Clark Tinsley Middleton, a scene-stealer of exceptional caliber, triumphed over adversity to achieve success in his profession, despite being afflicted with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis from the tender age of four. This debilitating condition, which frequently manifested in recurring bouts affecting his hands, arms, and hips, did not deter him from pursuing his passion for acting.
Born with a determination to make a career out of his craft, Middleton began performing in amateur dramatics while still at junior college, eventually quitting university in Arizona to move to New York at the age of 25. There, he studied acting under the tutelage of Uta Hagen and Geraldine Page, who became his mentor, at the esteemed Mirror Repertory Theater.
Middleton's stage career spanned an impressive 15 years, with performances at the New York Shakespeare Festival, Circle Repertory Theater, Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, and various regional theaters. His screen debut in 1983 marked the beginning of a prolific career, despite initial difficulties finding roles due to his unique physical limitations.
In his own words, Middleton acknowledged the challenges he faced: "They don't know what to do with me. I'm limited not by what I can do, but by what people see me as." Nevertheless, he went on to create a diverse array of memorable characters, particularly in the science fiction genre.
Some of his most notable roles include Glenn 'Jelly Bean' Carter, the grumpy DMV tracker in The Blacklist (2013),and an eccentric book dealer in Fringe (2008). He also appeared in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013) as Pretorious Pryce, a customs inspector on the planet of Kitson, and in Twin Peaks (2017) as Sherilyn Fenn's tired accountant husband.
In addition to his television and film work, Middleton was a member of the prestigious Actor's Studio and appeared in a host of small movie parts in notable releases such as Serendipity (2001),Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004),Sin City (2005),and Snowpiercer (2013).
Tragically, Middleton's life was cut short at the age of 63 due to complications from West Nile Virus, a mosquito-borne disease. Despite his untimely passing, his legacy as a talented and resilient actor continues to inspire and entertain audiences to this day.
