AceShowbiz - Matt Clark, a distinguished character actor known for his extensive work in classic Western films and collaborations with Hollywood legends, has passed away at 89 years old.

Clark died on Sunday in Austin, Texas, according to his daughter, producer Amiee Clark. She revealed that he had suffered a broken back a few months prior to his death.

Throughout his prolific career, Clark left his mark on numerous Westerns, appearing in celebrated films such as Paul Newman's The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean, John Wayne's The Cowboys, and Clint Eastwood's The Outlaw Josey Wales. His rugged presence became a staple of the genre, embodying the spirit of the American West on screen.

In addition to his Western roles, Clark also delivered memorable performances alongside Robert Redford in Sydney Pollack’s Jeremiah Johnson (1972) and Brubaker (1980). In Brubaker, he portrayed Purcell, the former warden’s clerk, which remains one of his best-known roles. His collaborations with Clint Eastwood extended beyond The Outlaw Josey Wales to include Don Siegel’s The Beguiled (1971) and Honkytonk Man (1982).

Clark also worked repeatedly with director Stuart Rosenberg, appearing in four of his films: Pocket Money (1972), The Laughing Policeman (1973), Brubaker, and Let's Get Harry (1986). His versatility as a character actor was evident in these varied roles.

As a filmmaker himself, Clark directed the 1988 feature Da, which starred Bernard Hughes, Martin Sheen, and William Hickey, who had once been his acting teacher. The film tells the story of a New York playwright who returns to Ireland to bury his father, showcasing Clark’s talents beyond acting.

Clark’s extensive work in Westerns also included notable titles such as Will Penny (1967), Monte Walsh (1970), Macho Callahan (1970), The Culpepper Cattle Co. (1972), The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (1972), Sam Peckinpaugh’s Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973), Howard Zieff’s Hearts of the West (1975), Kid Vengeance (1976), The Legend of the Lone Ranger (1981), and A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014).

Reflecting on his affinity for Westerns in a 1991 interview, Clark said, “I just loved 'em! Just like you always wanted to do as a little kid, you put on chaps and boots and tie on spurs that jingle when you walk.”

Born in Washington on November 25, 1936, and raised in Arlington, Virginia, Clark was the son of Frederick, a boat and cabinet builder, and Theresa, a schoolteacher. After spending two years in the U.S. Army, he studied business administration at George Washington University before committing fully to acting.

He honed his craft in New York at the HB Studio under Herbert Berghof and William Hickey, joined the Living Theatre, and understudied Martin Sheen in the original Broadway production of The Subject Was Roses (1964-66), a relationship that grew into lifelong friendship.

Clark made his film debut in Black Like Me (1964), starring James Whitmore, and gained attention for his role as a Southern punk in the Oscar-winning In the Heat of the Night (1967), directed by Norman Jewison.

His dependable presence graced a wide range of films including The Bridge at Remagen (1969), Robert Aldrich’s The Grissom Gang (1971), White Lightning (1973), Emperor of the North (1973), Outlaw Blues (1977), Walter Hill’s The Driver (1978), Some Kind of Hero (1982), Country (1984), The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984), Return to Oz (1985), Back to the Future Part III (1990), and 42 (2013).

Gary Rosen, director of Hacks, praised Clark posthumously: “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.”

Rosen added, “His roles in In the Heat of the Night, Jeremiah Johnson, The Outlaw Josey Wales, The Cowboys, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, among many others, helped to elevate those films to classic status. He leaves the stage, but his performances will be remembered forever.”

On television, Clark appeared as Walt Bacon, an employee at Foxworthy Heating & Air, on the first season of ABC’s sitcom The Jeff Foxworthy Show. He also had recurring roles on Grace Under Fire and guest appearances on series such as Ben Casey, Dog and Cat, The Waltons, Magnum, P.I., The Practice, Chicago Hope, and notable miniseries including The Winds of War and Barbarians at the Gate.

Director Brian Helgeland, who worked with Clark on 42, remarked on his professionalism: “By the time I worked with Matt Clark on the film 42, he had already been in more than 120 different productions in a career that stretched back to the early 1960s. You’d think there would be a little bit of ‘been there, done that’ in him.

“But what did I get? I got an artist who not only keenly understood his role but understood the scene he was in and where it fell in the grand scheme of the film. I got a talented performer who was more than eager to improvise and stay perfectly in character until the cameras stopped rolling. In short, I got a genuine actor. And I was lucky to have him.”

Clark is survived by his third wife, Sharon, whom he married in January 2000; his daughter Amiee Clark, a producer; sons Matthias Clark, a musician; Jason Clark, a producer on the Peacock series Ted; and Seth Clark, a film editor. His family also includes grandchildren Sequoia, Dylan, Elizabeth, Miles, Emily, Izzy, Dax, Emanuel and Lucas; great-grandson Claude; and stepchildren Michelle, Joyce and Ray. He was preceded in death by another daughter, Alexandria.

His family released a statement honoring him: “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. You could see it - in his eyes, in his performances, in the family he loved to keep together. He lived. He lives, forever.”