Kevin Clark, Boy Drummer Freddy in 'School of Rock,' Dies at 32 After Hit by Car

Clark was struck by a vehicle on his bicycle Wednesday.

Paramount Pictures/Rolling Stone

Kevin Clark, who played the excitable preteen drummer Freddy Jones (aka “Spazzy McGee”) in the 2003 film “School of Rock,” has died at age 32. 

The professional drummer was killed early Wednesday when he was struck by a vehicle while riding his bike in Chicago’s North Side neighborhood, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Clark’s sister told the paprer he was on his way home at the time of the accident. Police say a 20-year-old woman was driving the car that killed Clark. She was not arrested, but has been issued citations.

Clark was just 12 years old when he was cast in the 2003 comedy hit alongside Jack Black. He had no previous acting experience but had been drumming since the age of 3. The film’s director, Richard Linklater, had launched a nationwide search for talented elementary school-aged musicians that could actually play the music featured in the movie and its soundtrack themselves.

“He’s just a raw talent. He’s got a heart of gold,” Clark’s mother Allison told the Sun-Times. “He just kind of shined. He took it on right away, but he never really acted afterward.”

In 2015, Clark participated in a live reunion show with the entire cast, including Black. He also caught up with the actor backstage at a 2018 Tenacious D concert, where he presented Black with a custom shirt for his own band, Dreadwolf.

Prior to his death, Clark had played in several bands in the area, including his most recent project, Jess Bess and the Intentions, which had its first live show on Saturday, according to his mother.

“They were unbelievably fantastic and they would’ve gone somewhere.” she said.

Check out one of Clark’s scenes from “School of Rock” below.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=uytB8El1MeE%3Fstart%3D258%26%23038%3Bfeature%3Doembed
Source: Read Full Article