Anthony Clark, a comedian and an actor known for the television shows “Yes, Dear,” and “Boston Common,” has died. He was 62.
“Glee” star Mike O’Malley announced the news on social media Wednesday.
“Anthony Clark died yesterday,” he wrote. “He was a hilarious guy. When my wife Lisa and I were dating back in the mid-nineties, Anthony was already famous in Boston, regularly selling out comedy shows.
“The first time we saw him at The Comedy Connection we laughed and laughed and laughed. He was so unique—one of those comics who is laughing along with you at the absurdity of his stories and observations. I was a fan before I was a friend. We spoke on the phone three weeks ago. He had us laughing loudly once again.”
Clark’s cause of death was not immediately provided.
The comedian and actor was born April 4, 1964, in Lynchburg, Va., and raised in Gladys, where he joked he was expected to become a trucker. The son of a factory worker and a general store owner, Clark launched a career in showbiz working as a stand-up comedian while attending Emerson College in Boston. After earning a degree in mass communications, he moved to L.A., where he became a fixture in the comedy scene through the ’90s. In 1995, he was featured in an HBO young comedians special alongside Dave Chappelle and Louis C.K., hosted by Garry Shandling.
He made his foray into acting in the early 1990s. According to IMDb, Clark made his feature film debut in the 1991 drama “Dogfight,” in which he played a marine named Oakie, alongside River Phoenix’s Eddie. In 1993, he teamed up with Phoenix again and acted in “The Thing Called Love,” a country-music drama which also starred Sandra Bullock.
He’s perhaps best known for starring as Gregory “Greg” Warner in the hit CBS sitcom “Yes, Dear” alongside O’Malley across six seasons and 122 episodes in the early aughts.
Clark also held lead roles in TV shows including NBC’s “Boston Common” and CBS’ “Soul Man,” and acted in films “The Rock” and “My Uncle Rafael.” He also hosted the fourth season of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.” He also acted in shows including “Ellen,” and most recently, “West of Liberty.”
Comedian Anthony Clark during an interview with host Jay Leno on May 4, 1994.
(NBC)
Clark’s longtime manager Barry Katz told The Times in an emailed statement that Clark was “one of the funniest and most talented comedians and actors I have ever had the pleasure of watching.”
“It was an honor to represent him and he will be missed for the joy, happiness, and love he brought to everyone he worked with and the audiences that were blessed to see his undeniable performances,” Katz said.
Comedian and actor Nick Swardson also shared the news on Instagram alongside a photo of him and Clark, writing: “This is my friend Anthony Clark. One of my best friends for a long time … He was a massive stand up out of Boston and I opened for him for years. I had so many great times with this dude. Non stop laughs. I hope he is at peace now. RIP Tony.”
