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Monica Humphries/Business Insider
The moment the bush plane touched the runway at the Sasakwa Airstrip in Tanzania, I knew the safari experience at Singita Sabora Tented Camp would be different.
Just 20 minutes earlier, I was at the Seronera Airstrip in Central Serengeti. I joined dozens of safari vacationers waiting for flights out of the national park. I met airport staff at plastic tables, where my name was crossed off a sheet of paper and I was handed a ticket with my flight number written in pen. Among the groups of tourists and safari guides, porters bustled about carting off luggage.
As my plane barreled down a dirt runway, I waved goodbye to a parking lot of 20 safari vehicles and guides waiting for the next batch of tourists.
When I landed at Sasakwa, things were quiet. A serene tent sat empty. Plastic chairs were swapped for cushioned couches. Restrooms were not only stocked with toilet paper but also perfumes and bug spray.
If this was the airstrip, I wondered what Singita's accommodations were like. I quickly discovered the answer.
Singita owns some of the most expensive lodges in the region — a night at Sabora, for example, starts at $2,045. Business Insider received a media rate for a three-night stay. Along with that cost came a safari vacation filled with endless animal sightings, delicious food, and more.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
After disembarking the plane, my guide for the morning, Yusef, heaved my 30-pound backpack into our open-air Toyota Land Cruiser, and we were off to Sabora Tented Camp — one of Singita's three lodges in the area.
Yusef gave me a quick rundown: Singita has exclusive use of the Grumeti Reserve, a 350,000-acre private concession on the northwestern border of the Serengeti National Park. The reserve is managed by the nonprofit Grumeti Fund in partnership with Singita. Within the concession, Singita operates three lodges and four private villas and camps.
Minutes later, our conversation was interrupted by a herd of giraffes. As we turned another curve, Yusef pointed to a buffalo carcass. Less than two miles down the road, we spotted another.
It was my fifth day in the Serengeti, but it was my first time seeing a dead animal without swarms of vultures or hyenas. Yusef read my mind.
"Welcome to Grumeti," he said. "There's such an abundance that predators don't even need to finish their kill."
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
For the next four days, I saw that abundance firsthand. I spent the rest of my time with guide Peterlis Kibwana. With so much land and so few people, we rarely encountered other visitors during our game drives.
We checked in on hyena puppies one evening and sipped sunset drinks near a herd of zebras the next. We observed countless elephants and giraffes, spotted lions, and tracked down hippos.
The animals were incredible, but so was Kibwana's guidance. After learning that I had been in the bush for five days and seen popular African animals, Kibwana shifted our focus to the creatures people sometimes miss on a safari.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
On our first afternoon, we pulled over to watch a leopard tortoise scurry through the grass. We gasped as we spotted a martial eagle fly away with its prey. Kibwana identified countless birds: grey-breasted spurfowl, Coqui francolin, and superb starlings. Watching these smaller animals offered a new perspective on the Serengeti.
Each game drive ended with drinks in the bush. As the sun dipped below the horizon, I battled a mix of emotions: I didn't want to leave the wildlife, but I knew I was heading back to one of the most luxurious properties I'd ever visited.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
Singita's properties, which range in cost, are some of the most expensive lodges in the region. For instance, its newest lodge, Milele, costs upward of $35,000 a night.
In 2024, guests at Sabora paid between $2,045 and $2,975 per person, depending on the season. I visited during October, where rates were $2,585 a night. The price includes meals and beverages, daily game drives, laundry service, and road transfers between the Sasakwa airstrip and the lodges.
I was surprised when I arrived at my canvas tent for the first time.
From the outside, the tent is simple. Canvas panels stretch across a metal frame. From the front, there aren't any windows into the tent, and the space didn't look particularly large.
Stepping inside was a different experience. The open-concept tent was far larger than I had guessed. The back walls of the tent were a combination of screen and glass, ushering in plenty of sunlight.
