Anthony Clark obit

Anthony Clark Dies: Comedian And ‘Yes, Dear’ Star Was 62

 He was not on the list.

Anthony Clark, who started his career as a stand-up comedian and later became the star of CBS’ Yes, Dear, died yesterday, according to a post from his co-star Mike O’Malley. It’s understood that Clark died from complications related to pneumonia. He was 62.

O’Malley remembered him as “a hilarious guy,” before sharing a memory.

“When my wife Lisa and I were dating back in the mid-nineties, Anthony was already famous in Boston, regularly selling out comedy shows…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.”

Clark is best known for starring alongside Mike O’Malley, Jean Louisa Kelly and Liza Snyder on the 2000 CBS sitcom Yes, Dear. Created and executive produced by Greg Garcia and Alan Kirschenbaum, the comedy about two couples living under the same roof ran for six seasons.

On hearing the news today, Garcia, who also created NBC’s My Name I Earl, shared the following thoughts with Deadline:

I’ve been very lucky to be friends with some of the funniest people in the world, and Anthony Clark had the most insane sense of humor of all of them. The things that would come out of his mouth were so unexpected and hilarious. Over the last two or three years we had reconnected, and I always looked forward to our monthly phone calls where we would catch up and make each other laugh. Recently, he was so full of joy and encouragement when he found out I was trying stand-up comedy for the first time. He enjoyed talking about the art of stand-up, being on the road, and would also offer some great advice. Just a few weeks ago we were laughing hysterically on the phone, trading jokes and telling stories. It’s a sad day, and I’ll miss him very much. I’m glad he was able to bring a lot of joy and laughter into the world.

Clark’s longtime manager Barry Katz called him “one of the funniest and most talented comedian/actors I have ever had the pleasure of watching.”

“It was an honor to represent him,” Katz added. “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.“

Early on, Clark was featured alongside Garry Shandling, Dave Chappelle, Dave Attell and Louis C.K. in HBO’s 1995 Young Comedians special. Two years later, he played Billy opposite a young, hot cast that included River Phoenix, Samantha Mathis, Dermot Mulroney and Sandra Bullock in Peter Bogdonovich’s A Thing Called Love. He was also memorable as a flamboyant hairdresser who cuts Sean Connery’s hair in Michael Bay’s The Rock.

On the small screen, Clark led two other (short-lived) shows: Boston Common and Soul Man.

In 2006, his career came full circle, when he served as the Season 4 host of Last Comic Standing.

After pulling away from Hollywood, Clark spent had been buying and selling real estate, Katz said.

 

Actor

West of Liberty (2019)

West of Liberty

6.2

TV Series

2019

1 episode

 

John Michael Higgins and Missi Pyle in My Uncle Rafael (2012)

My Uncle Rafael

5.2

Jack

2012

 

Grad Night (2006)

Grad Night

1.9

DJ

2006

 

Mike O'Malley, Anthony Clark, Jean Louisa Kelly, and Liza Snyder in Yes, Dear (2000)

Yes, Dear

6.9

TV Series

Gregory Thomas 'Greg' Warner

2000–2006

122 episodes

 

Kathy Najimy and Peter Paige in Say Uncle (2005)

Say Uncle

5.7

Russell Trotter

2005

 

Beat Boys Beat Girls (2003)

Beat Boys Beat Girls

5.4

Short

Gichi

2003

 

Mekhi Phifer, Wood Harris, and Cam'ron in Paid in Full (2002)

Paid in Full

7.0

Rico's Buddy #1

2002

 

Killing Cinderella (2000)

Killing Cinderella

6.4

Brad

2000

 

Murder She Purred: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery (1998)

Murder She Purred: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery

6.2

TV Movie

Tucker (voice)

1998

 

Dan Aykroyd, Brendon Ryan Barrett, Spencer Breslin, Courtney Chase, Michael Finiguerra, Dakin Matthews, and Kevin Sheridan in Soul Man (1997)

Soul Man

6.2

TV Series

Rev. Todd Tucker

1997–1998

25 episodes

 

Traylor Howard, Hedy Burress, Anthony Clark, Steve Paymer, Tasha Smith, and Vincent Ventresca in Boston Common (1996)

Boston Common

7.0

TV Series

Boyd Pritchett

1996–1997

32 episodes

 

Nicolas Cage, Sean Connery, and Ed Harris in The Rock (1996)

The Rock

7.4

Paul the Hotel Barber

1996

 

Ellen DeGeneres, Joely Fisher, and Clea Lewis in Ellen (1994)

