One Of The School Of Rock Kids Just Died, He Was Only 32
One of the School of Rock stars has tragically died.
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Kevin Clark, a former child actor and professional drummer best known for his role as Freddy “Spazzy McGee” Jones in 2003’s mega-hit School of Rock, died after he was struck and killed by a car while biking in Avondale.
The sad news of Clark’s death was brought to us by Movieweb, stating that the former child actor of School of Rock passed away after he was struck by a Hyundai Sonata on Wednesday, May 26, 2021. The accident took place at around 1:20 a.m. when Kevin was taking an early morning bike ride. Though the details surrounding the accident itself aren’t known at the time, Kevin was found by the paramedics at Logan Boulevard and transported to Illinois Masonic Medical Center. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the medical professionals, Kevin Clark was pronounced Dead at 2:04 a.m.
Clark started playing drums early in his childhood, at the age of three, primarily by hitting pots and pans in the family’s basement in Highland Park. He started private lessons at age 5, where he showed incredible talent and musical prowess by playing piano, guitar, and violin. His raw talent and love for music landed him a role in 2003’s School of Rock, with Jack Black, as an outspoken kid who was the band’s drummer, Freddy. Thanks to the movie’s massive success, Kevin will forever be remembered as Freddy “Spazzy McGee” Jones.
However, the School of Rock star didn’t pursue an acting career after the movie, but the real-deal drummer continued playing drums in a series of bands after that. The people close to Kevin described him as a motivated musician who loved to write songs, though none of them is sure why exactly Kevin was biking in Avondale when he was hit. Several of Clark’s School of Rock co-stars paid tribute to Clark on social media platforms, with actor Jack Black expressing his sorrows in an Instagram post.
“Kevin is gone. Way too soon. Beautiful soul. So many great memories. Heartbroken. Sending love to his family and the whole School of Rock community,” wrote Black.
Though he was famous for his role as Freddy, the School of Rock wonder drummer’s other projects include a rock band Dreadwolf, who released their latest album, Escape Rhythm, earlier this year, and another band, named Funk It Let’s Jam. Besides his music career, Kevin worked as a shift manager at Starbucks, though he also gave music lessons at a School of Rock location at Libertyville for students of all ages. A true musician, from the very beginning, to the very end.
Kevin performed with Jess Bess and the Intentions on their first live performance last Saturday, just days before his death. Needless to say, his performance was parallel to the one he gave us in the School of Rock. At this time, our deepest sympathies go to Clark’s family and friends: the actor and musician was far too young to go. Though he’ll always be missed, his memory will forever live on in rock music fans and the unavoidable classic that is School of Rock. Rest in peace.