A bedroom area had a large bed and two leather chairs. There was a kitchenette and living area, along with a closet and a massive bathroom with a two-sink vanity, standing tub, and shower. Attached to the tent was an outdoor shower, meditation platform, daybed, and alfresco dining area.
"The style and design here is very straightforward compared with other lodges," Hamisi Abdi, Sabora's assistant lodge manager, told me one morning. "It's a tented camp, but it's in a modern vibe."
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
What stood out was the attention to detail. Local art was featured on the walls, a stocked pantry offered sweet and savory snacks, and bathroom amenities like bath salts and toothpaste were within arm's reach.
It was impossible not to relax. Between a comfortable bed and chamomile tea waiting for me after dinner each night, my three nights at Singita was the best sleep I had during my 20-day trip.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
As I left Singita after my third night, I reflected on Yusef's original mention of abundance. It was everywhere at Singita.
Beyond game drives, wildlife can be spotted throughout the day since Sabora is unfenced. On two of my three nights, I safely encountered lions prowling the grounds — once with a guard and the second seated in the dining area.
Abundance continued outside my tent. The lodge's main camp had plenty of places to relax. Each evening, guests gathered around a communal fire to sip cocktails and share stories from the day.
In the morning, tables were placed in the grass for breakfast and lunch. A small pool with daybeds was nearby, and a fitness center and spa were a short walk away.
The all-inclusive dining was also impressive. Singita's executive chef, Mia Neethling, explained that the lodge's kitchen revolves around a "deli" concept. Throughout the day, a small deli was stocked with salads, fruits, yogurts, desserts, fresh juices, and drinks so guests could dine at the lodge, in their tents, or out in the bush with their guides.
Plated meals were also served three times a day, with ingredients grown by farmers in nearby villages.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
My days were filled with highlights beyond the traditional game drive. I spent a morning on a guided walk through the bush and an afternoon visiting the nearby community, both of which have additional costs. If my stay had been longer, I could've commissioned a hot air balloon ride, booked spa treatments, and spent longer at the pool.
It wasn't just what Singita offered; it was how they offered it. At times, it felt like the staff could read my mind. Shafuu, my waitress, quickly learned my taste preferences and made suggestions, like trying the fish fritters. Another night, the lodge's sommelier picked wine pairings for each course of my meal.
Three days passed by too quickly, and as I sat on a wicker couch waiting for my flight out of Sasakwa, I reflected on what made the lodge worth the price.
Hearing lions roaring at night and antlers colliding in the morning from my king-sized bed was magical. Eating meals cooked with passion was unforgettable. And getting into the bush with Kibwana was thrilling.
"We were in such a beautiful place," Kibwana told me. "That's what makes this place so special."
I couldn't agree more.
Gabrielle Lurie/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images
As one of only 14 restaurants in the US to hold three Michelin stars, The French Laundry has become a legendary fine-dining establishment and the crown jewel of the Napa Valley culinary scene.
Under the guidance of Thomas Keller, the restaurant has also been a launchpad for decorated American chefs, including Grant Achatz, Tim Hollingsworth, and Joe Garcia.
Garcia — who was chef de cuisine of the Michelin-starred Manzke in Los Angeles before taking over for Wolfgang Puck as the culinary director of Hotel Bel-Air — recently sat down with Business Insider and shared the most important lessons he learned while working as a sous chef at The French Laundry.
Courtesy of Joe Garcia
The French Laundry changes the menu daily for its 12-course dinner, which ranges in cost from $390 to $425 a person. Garcia told BI that only two signature dishes on Keller's menu always stay the same: oysters and pearls, and coffee and doughnuts.
"I joke that my brain still hurts from trying to come up with a new menu every day because, at a certain point, it gets daunting to not be repetitive," Garcia said. "How many things can you do with a carrot once you've already made a soup, a purée, and a salad? But that's what pushes you, that's what challenges you."
During his six years at the restaurant, Garcia learned "all the different ways and methods of utilizing ingredients and the combinations of ingredients" at The French Laundry, which has helped him throughout his career.
