Actor. He is best remembered for his recurring portrayal of fastidious school official Mr. Bascomb on the television show "Mister Peepers." Born into a working-class family, the only child of a bookkeeper and a bank clerk, he began his career performing with the Harry Blaney Stock Company in New York City, New York, and made his formal debut at a leading man in "A Ledge." He later appeared in such stage productions as "The Venetian Glass Nephew," "Devil in the Mind," "The Inside Story," "Jezebel," "Lost Horizons," "Parnell," "Many Mansions," "Escape this Night," "Great Lady," "Summer Night," "I Know What I Like," and "The Happy Time." During a social function at the prestigious Museum of Natural History, he met director Robert Stevens. Impressed by his articulate voice, mature stealth, and professionalism, he arranged for him to begin a career in the film and television industry beginning with him being under his supervision in a supporting role on the anthology series "Suspense." From there, he would go on to flourish furthermore as a character actor appearing in over 60 features, often typecast as husbands, fathers, doctors, lawyers, historical figures, landlords, sheriffs, aristocrats, retail clerks, educators, eccentrics, reporters, detectives, waiters, butlers, clergymen, chauffeurs, wealthy bachelors, white-collared workers, and patriarchs. He appeared in such feature films as "Nightmare" (1956), "The Bad Seed" (1956), "Fury at Showdown" (1957), "Valerie" (1957), "The Brothers Karamazov" (1958), "The Return of Dracula" (1958), "I Want to Live!" (1958), "Midnight Lace" (1960), "Pollyanna" (1960), and "The Absent-Minded Professor" (1961). During the advent of television, he flourished as a household name appearing in numerous guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "Kraft Theater," "Tales of Tomorrow," "Armstrong Circle Theater," "Modern Romances," "Mama," "Robert Montgomery Presents," "Front Row Center," "Studio One," "Ford Star Jubilee," "Lux Video Theater," "Climax!," "Sally," "The 20th Century Fox Hour," "Date with the Angels," "The Adventures of McGraw," "Matinee Theater," "Have Gun - Will Travel," "Decision," "Bronco," "Sugarfoot," "Fibber McGee and Molly," "Bourbon Street Beat," "The Ann Sothern Show," "Peter Gunn," "Perry Mason," "The Untouchables," "The Tom Ewell Show," "Lock Up," "Follow the Sun," "Leave It to Beaver," "Checkmate," "The Twilight Zone," "Laramie," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Maverick," "Ben Casey," "Gunsmoke," "Destry," and "Mister Ed." During his career, he was an honorary member of Actors Equity, served in the United States Army during World War II, was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, was supportive of the California State Republican Committee, was a regular parishioner of the Episcopal church, had been a theatrical instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, was a chairman for his local charters of the American Red Cross and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, had been a frequent ghost writer for the Mystery Writers of America, and he was a generous benefactor for several hospitals, schools, and libraries. After appearing in what would be his final appearance in "The Monkey's Uncle" (1965), Clarke, who never married nor had any children, died from complications of lung cancer.