Anthony Clark, the comedian and actor best known for starring in the CBS sitcom Yes, Dear, died on November 10 at age 62.
His former co-star Mike O’Malley announced the news the following day, revealing that they had spoken by phone just three weeks earlier. Clark was still making him laugh, O’Malley recalled, much as he had throughout their friendship.
Deadline reported that Clark died from complications related to pneumonia. The publication did not identify the source of that information.
Clark’s longtime manager, Barry Katz, confirmed his death to Us Weekly. Katz praised his talent and the happiness he brought to colleagues and audiences, saying it had been an honor to represent him.
Mike O’Malley Shares Photos From Their Last Yes, Dear Episode
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O’Malley’s tribute included photographs taken while filming their final episode together. He also looked back to the mid-1990s, when he and his then-girlfriend, now wife, Lisa, watched Clark perform at Boston’s Comedy Connection. Clark was already a local favorite who regularly sold out shows.
O’Malley remembered how Clark laughed along with the audience at his own stories and observations, making the experience even funnier. “I was a fan before I was a friend,” he wrote.
He also said Clark had invested his earnings wisely and “essentially retired” after the sitcom ended. Katz told Deadline that Clark had spent time buying and selling real estate after stepping away from Hollywood.
Nick Swardson and Dane Cook Remember Clark’s Stand-Up Career
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Nick Swardson shared a photograph of himself with Clark, describing him as one of his closest friends for many years. Their relationship included a long working partnership, with Swardson opening for Clark’s stand-up performances.
“Non stop laughs,” Swardson wrote, remembering their time together and expressing his hope that Clark was at peace. According to TV Insider, O’Malley responded beneath the post by telling Swardson that Clark had spoken enthusiastically about his comedy from the beginning.
Dane Cook remembered sharing the stage with Clark during their early years at Boston’s Faneuil Hall Comedy Connection. He described Clark as one of the best live performers he had ever seen, recalling how effortlessly he appeared to win over an audience.
Clark Moved From Boston Comedy Clubs to Network Sitcoms
Born in Lynchburg, Virginia, Clark attended Emerson College in Boston, where he performed with the student comedy troupe This Is Pathetic. His television breakthrough came with NBC’s Boston Common, which aired from 1996 to 1997. He later appeared opposite Dan Aykroyd in Soul Man.
Yes, Dear premiered in 2000 and ran for six seasons and 122 episodes before ending in 2006. Clark played Greg Warner, an uptight entertainment executive married to Kim, portrayed by Jean Louisa Kelly. Their household changed when Kim’s sister Christine and her husband Jimmy, played by Liza Snyder and O’Malley, moved into the family’s guest house with their children.
Clark’s film credits included Dogfight, The Thing Called Love and The Rock, alongside television appearances on Ellen. After Yes, Dear, he hosted the fourth season of NBC’s Last Comic Standing in 2006.
Greg Garcia Recalls Clark’s Encouragement During Their Monthly Calls
Yes, Dear co-creator Greg Garcia said he and Clark had reconnected over the preceding two or three years. Their monthly telephone calls became an opportunity to catch up, exchange stories and make each other laugh.
When Clark learned that Garcia was trying stand-up comedy for the first time, he responded with enthusiasm and encouragement. Garcia told Deadline that Clark enjoyed discussing the craft, talking about life on the road and offering advice drawn from his own experience.
Garcia remembered trading jokes with Clark during another call a few weeks before his death. He described a friend whose humor continued to surprise him, even after years of knowing one another. “It’s a sad day, and I’ll miss him very much,” he said.