"It's prepared me to where it's now relatively easy to write menus," he said. "Sometimes, the dish writes itself, and there are other times where I get stumped; I get writer's block. But usually, within a day or two, I can work it out."
"You get spoiled at The French Laundry because right across the street, we have a garden," Garcia said. "The vegetables wouldn't even see the refrigerator."
Garcia recalled how the chefs were given a daily catalog of what was available from the garden, allowing them to write the menu for the following day. They had to list the exact number of vegetables they needed for every dish so the ingredients could be freshly picked the next morning without anything going to waste.
"You'd write exactly how many carrots you want, exactly how many pea pods, even the microgreens," Garcia said. "Then they were harvested the morning of."
Lance Iversen/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images
Being able to work with such fresh ingredients changed the way Garcia thought about food.
"That same carrot or microgreen — if for whatever reason we had too many and put some in the fridge — if you tasted it the next day, it just wasn't as good as being hours out of the ground," he said.
Since Garcia doesn't have his own garden at the Hotel Bel-Air, he goes to the Santa Monica farmers market twice a week — every Wednesday and Saturday — to get the freshest ingredients possible.
"I speak to the farmers directly. They have things to taste. We talk about what's coming and what's going out of season," Garcia said. "That's why it's so valuable for me to physically come down here and have a relationship with the farmers because, in the end, whatever I put on the plate is going to be either great or OK. I want it to be great."
Gabrielle Lurie/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images
Garcia's biggest takeaway from The French Laundry wasn't the plating, the sauces, or even the food; it was the importance of good mentorship, training, and systems in the kitchen.
"If you have those things in place, and they're solid and they're bulletproof, the food almost comes second," Garcia said.
"There still needs to be talent. There still needs to be vision," he told BI. "But my biggest takeaway is the importance of setting up a kitchen properly and mentoring the team so that they make your life easier. That's where everything just kind of falls into place."
Garcia said he knows a kitchen has succeeded when the entire team can perform at a high level — whether or not the head chef is present.
"That is what truly makes The French Laundry and all other restaurants that operate at that same level," he added.
General Motors/Volkswagen/Lotus/Mercedes-Benz/Kia/Lucid
A large number of exciting EVs are headed to market soon.
Several automakers have modified their electrification strategies in recent months, replacing some of their prior electric-vehicle concepts with a focus on internal-combustion-engine and hybrid models.
Even with this strategic change, you can expect to see a lot of EV options in the coming years.
Here's a collection of cool EVs — including small hatchbacks, pickups, sports cars, and minivans — that we can't wait to drive.
Audi
The Audi Q6 e-tron is the 11th battery electric model to join the brand's lineup and marks the debut of Audi's all-new EV platform.
With a 100-kWh battery pack, the Q6 e-tron is rated by the Environmental Protection Agency for 321 miles of range. The Q6 e-tron with Quattro all-wheel drive has 456 horsepower and can do 0 to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds. There's also a higher-performance SQ6 e-tron.
The Q6 e-tron starts at $63,800.
Cadillac
The Cadillac Vistiq, starting at $77,400, is a three-row midsize luxury electric SUV positioned between the smaller Lyriq and the flagship Escalade IQ.
Cadillac says the Vistiq will have a range of about 300 miles with a 102-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. With dual electric motors generating 615 horsepower, it can go from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds.
Production at GM's Spring Hill, Tennessee, plant is expected to start in early 2025.
Canoo
The Texas-based startup EV maker Canoo unveiled its electric pickup in 2021, but there hasn't been much news about the innovative cab-forward truck since. So it's unclear when it will go into production. What we do know is intriguing, including 600 horsepower, 200-plus miles of range, and an ultraconfigurable truck bed.
Hyundai
The 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 is an all-electric midsize three-row family SUV set to go on sale in the first half of 2025. Built on the Electric Global Modular Platform platform, which also underpins the Kia EV9, the Ioniq 9 features a 110.3-kWh battery pack and an estimated range of 385 miles.
