Anthony Clark, My Friend. Passed Away.

Anthony Clark died last night, and I am heartbroken by the news.

This man was my best friend and, at times, my nemesis. He could be a cold-hearted, drunken nomad one minute and, with the snap of a finger, lift you up with laughter the next. He was complicated, unpredictable, brilliant, and absolutely one of a kind.

I've known Anthony since 2001. In all those years, I came to recognize just how much of an unstable force he was within the Hollywood elite. And make no mistake, he was Hollywood elite. He was one of the most important figures in comedy, a man who helped establish a blueprint that so many others would follow. People borrowed from him. People learned from him. Some took far more than they ever acknowledged. I have the receipts, and I know just how much of Anthony's genius found its way into the work of comedians who came after him.

But there was another side to Anthony. He was vulnerable in ways people didn't always understand, and his unwillingness to play Hollywood's games often put him at odds with the very industry he helped shape. He wasn't anybody's monkey. He wasn't going to be told which way to go, who to please, or how to behave. He did things his way.

He saw through the bullshit of Hollywood, and I believe that came at a cost. He was a light that burned incredibly bright, but perhaps for far too short a time.

He made his millions through real estate and through comedy, but his true wealth was in the brilliance he brought to the world and the influence he left behind. So many people picked up where he left off, whether they acknowledged it or not. We should recognize that. We should recognize his contribution, his originality, and the mark he left on comedy.

Anthony and I spoke every month since 2001. That's more than two decades of friendship, arguments, laughter, and history. He'll always be a good friend of mine, even with all the complicated parts that came with knowing him.

I will miss him deeply. Rest easy Anthony. The world of comedy owes you more recognition than it ever gave you. You stupid loving idiot! 💔