Austin, Texas, on Sunday.
In the movie, Matt portrayed Chester, the bartender at the Palace Saloon in the 1885 Wild West version of Hill Valley. He was notably present during the showdown between Marty McFly and Buford ‘Mad Dog’ Tannen and played a crucial role in trying to revive Doc after he fainted from drinking whiskey in the saloon.
According to his daughter, producer Amiee Clark, Matt sustained a back injury a few months ago. He had an extensive career in Western films, appearing in major productions alongside stars like Clint Eastwood and Robert Redford, accumulating over 150 acting credits. Some of his notable movies include “The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean” with Paul Newman and “The Cowboys” with John Wayne.
More recently, Matt was cast by Seth MacFarlane in the 2014 film “A Million Ways to Die in the West,” a project that also featured references to “Back to the Future” through appearances of Doc Brown and the iconic DeLorean car.
In addition to his film work, Matt had TV roles such as Emmet Kelly in “Grace Under Fire” and appearances in shows like “Chicago Hope” and “The Jeff Foxworthy Show.” He also appeared in the cult classic “The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension” as the US Secretary of Defense.
Born in Washington, DC, Matt served in the US Army before pursuing his passion for acting. He started in community theater in New York after joining a theatre group post dropping out of George Washington University. He also engaged in directing, overseeing episodes of TV series like “Schoolbreak Special” and “Midnight Caller,” along with directing Martin Sheen in the 1988 film “Da.”