Kia
The Kia EV4 is a concept for a stylish compact EV sedan that debuted at the 2023 Los Angeles Auto Show. Kia has not confirmed that the EV4 will enter production. But Car and Driver believes it could arrive as early as 2026 with up to 300 miles of range and a starting price of about $39,000.
Lotus Cars
The Lotus Emeya is a high-performance four-door GT with as much as 905 horsepower. According to Lotus, the Chinese-built EV can do 0 to 62 mph in 2.78 seconds and has a top speed of 159 mph.
Lucid Motors
The Gravity is the second model to emerge from the American EV startup Lucid. It's a three-row luxury SUV with up to 828 horsepower and an estimated 440 miles of range. The Gravity Grand Touring is on sale now, starting at $94,900.
Mercedes-Benz
The iconic Mercedes-Benz Geländewagen can finally be had as an EV. Offered alongside its internal-combustion siblings, the 2025 Mercedes-Benz G 580 with EQ Technology comes with a 122-kWh battery pack, 239 miles of range, 579 horsepower, and a starting price of $161,500.
Polestar
The Polestar 5 is a luxury high-performance EV sedan that is scheduled to launch in 2025. The Polestar 5, set to compete against the likes of the Porsche Panamera and Mercedes-Benz EQS, will be built on the brand's first dedicated EV platform, featuring an 800-volt battery and electric motors that can produce up to 884 horsepower. While developed by Polestar's research-and-development teams in the UK and Sweden, the 5 will be built in the brand's new factory in Chongqing, China, alongside the coming Polestar 6 EV sports car.
Ram
The Ram 1500 REV is Stellantis' answer to the Ford F150 Lightning and Chevrolet Silverado EV. Its 168-kWh battery pack helps it reach an estimated 350 miles of driving range. According to Ram, the 654-horsepower pickup can do 0 to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds and tow up to 14,000 pounds.
Rivian
The R3X is the high-performance variant of the Rivian's coming R3 midsize electric SUV and has distinct hatchback styling. According to Rivian, the R3X should be able to achieve over 300 miles of range and do 0 to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds. The R3 and R3X are expected to arrive after Rivian commences customer deliveries of the R2 in the first half of 2026.
Scout Motors
Volkswagen Group's Scout Motors recently unveiled its Scout Terra pickup and Scout Traveler SUV. The body-on-frame off-roaders, with a starting price between $50,000 and $60,000, are inspired by the International Scout utility vehicles of the 1960s and '70s. The Terra and Traveler are set to enter production in 2027 in South Carolina.
Tesla
The long-awaited second-generation Tesla Roadster was announced in 2017 and remains in development purgatory. The Roadster was supposed to go on sale in 2020 but has been continuously delayed. When it does arrive, Tesla says it should go from 0 to 60 mph in 1.9 seconds, reach 250 mph, and have a range of 620 miles.
Volkswagen
The VW bus is back. Volkswagen relaunched its counterculture-era icon as the all-electric 2025 ID Buzz. The new bus, which starts at $60,000, comes with a 91-kWh lithium-ion battery pack and is available in all-wheel drive. The ID Buzz has an estimated 234 miles of range.
Terri Peters
Last summer, I spent a solo weekend at the Four Seasons Orlando, a luxury hotel on Disney World property. While there, I dined at Capa, a Michelin-starred steak house located in the expansive resort.
The restaurant, which opened in 2014, received its first Michelin star in 2022. It also earned Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence, and is known for its Spanish-inspired food and steak-house experience.
After having a great experience there, I decided to return with my husband and two teenagers to see what they'd think of the restaurant's cuisine.
Here's what my family's experience at Capa was like.
Terri Peters
When we arrived at Capa for a Friday-night dinner, we noticed the restaurant had a sleek, modern layout with minimalistic Spanish decor.
