Days of Our Lives actor John Clarke dies at the age of 88 from complications stemming from pneumonia. Clarke had a long career in Hollywood, but the actor was best known for his work as lawyer Mickey Horton in NBC’s soap opera Days of Our Lives. Clarke was an army brat entertaining troops in the Air Force during the Korean War. His acting career took off in the 1960’s with his first big on-screen film called Judgment at Nuremberg directed by Stanley Kramer.
John “Jack” Clarke was born in South Bend, Indiana in 1931. Clarke bounced around schools as a young man because his family was military. After graduating from high school in Tokyo, Clarke set his eyes on attending UCLA, receiving a bachelor’s degree in theater. Once he graduated from college, Clarke served as a sergeant for the Air Force and participated in the Air Force Varsitones. During the early stages of his career, Clarke appeared on Lawman, Twilight Zone, and Gun Smoke. Clarke’s big breakout role was when he was cast in Days of Our Lives in 1965. Clarke was nominated for Outstanding Actor in Daytime Drama Series at the Daytime Emmys in 1979. After portraying Mickey Horton on Days of Our Lives for 39 years (from 1965 until 2004), Clarke was awarded the Daytime Emmys lifetime achievement award in 2005.
The Wrap reported Clarke’s death after a statement was released by his family Monday. “Above all, family life was always most important to John and his wife Patty,” it reads. “John’s greater-than-life personality will leave a lasting impression on all his family and friends who love him." The actor died last Wednesday night in Laguna Beach, California. He had been declining with his health for the last several years after suffering a stroke in 2007.
Aside from his work on television, among Clarke’s notable film roles include those in It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad World, Man Missing, Burma Patrol, and The Satan Bug. Clarke continued his theater career at Chicago’s Tenthouse Theater, where he appeared in more than 75 productions as the leading man. Days of Our Lives writer Ryan Quan took to Twitter to express his deepest condolences to Clarke and the importance of his role of Mickey Horton.
Clarke and his wife Patty raised three children, Joshua, Heidi, and Melinda. Melinda appeared on the Fox drama The O.C. as Julie Cooper. Joshua works in the bio science industry and Heidi passed away in 1994 from a heart attack. Clarke is survived by his wife Patty, his children Melinda and Joshua, and his three grandchildren. The family asks for donations to be made to the Heidi Clarke Scholarship Fund at California Institute of the Arts.
R.I.P. John Clarke: April 14, 1931 - October 16, 2019
Source: The Wrap
