'Yes, Dear' Star Anthony Clark Dies at 62 as Co-Star Mike O'Malley Pays Tribute
Clark died on Tuesday, November 10, from complications related to pneumonia, according to Deadline, which first reported the news. His longtime manager, Barry Katz, confirmed the passing, while no official cause of death has been released by Clark's family.
O'Malley, who played Jimmy Hughes opposite Clark's Greg Warner, announced the news with black-and-white behind-the-scenes photographs from the show. "Anthony Clark died yesterday. He was a hilarious guy," he wrote. "When my wife Lisa and I were dating back in the mid-nineties, Anthony was already famous in Boston, regular
ly selling out comedy shows."
"I Was a Fan Before I Was a Friend"
O'Malley's tribute remembered a friendship that began long before the two actors shared a screen. He recalled how Clark had already established a strong reputation on the Boston comedy circuit when they first met in the mid-1990s, and how much he had admired him even before they worked together.
"I was a fan before I was a friend. We spoke on the phone three weeks ago. He had us laughing loudly once again," O'Malley wrote. "Attached are some snapshots from our last episode of Yes Dear, which ended twenty years ago after 122 episodes. Rest in peace. Tony."
Other comedians joined the tributes. Nick Swardson, who described Clark as one of his best friends, shared a throwback photograph of the two together, writing: "This is my friend Anthony Clark. One of my best friends for a long time. He was known for the TV shows Boston Common, Yes, Dear and the movie The Rock." Dane Cook recalled watching Clark perform during their early years on the Boston comedy circuit, and Jay Mohr wrote on social media: "Never saw anyone destroy like Tony at Stitches in Boston." Clark's death was also reported as coming after a long illness.
A Career Built on Stand-Up
Born on April 4, 1964, in Lynchburg, Virginia, Clark began his stand-up comedy career after graduating from Emerson College in Boston in 1986. He built a loyal following on the Boston circuit before breaking into television, first appearing as Greg Warner in Yes, Dear in 2000.
The sitcom, which ran for six seasons from 2000 to 2006, followed two couples sharing a home. Clark starred alongside O'Malley, Jean Louisa Kelly and Liza Snyder, playing the good-hearted dad Greg Warner. He was also known for the sitcom Boston Common and for a role in the film The Rock.
Yes, Dear creator and executive producer Greg Garcia also paid tribute, describing Clark as having "the most insane sense of humor" and recalling their recent conversations and shared laughter. "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," Garcia said. Katz, who represented Clark for years, described his longtime client as "arguably one of the funniest people that I have ever met in my lifetime."
Clark's death has drawn tributes from across the comedy world — a reminder of a performer whose humour made audiences laugh for decades, from packed Boston clubs to millions of living rooms, and whose sitcom remains a fond favourite for fans of early-2000s television.
Rest in peace, Tony. Share your memories of Anthony Clark and Yes, Dear in the comments below.
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