The dining area's floor-to-ceiling windows displayed breathtaking views of the resort, a few Disney World theme parks, and the Florida sunset.
The main dining room also had an open kitchen, where customers could watch staff cook meat and seafood on a wood-fired grill.
Terri Peters
To start our meal, my kids and I ordered mocktails, and my husband got the In Spanish Fashion ($18) — a whiskey- and brandy-based cocktail.
My kids chose the Lavender Haze ($10 each), made with butterfly-pea tea, and I ordered the Spa Day ($10), a refreshing cucumber-based drink.
Throughout the course of the night, my husband also ordered a glass of wine ($28) and a vermouth ($12).
Terri Peters
For our appetizer, we got the pan con tomate — crusty bread topped with a tomato pulp. We opted to add Manchego cheese and ham to the dish ($24) and were not disappointed.
Each bite burst with the salty flavors of the cheese and ham, and the bread tasted fresh and delicious.
Terri Peters
For my entrée, I chose the Miyazaki wagyu beef, which had a top-grade A5 quality score and was made from purebred Japanese cattle.
I ordered 5 ounces of the tender beef, priced at $32 per ounce ($160 total), and was blown away by its preparation.
The medium-rare wagyu, which was served atop a hot-pink salt slab, melted in my mouth like butter. It was the most tender beef I've ever eaten.
Terri Peters
My 14-year-old daughter ordered the 8-ounce filet ($72), served with a piquillo-pepper purée. The medium-rare steak was perfectly cooked, and she ate every bite.
A filet is my daughter's go-to at any steak house, but she said her meal at Capa was the best she's ever had — which is high praise from a kid who often dines out with her food-writer mom.
Terri Peters
At our server's recommendation, my husband ordered the bone-in cowboy ribeye ($91).
The steak, cooked to a medium temperature, was perfect when I tried it. Each bit of fat marbling turned into a melt-in-your-mouth tender bite.
Terri Peters
To accompany our steaks, we ordered a selection of five sauces for $22.
The bernesa sauce was buttery and creamy, the verde version was tangy with hints of Greek yogurt, and the cilantro-horseradish option had a perfect blend of herbs and spices. The peppercorn sauce was just as good as au-poivre-style sauces I've had at other steak houses.
However, my favorite was the Capa steak sauce, a vibrant, spicy option that tasted way better than store-bought condiments.
Terri Peters
During our meal, our server also brought a complimentary flavored-sea-salt tray.
My daughter and I loved one salt that tasted truffle-infused, and my husband was so inspired by a smoky flavor that he made his own version at home later that week.
Terri Peters
My son is a picky eater, so even though he's 16, he ordered two $10-entrées from the kid's menu: a grilled-cheese sandwich and chicken fingers.
Even at a fancy, Michelin-starred restaurant, the standard fare tasted like any other kid's menu items.
Terri Peters
The setas ($16) — mushrooms with a caramelized-onion sauce — were earthy and savory. We also tried the maíz, a corn-and-polenta dish topped with goat cheese ($14), that was so good we said we'd try recreating something similar at home.
The true star, however, was the perfectly crisp patatas bravas ($12) — spicy fried potatoes topped with cornichons, chipotle aioli, and a paprika-tomato sauce.
Terri Peters
For dessert, we got two orders of the $15 churros de Madrid.
The dish, served with chocolate and dulce-de-leche dipping sauces, was a hit with everyone at the table.
Terri Peters
When we made our reservation, we checked the firework schedules for both Epcot and Magic Kingdom so we could watch the nighttime shows from Capa's veranda.
After dessert, we headed outside to watch back-to-back fireworks displays at the two theme parks. It was a great way to see the shows without battling the crowds or buying theme-park tickets.
Terri Peters
With tax and without the tip, our meal cost $580, which we felt was a good value. The Michelin-starred food was incredible, and the prices didn't seem too far off from those of other major steak-house chains I've visited.
The award-winning restaurant also did an amazing job accommodating families, as I noticed lots of younger kids and parents dining at other tables.
