Ariel Clark

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Ariel Clark was an actor, musician and stuntman, born Ariel Lee Hanrath-Clark on May 22, 1984 in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. He was killed in an automobile accident on April 4, 2007 in Pacific Palisades, California, which also claimed the life of his father Bob Clark. Hector Velasquez-Nava pled guilty

[edit] Life and career

Ariel was a graduate of Santa Monica College, majoring in music composition for film and video games. He had an extensive repertoire of composed music including rags, big band charts, pieces for opera and work composed with his band Heroes of Paradise. He practiced parkour, capoeira, gymnastics and extreme martial arts. He was ranked in the top ten internationally as young magician at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, California. Along with his many skills, he was also a poker dealer at a small casino in Los Angeles for a short time, and was also a poker player like his father.

Ariel composed for several films, shorts, commercials and videos. He played piano, clarinet, accordion, trumpet, spoons, kazoo and sang. He was a virtuoso harmonica player. His influences in composition were Gershwin, Stravinsky, Reverend Horton Heat, Mr. Bungle and Ben Folds.

Ariel's acting career included the films "Waking Life" Baby Geniuses (1999), I'll Remember April (1999), Blonde and Blonder (2006) and My Summer Story (aka It Runs in the Family) (1994).

[edit] Death

Bob Clark and his son Ariel were killed in a head-on automobile collision on the Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles on the morning of April 4, 2007. Police allege that the crash occurred when an SUV crossed the median and struck Clark's Infiniti, causing the closure of the highway for eight hours. Police determined that the SUV's driver, Hector Velazquez-Nava, had a blood alcohol level of three times the legal limit and was driving without a license. He faces charges of gross vehicular manslaughter and deportation to his native Mexico, as he entered and was living in the United States illegally.^{[citation needed]}

Ariel's father Bob Clark was best known for directing and writing A Christmas Story.

Ariel is survived by his older brother, Michael Hanrath-Clark.