Child star Kevin Clark, who was best known for appearing as drummer Freddy “Spazzy McGee” Jones in the 2003 movie School Of Rock, has died at the age of 32 after being hit by a car while he rode his bicycle in Chicago, Illinois.

Police told the Chicago Sun Times that Clark was riding a bike at around 1:20 a.m. on Wednesday when he was fatally struck by a Hyundai Sonata at a notoriously dangerous intersection on the Northwest Side. The Chicago Fire Department and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said that Clark was found by paramedics on Logan Boulevard and rushed to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 2:04 a.m.

The driver of the Hyundai Sonata has only been identified as a 20 year-old woman, and she was hit with several citations.

Clark had just started a new band that performed live for the first time last weekend on the North Shore.

“He told his bandmates just yesterday: You know, this is finally the life I want to live. And we’re going to make it. You’re my musical family — my family — and we’re all going to make it,” said his mother Allison Clark.

Clark began playing drums when he was only 3 years-old, “hitting pots and pans in the basement,” according to his mother. He began taking lessons at the age of 5, and he also played guitar, piano and violin.

“He loved music. He’s just a raw talent. He’s got a heart of gold,” Allison said.

Clark was 12 when he landed the role in School Of Rock, portraying an outspoken child who became the drummer for the class band. Clark had no experience with acting, but his drumming skills got him cast.

“He wasn’t an actor, wasn’t thinking about being an actor,” Allison said.

Jack Black, the star of School Of Rock, took to Instagram to pay tribute to Clark.

“Devastating news. Kevin is gone. Way too soon. Beautiful soul,” Black wrote. “So many great memories. Heartbroken. Sending love to his family and the whole School of Rock community.”

 

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Clark didn’t continue with acting, but he remained devoted to music all his life. His mother said that by Wednesday afternoon, she had gotten dozens of calls from musicians about her son.

“You know, we’re all really in shock. It was just this morning,” Allison Clark said. “He was just a 32-year-old kid. It doesn’t make sense. A lot of our jammer friends — mostly 65-plus — have lost their lives recently. So hopefully he’s up there jamming in the sky with them.”