For me, this delicious, elegant dining option opens up a different kind of Disney adventure — one with fine dining and spectacular cuisine.
A group of Canadian news and media companies filed a lawsuit Friday against OpenAI, alleging that the ChatGPT maker has infringed their copyrights and unjustly enriched itself at their expense. The companies behind the lawsuit include the Toronto Star, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the Globe and Mail, and others who seek to win monetary damages […]
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"School of Rock" hit theaters in October 2003. The movie starred Jack Black as a struggling musician who impersonates his friend to get a gig as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school and enlists a class of fourth-graders to perform at a local battle of the bands.
Richard Linkletter directed the beloved film, which Andrew Lloyd Webber turned into a Broadway musical and which was adapted into a Nickelodeon TV show. Here's what the movie's stars have been up to the past two decades since its debut.
Dave Hogan/Getty Image 2004 ; Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images 2023
Prior to rocking out and pretending to be Mr. Schneebly in "School of Rock," Jack Black already had an impressive career.
He'd been acting since 1984 and was known for films like "The Cable Guy" (1996), "High Fidelity" (2000), "Orange County" (2002), and "Ice Age" (2002).
The actor also starred on HBO's "Tenacious D," which chronicled a fictionalized version of his rock duo with Kyle Gass.
After "School of Rock," Black went on to star in major films like "King Kong" (2005), "Nacho Libre" (2006), "Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny" (2006), "The Holiday" (2006), "Tropic Thunder" (2008), the "Kung Fu Panda" franchise, and the "Jumanji" reboots.
He's also made several TV appearances on shows like Fox's "The Simpsons," Nickelodeon's "iCarly," and HBO's "The Brink."
Outside of acting, Black and Gass have released several Tenacious D albums and videos. The duo recently suspended their 2024 tour after Gass joked about an attempted assassination of Donald Trump.
In 2023 alone, Black appeared in Hulu's "History of the World: Part II," "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," and Disney+'s "The Mandalorian."
In March, Black told Ireland's JOE he'd love to work on a "School of Rock" sequel but said that the original screenplay's writer, Mike White, might be too busy with his huge hit "The White Lotus."
George Pimentel/WireImage via Getty Images ; Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Miranda Cosgrove played the precocious band manager Summer Hathaway in "School of Rock."
Her only acting credit before the film was a brief appearance on The WB's "Smallville."
After the movie, Cosgrove landed a leading role on Nickelodeon's "Drake and Josh" before starring on the network's "iCarly."
She's also worked on movies like "Yours, Mine and Ours" (2005), the "Despicable Me" franchise, "3022" (2019), and "North Hollywood" (2021).
Cosgrove has released albums and singles in between acting roles as well.
The actor reprised her starring role in the recently canceled Paramount+ "iCarly" revival series and was a lead alongside Brooke Shields and Benjamin Bratt in Netflix's "Mother of the Bride" (2024).
Jun Sato/WireImage via Getty Images ; Jenny Anderson/Getty Images
Joey Gaydos Jr. played Zack Mooneyham, a shy student who's coaxed out of his shell to play guitar for the band.
This was his only acting role. He went on to release a self-titled rock album in 2004.
He has also had a few legal troubles over the years.
In 2009, Gaydos was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence at 17 years old. In 2019, he was arrested after he was accused of stealing several guitars in the state of Florida, authorities said at the time.
He still makes music and released a few EPs in 2020, including "Dogtopia" and "Calm Weather." He regularly posts videos of himself playing guitar on Instagram.
George Pimentel/WireImage via Getty Images ; Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic via Getty Images
Robert Tsai played Lawrence, the band's demure yet talented pianist.
"School of Rock" was Tsai's only acting credit.
After the film, he went on to study at Dartmouth College where he continued performing as a pianist.
Jun Sato/WireImage via Getty Images ; Michael Tullberg/Getty Images
Rivkah Reyes' first acting role was as bassist Katie in the film. They landed the role after playing classical bass on an episode of NPR's "From the Top."
