VETERAN CHARACTER ACTOR MATT CLARK, KNOWN FOR ‘BACK TO THE FUTURE PART III,’ DIES AT 89.
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Matt Clark, the prolific character actor whose rugged presence and sharp delivery defined over 150 roles in film and television, died Sunday morning, March 15, 2026. He was 89. His family confirmed to TMZ that Clark passed away at his home in Austin due to complications following back surgery, noting that the veteran performer “died the way he lived, on his terms.”
To many fans, Clark was the face of the Old West, most notably as Chester the Bartender in the 1885 setting of Back to the Future Part III. Whether he was pouring a “wake-up juice” for Doc Brown or nervously eyeing Buford “Mad Dog” Tannen, Clark brought a grounded authenticity to the science-fiction trilogy. His performance as the weary saloon keeper remains one of the most recognizable supporting roles in the franchise’s history.