Ellen

6.1

TV Series

Will Davies

1995–1996

4 episodes

 

Hourglass (1995)

Hourglass

3.4

Video

Jimmy Jardine

1995

 

Jonathan Katz in Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (1995)

Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist

7.7

TV Series

Tony (voice)

1995

1 episode

 

Teresa's Tattoo (1994)

Teresa's Tattoo

4.5

Mooney

1994

 

Samantha Mathis in The Thing Called Love (1993)

The Thing Called Love

6.4

Billy

1993

 

River Phoenix and Lili Taylor in Dogfight (1991)

Dogfight

7.3

Oakie

1991

 

American Playhouse (1980)

American Playhouse

7.2

TV Series

Gas Station Attendant

1991

1 episode

 

Writer

Anthony Clark: Ambiguous (2012)

Anthony Clark: Ambiguous

5.9

TV Special

Writer

2012

 

Just for Laughs (2009)

Just for Laughs

6.0

TV Series

writer

2010

1 episode

 

Jonathan Katz in Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (1995)

Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist

7.7

TV Series

additional material

1995

1 episode

 

Producer

Anthony Clark: Ambiguous (2012)

Anthony Clark: Ambiguous

5.9

TV Special

executive producer

2012

 

Self

Untitled Barry Katz Documentary

Self

Filming

 

Anthony Clark: Ambiguous (2012)

Anthony Clark: Ambiguous

5.9

TV Special

Self

2012

 

Just for Laughs (2009)

Just for Laughs

6.0

TV Series

Self - Comedian (as Anthony Clarke)

2010

1 episode

 

The States (2007)

The States

8.0

TV Series

Self (Virginia)

2007

1 episode

 

Kathy Griffin in Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List (2005)

Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List

7.5

TV Series

Self

2006

1 episode

 

Our Friend River (2006)

Our Friend River

8.4

Video

Self

2006

 

Sandra Bullock, River Phoenix, Samantha Mathis, and Dermot Mulroney in The Thing Called Love: A Look Back (2006)

The Thing Called Love: A Look Back

8.8

Video

Self

2006

 

Last Comic Standing (2003)

Last Comic Standing

6.4

TV Series

Self - Celebrity Scout

2004

2 episodes

 

Wayne Brady in The Wayne Brady Show (2002)

The Wayne Brady Show

4.7

TV Series

Self

2004

1 episode

 

CBS at 75

5.7

TV Special

Self

2003

 

The Sharon Osbourne Show (2003)

The Sharon Osbourne Show

3.5

TV Series

Self

2003

1 episode

 

Lewis Black, Jim Gaffigan, Mitch Hedberg, Bret McKenzie, Jemaine Clement, and Flight of the Conchords in Just for Laughs (2002)

Just for Laughs

6.1

TV Series

Self

2003

1 episode

 

The 29th Annual People's Choice Awards (2003)

The 29th Annual People's Choice Awards

TV Special

Self

2003

 

Rosie O'Donnell in The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1996)

The Rosie O'Donnell Show

4.3

TV Series

Self

1996–2002

4 episodes

 

CBS Cares (2000)

CBS Cares

6.3

TV Series

Self

2002

1 episode

 

American Comedy Awards Viewer's Choice

TV Special

Self - Host

2001

 

Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials (2001)

Super Bowl's Greatest Commercials

6.4

TV Special

Self - Host

2001

 

David Letterman in Late Show with David Letterman (1993)

Late Show with David Letterman

7.0

TV Series

Self - Guest

1995–2000

7 episodes

 

Jon Stewart, Desi Lydic, Michael Kosta, Jordan Klepper, Ronny Chieng, and Josh Johnson in The Daily Show (1996)

The Daily Show

8.3

TV Series

Self

2000

1 episode

 

Conan O'Brien in Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993)

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

8.2

TV Series

Self - Guest

1997–2000

4 episodes

 

Funny Flubs & Screw-Ups

TV Series

Self - Host

2000

 

Jay Leno in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992)

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

5.3

TV Series

Self

1994–1997

4 episodes

 

Comics Come Home 2

TV Movie

Self

1996

 

1995 Young Comedians Special

8.6

TV Special

Self

1995

 

Just for Laughs (1987)

Just for Laughs

6.6

TV Series

Self

1994

1 episode

 

An Evening at the Improv (1981)

An Evening at the Improv

7.1

TV Series

Self

1990–1994

2 episodes

 

Archive Footage

TV's Greatest Sidekicks

6.4

TV Special

Self (archive footage)

2004