Since "School of Rock," the actor has been open about experiencing the negative effects of child stardom. In a 2020 Medium article, they wrote about developing an eating disorder; turning to drugs, alcohol, sex, and self-harm; and attempting suicide.
They said they entered recovery for alcoholism and addiction in 2018.
After taking a hiatus from acting, Reyes moved to LA and started working for a skincare company while performing gigs. They also traveled as a stand-up comedian and competed on NBC's "Bring the Funny."
The actor went on to appear in several movies, including "Bad Animal" (2021), Lifetime's "A Picture Perfect Holiday" (2021), and "A Holiday I Do" (2023).
In recent years, Reyes hosted a podcast where they interviewed former child stars, gained a following on TikTok, and performed live play readings with Acting for a Cause.
Their latest acting credit was an episode of the OUTtv series "Off Shoot" (2024). Reyes also continues to perform music and recently released a single titled "another vice."
George Pimentel/WireImage via Getty Images ; Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic via Getty Images
Kevin Clark played Freddy Jones, a rebellious student who played drums for the band.
"School of Rock" was Clark's only acting credit.
After filming the movie, he pursued a full-time music career and drummed for Chicago-based bands Dreadwolf and Jess Bess and the Intentions.
He also taught students at a local "School of Rock" location, The Chicago Sun-Times reported.
In 2021, Clark died at 32 after a driver hit him while he was riding his bike.
Costar Reyes recalled that Clark suggested the film's ending, with the band losing the contest but winning over the audience and getting to play an encore.
Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images ; Jenny Anderson/Getty Images
Aleisha Allen played Alicia, one of the band's singers.
Before lending her vocals for the film, the actor voiced Sidetable Drawer on Nick Jr.'s "Blue's Clues." She also appeared in "The Best Man" (1999).
After "School of Rock," Allen starred alongside Ice Cube in the family comedies "Are We There Yet" (2005) and "Are We Done Yet" (2007), and she appeared in "Young Adult" (2011).
Her last acting credit on IMDb is "You're Nobody 'til Somebody Kills You" (2012).
In a shift from her acting career, Allen attended Pace University and Columbia University, and she's now a speech-language pathologist.
Dave Benett/Getty Images ; Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic via Getty Images
Maryam Hassan played Tomika, another one of the band's singers who surprised everyone with her powerful voice.
Like many of the young stars, "School of Rock" was her only acting role.
Since then, she's been working as a singer under the name Mayhrenate. Her latest song, from 2022, is called "Feel a Way."
In 2021, Hassan told Vulture that over a dozen members of the cast remained close.
"We have a group chat," she said. "We keep in touch pretty frequently and drop in our projects. I drop my music in, Miranda drops her acting projects in, stuff like that. Others have left the industry and talk about their families."
Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage via Getty Images ; Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic via Getty Images
Caitlin Hale played Marta, the band's third singer.
Hale voiced a character on two episodes of "Blue's Clues" before joining "School of Rock."
After the film, she left Hollywood and became a registered diagnostic medical sonographer and an OB-GYN ultrasound technologist.
Hale is also currently dating her "School of Rock" costar Angelo Massagli.
Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage via Getty Images ; Noam Galai/Getty Images
Brian Falduto played Billy, the fashion-forward costume designer for the band.
"School of Rock" is one of the young actor's only credits on IMDb. After the role, Falduto said he was in denial about his sexuality. "I didn't come out until my senior year of college," he said on the "Cooper and Anthony Radio Show" in 2021.
He pursued degrees in theatre performance and arts administration at Wagner College before landing a number of off-Broadway and regional theater roles.
He also launched a career as a country musician, releasing an EP in 2017 and an album in 2018. His most recent single, "Same Old Country Love Song," came out in 2023. Earlier this year, he covered Dolly Parton's "Why'd You Come Here Lookin' Like That."
