Kevin Alexander Clark Biography

Date of Birth

3 December 1988, Highland Park, Illinois, USA

Height

5' 10½" (1.79 m)

Death

December 2021, Chicago, Illinois, USA, bicycle accident

Mini Biography

Kevin Alexander Clark was born on December 3, 1988 in Highland Park, Illinois. He played the drums since he was three years old but didn't take private lessons until the fifth grade. He was so skilled in his performances that each one demanded a standing ovation from the audience. Kevin was an active member of the Highland Park High School's concert band and also part of its jazz bands. Not only did he have his drumming career mixed together with his acting career, he formed his own garage band where he played the drums - and a little guitar and bass when needed. Kevin composed several original pieces on computer and on guitar. He was introduced to acting at the age of thirteen, playing one of the rocking kids, Freddy Jones, in Paramount Pictures' School of Rock (2003) with Jack Black and Joan Cusack. The film had a number-one opening weekend, October 3, 2003, in the United States, and ended up grossing $81 million domestically. While Kevin never appeared in another film again, he continued drumming in Chicago-era bands, most recently Jess Bess and the Intentions.

Kevin died at age 32 on May 26, 2021 in Chicago, after being struck by a motorist while biking in the city's Avondale neighborhood.

Trivia

Musician, drummer, guitarist, and composer.

Formed a band with a friend from a camp. He calls the band Blind, but when he went to work on the movie in New York, the band found a new drummer.

He was a member of his school's jazz and advanced band.

Had an older brother, Cary, and a younger sister, Nicole.

He also had a band based in Northbrook, Illinois, called Third Estate, but they broke up in late November 2004.

His younger sister Nicole Ilise Clark appeared as an extra in School of Rock (2003).

Was good friends with fellow School of Rock (2003) cast mate Rivkah Reyes.

Maternal great-grandson of dance bandleader Benny Meroff, who was active in the swing jazz era, and his wife, entertainer Florence Gast. The two appeared together in Benny Meroff and His Orchestra (1938).

He had Norwegian (father) and Russian Jewish/Ukrainian Jewish (mother) ancestry.

Quotes

[on playing the drums] "I've been drumming for about five years now, well when I was about two or something. I've actually been drumming my whole life because my mom went to a garage sale and she found this old broken drum kit and she said 'This'll be fun to give to a kid, it'll let him get some energy out.' So, she brought it home and I would always be banging on it and hitting it and stuff."