Actor Clark Middleton has died aged 63 after contracting a mosquito-born disease.
The character actor, who was best known for his performances in Twin Peaks and The Blacklist, died on Sunday (4 October) from West Nile virus.
Middleton’s death was confirmed by his wife Elissa, as she paid tribute to the “beloved actor, writer, director, teacher, hero, husband, beacon, friend”.
“Clark transitioned on 4 October as a result of West Nile Virus, for which there is no known cure. Clark was a beautiful soul who spent a lifetime defying limits and advocating for people with disabilities.”
Middleton developed juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at the age of four and as an adult became a spokesperson for The Arthritis Foundation.
Throughout his career, Middleton worked on a variety of TV shows and plays, with a recurring role on Law & Order.
He also appeared in David Lynch’s 2017 Twin Peaks revival, revealing in an interview that he didn’t have to audition for the role and simply sent in a tape of him chatting with friends.
“I heard that they were doing a new Twin Peaks and I had reached out to my agents about it,” he said. “I thought I would enjoy being in that world. It was the sort of world I thought I could fit in as an actor.”
He also appeared in a number of high profile films, including Kill Bill: Vol 2, Sin City, Snowpiercer and Birdman.