Outside of performing, Falduto is a life coach, primarily for LGBTQ+ individuals. He launched a podcast, The Gay Men's Self-Help Book Club, and The Gay Men's Mindfulness Collective.
He was also the first guest on Reyes' "Where Are We Now" podcast in 2021.
Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images ; Walter McBride/WireImage via Getty Images
Cole Hawkins played Leonard in the movie, one of the students in the class.
Before "School of Rock," he appeared in "Big Daddy" (1999), "Meet the Parents" (2000), and "Kate and Leopold" (2001).
But he wasn't a musician. "The only thing that they had taught us to play in a New York City public school was a recorder, so I faked it," he told Rolling Stone in 2023.
Hawkins went on to appear in NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie" (2005), and "The Water is Wide" (2006).
His last acting credit on IMDb was in 2006 on NBC's "Law & Order: Criminal Intent."
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Angelo Massagli played Frankie, another student in the class.
Before "School of Rock," the young actor had a few film and TV credits, including CBS' "Cosby" and "Stuart Little 2" (2002).
Between 2002 and 2007, he played Bobby Baccalieri Jr. on HBO's "The Sopranos."
Massagli graduated from the University of Miami School of Law in 2019 and works as a music product counsel for TikTok, according to his LinkedIn page. He is dating his "School of Rock" costar, Hale.
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Before filming "School of Rock," Joan Cusack was well known for blockbusters like "Addams Family Values" (1993), "Grosse Pointe Blank" (1997), "Runaway Bride" (1999), and "Toy Story 2" (1999).
She also acted in "Working Girl" (1988) and "In and Out" (1997), both of which earned her Academy Award nominations for best supporting actress.
On TV, Cusack had roles on NBC's "Saturday Night Live" and ABC's "What About Joan?" before joining the cast of "School of Rock."
After the movie, she continued to star in family films like "Ice Princess" (2005), "Chicken Little" (2005), "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl" (2008), the "Toy Story" sequels, and "Klaus" (2019).
She also went on to roles in "Confessions of a Shopaholic" (2009), "My Sister's Keeper" (2009), "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" (2012), "Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping" (2016), and "Instant Family" (2018).
Cusack also continued her TV career on Showtime's "Shameless," Netflix's "A Series of Unfortunate Events," and, most recently, Amazon Prime's "Homecoming" in 2020.
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Mike White played Ned Schneebly, the friend and teacher that Dewey impersonates throughout the movie. He also wrote the film's screenplay.
Prior to "School of Rock," he wrote and appeared in movies like "Chuck and Buck" (2000) and "Orange County" (2002).
Since the film, White has been a writer for several movies, including "Nacho Libre" (2006), "Pitch Perfect 3" (2017), and "Despicable Me 4" (2024).
He's also written for several TV series throughout his career, such as The WB's "Dawson's Creek," NBC's "Freaks and Geeks," HBO's "Enlightened" (which he also acted in), and Nickelodeon's "School of Rock" series.
White recently won several Emmy Awards for his HBO series "The White Lotus."
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Sarah Silverman played Patty Di Marco, Ned's responsible girlfriend.
The comedic actor got her start writing and performing on "Saturday Night Live" in the 1990s before landing roles in films like "There's Something About Mary" (1998), "The Bachelor" (1999), and "Heartbreakers" (2001).
After "School of Rock," Silverman continued to work on TV, starring on Comedy Central's "The Sarah Silverman Program" and voicing characters on Fox's "Bob's Burgers."
She also worked on "Rent" (2005), "The Muppets" (2011), "Wreck-It Ralph" (2012), "A Million Ways to Die in the West" (2014), "Battle of the Sexes" (2017), "Space Jam: A New Legacy" (2021), and "Marry Me" (2022).
Most recently, she returned to her cartoon role in "The Bob's Burgers Movie" (2022), starred in "Menorah in the Middle" (2022), and appeared in the 2023 Leonard Bernstein biopic "Maestro."
This story was originally published on May 22, 2021, and most recently updated on November 19, 2024.
