Bradley Dean Clark

Bradley Dean Clark, a gifted artist, beloved teacher, and radiant presence in the lives of so many, passed away on December 9, 2025, at a hospital in Kingwood, TX from complications of advanced liver disease. He was 55 years old.
Born on November 25, 1970, in Texas City, TX, Bradley carried with him a rare blend of creativity, gentleness, and humor that left a lasting impression on everyone he met. He was a cherished son, husband, friend, and mentor. A bright light gone too soon, but one whose glow remains unmistakable.
Bradley was also an incredibly talented and imaginative artist who worked fluidly across various mediums including drawing, painting, and sculpture. He was also a talented vocalist and dancer, and a lifelong fan of Dolly Parton. His creative foundation was shaped early through formal study of theater and costume design at Texas Christian University, followed by completing his musical theater training at AMDA in New York City. A true lover of the stage, Bradley found deep joy in Broadway and musical theater, with a particular reverence for the work of Stephen Sondheim, whose brilliance as a composer and lyricist he admired above all others.
His love for performance carried him across the world. Bradley spent several years traveling throughout Europe performing in the musical HAIR, an experience that not only fulfilled a lifelong passion but also led to the formation of some of his closest and most enduring friendships and tribe. These bonds remained with him for the rest of his life.
He possessed the extraordinary ability to see beauty and possibility where others saw nothing, transforming the overlooked into the unforgettable. As a beloved ballroom dance instructor and costume designer, he shared not only his immense skill, but also his joy, encouragement, and unwavering belief in others. Students and friends alike felt uplifted in his presence, buoyed by his warmth, his gentle spirit, and his unmistakable humor.
Those who knew Bradley were often struck first by his stunning ice-blue eyes and radiant smile, but it was his heart that stayed with them. He loved deeply and without fear, offering kindness freely and making people feel truly seen. One of his greatest joys was the life he shared with his husband and their three beloved dogs (Gypsy, Tessie, and Sugar), who brought him daily happiness and comfort.
Bradley met his husband in New York City on March 5, 2006. Together they shared nearly twenty years of love, partnership, and resilience, and were married for just over five years. Their life together was marked by devotion, creativity, travel, and perseverance in the face of Bradley's health struggles of the last several years. Through it all, they stood side by side, bound by love that was steadfast and profound.
Bradley is survived by his loving husband, Kenneth Grider; his half-sister, Deanna Clark; his stepfather, Edward Hoerner; his uncle, John Chain; his lifelong best friends and partners-in-crime, Brad Lewis and Dana Spinler (Wurst); numerous cousins; and countless friends, neighbors, students, and admirers whose lives he touched deeply.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Glenda Louise Hoerner (Chain); his father, Dalton Dean Clark; and his grandparents.
Bradley's legacy lives on in the art he created, the dancers he inspired, the confidence he nurtured, and the love he gave so freely. If he taught us anything, it is that life is fleeting and precious; it is meant to be lived fully, boldly, and with heart. There are no second chances, only the fleeting moments we choose to embrace and experience fully on our delicately brief journey through life. To quote Stephen Sondheim: "Before you know where you are, there you are" so we'd all better "pull all the stops out till they call the cops out."
Bradley will be remembered always for his creativity, his laughter, his generosity of spirit, and the light he brought into this world. He generously gave us so much more to see.
A memorial service and celebration of life will be planned for Spring 2026 in New York City, details to be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Entertainment Community Fund (give.entertainmentcommunity.org) in his memory.