Kevin Alexander Clark

Date of Birth: December 3, 1988

Place of Birth: Highland Park, Illinois, U.S.

Date of Death: May 26, 2021

Place of Death: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Ethnicity:
*father – Norwegian, as well as French, English, and German
*mother – one quarter German, three quarters Ashkenazi Jewish

Kevin Alexander Clark, also known simply as Kevin Clark, was an American actor and musician/drummer. He is known for having played Freddy Jones in the film School of Rock.

He was the great-grandson of Benny Meroff, a dance bandleader in the swing jazz era, who also played violin, clarinet, and saxophone.

Kevin’s father has Norwegian, French, English, and German ancestry. Kevin’s mother was raised Jewish, and is of three quarters Ashkenazi Jewish and one quarter German descent. Kevin’s co-star Rivkah Reyes stated that she and Kevin had bonded over both being “Jews from Chicago.”

Kevin’s paternal grandfather was Clarence Albert Clark (the son of Lawrence Fulton Clark and Sydonna/Sidney Thomas). Clarence was born in Illinois. Lawrence was the son of Andrew Lawrence Clark and Edith Elizabeth Dibble. Sydonna was born in France.

Kevin’s paternal grandmother was Adeline Torbjörg Borwick (the daughter of Nils Olai Borwick and Matilda Thora Haakonson). Adeline was born in Bergen, Hordaland, Norway. Nils was the son of Ole Borwick. Matilda was the daughter of Mads Haakonson and Torbjorg Torbjorensen.

Kevin’s maternal grandfather was Seymour Samuel Portman (the son of Louis Portman and Edith Zuk). Seymour was born in Illinois, to Jewish parents from the Russian Empire. Louis was born in Kiev. Edith was the daughter of Louis Zuk and Rose.

Kevin’s maternal grandmother was Diane Alyce Meroff (the daughter of Benny Meroff and Florence Gast). Diane was born in Illinois, and was also known as Diane Marsh. She was a chorus girl, professional choreographer, and creator of dance shows. Benny was born in New York, the son of Russian Jewish parents, Isaac Kohon, from Odessa, and Luba Rosenberg/Weishoff, who had roots in Warsaw. Kevin’s great-grandmother Florence Gast was also an entertainer, and Benny and Florence appeared together in the short film Benny Meroff and His Orchestra (1938). Florence was the daughter of Bruno Ezekiel Gast and Ida Florence Stucke, who were of German origin. Kevin’s grandmother Diane had a Jewish funeral.

Sources: https://www.chicagotribune.com

Obituary of Kevin’s maternal grandfather, Seymour Samuel Portman – https://www.legacy.com

Obituary of Kevin’s maternal grandmother, Diane Alyce (Meroff) Portman – http://www.chicagotribune.com