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Clark was reportedly hit by a 20-year-old woman driving a Hyundai Sonata around 1:20 a.m., police said. Paramedics found himand took him to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 2:04 a.m., according to the Chicago Fire Department and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
School of Rock, from Boyhood and Dazed and Confused director Richard Linklater, centered on Jack Black, a middle-aged slacker who had been called in to substitute teach a music class by mistake. After developing a special rapport with the kids in the class, his character took them to a Battle of the Bands competition. The kids in the class were played mostly by actual music prodigies, and a number of them have remained in the arts after the movie wrapped. Clark had played in a number of bands, including Dreadwolf, and Jessie Bess and the Intentions. The latter played their first live show on Saturday.
“He’s just a raw talent. He’s got a heart of gold,” Clark’s mother, Allison, is quoted as saying in the Sun-Times report.
Clark stopped acting after School of Rock, but never lost sight of his music dreams. Clark landed the role in the movie, which was released in 2003, when he was just 12 years old. Becuase of the brash, outspoken nature of the character, Clark got more lines than most of the other kids in the movie, and is fondly remembered by fans of the film.
School of Rock was a critical and commercial success upon its release, earning more than $125 million against a $35 million budget.
Our condolences go out to Clark’s friends, family, and fans at this difficult time.
h/t 102.9 MGK
