Kevin Clark was born in 1988 and grew up in Highland Park, Illinois. According to his mother, he showed an early interest in drumming by the age of 3 by "drumming on pots and pans" (via the Chicago Sun-Times). By his early teenage years, Clark was talented enough to secure a role in a big-budget movie despite not having any acting experience. "He's just a raw talent. He's got a heart of gold," his mother said.
After "School of Rock," Clark played in several bands in the Chicago area, including Dreadwolf and, most recently, Jessie Bess and the Intentions, who performed together live for the first time on the Saturday before Clark's death.
Clark reportedly kept in touch with his former "School of Rock" castmates throughout the years. In 2018, Clark reunited with Jack Black backstage at a show for Black's band Tenacious D; there, Black posed for photos in a Dreadwolf T-shirt, according to People. "Kind [of] a must here, but it's not every day you get to see Jack Black wearing your t shirt," the band later wrote in a since-deleted Instagram post.
A memorial for Kevin Clark has been planned for Wednesday night. Our thoughts are with his loved ones during this difficult time.
