Clark Middleton's net worth is best estimated in the $500,000 to $2 million range at the time of his death in 2020, not the $6-13 million figures some automated biography sites list without sourcing. Middleton was a working character actor for more than three decades, best known for recurring and supporting roles rather than leading parts -- steady supporting-cast pay across films and TV series, not blockbuster lead paychecks, is what built his income.
His exact finances were never made public, and no probate or estate figures are on record. The realistic range comes from decades of guest and recurring television work, several studio and independent film credits, and a long-running part on a hit network drama -- a solid, sustained character-actor career, not a leading-man one.
Quick Facts
| Real Name | Clark Tinsley Middleton |
| Born | April 13, 1957, Bristol, Tennessee |
| Died | October 4, 2020, Los Angeles, California (age 63) |
| Known For | Ernie in "Kill Bill: Vol. 2"; Glen Carter in "The Blacklist"; Edward Markham in "Fringe" |
| Spouse | Elissa Middleton, married 2006 |
| Estimated Net Worth | $500,000 to $2 million (at death) |
Early Life
Middleton was born Clark Tinsley Middleton on April 13, 1957, in Bristol, Tennessee, and grew up in Tucson, Arizona. At age four, he was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, a condition he lived with for the rest of his life. It affected his joints and mobility from childhood on -- by his own account it distorted his hands and, by age eight, cost him movement in his neck -- and led to roughly 14 surgeries over his lifetime, including 10 joint replacements. He stood 5'4" tall. In 1997, he wrote and performed a one-person stage play, "Miracle Mile," drawing directly on his experience with the disease.
Acting Career
Middleton made his acting debut in the 1983 TV movie "Miss Lonelyhearts" and spent the next three decades building a prolific character-actor résumé. He had a recurring role as forensics technician Ellis on "Law & Order" from 1997 to 2000. His best-known film role came in Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill: Vol. 2" (2004), playing Budd's coworker Ernie at the strip club where Budd worked (he reprised the role in the extended 2006 cut, "Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair"). He also appeared in Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller's "Sin City" (2005) as Schutz.
On television, Middleton played rare-book dealer Edward Markham in a recurring role on "Fringe" from 2009 to 2012, and appeared in Bong Joon-ho's "Snowpiercer" (2013) as the Painter. He had a supporting role in "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)" (2014). From 2014 until his death in 2020, he had a recurring role on NBC's "The Blacklist" as Glen Carter, a DMV records tracker who assists Raymond Reddington's operation. In 2017, he joined the cast of the revival series "Twin Peaks: The Return" as Charlie, the husband of Audrey Horne.
His Death in 2020
Middleton died on October 4, 2020, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles from complications of West Nile virus. He was 63. His death was confirmed by his publicist, Kim Correro, and his wife, Elissa Middleton, who had married him in 2006. His final appearance as Glen Carter on "The Blacklist" had aired earlier that year, in April 2020; the show later dedicated a Season 8 episode to his memory, in which his character was also written to have died of West Nile virus.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Clark Middleton's net worth?
Best estimated in the $500,000 to $2 million range at the time of his 2020 death, based on more than three decades of supporting and recurring film and television work -- not the unsourced $6-13 million figures some sites repeat.
What was Clark Middleton's biggest role?
He is best known for playing Ernie in "Kill Bill: Vol. 2" (2004), rare-book dealer Edward Markham on "Fringe" (2009-2012), and Glen Carter, a recurring character, on "The Blacklist" (2014-2020).
How did Clark Middleton die?
He died of complications from West Nile virus on October 4, 2020, at age 63.
Did Clark Middleton have a disability?
Yes. He was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at age 4 and lived with the condition, including about 14 surgeries, for the rest of his life; he wrote and performed a one-person play about it in 1997.
Was Clark Middleton married?
Yes, to Elissa Middleton, whom he married in 2006 and who survived him.