Dick Clark
| Dick Clark | |
|---|---|
Dick Clark in 1961
|
|
| Born |
Richard Augustus Wagstaff Clark Jr. November 30, 1929 Mount Vernon, New York, U.S. |
| Died | April 18, 2012 (aged 82) Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Acute myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease |
| Other names | World's Oldest Living Teenager (nickname) |
| Education | A.B. Davis High School |
| Alma mater | Syracuse University |
| Occupation | Businessman Game show host Radio/television personality |
| Years active | 1945–2012 |
| Home town | Mount Vernon, New York |
| Board member of | Dick Clark Productions |
| Spouse(s) | Barbara Mallery (m. 1952–1961; divorced) Loretta Martin (m. 1962–1971; divorced) Kari Wigton (1977–2012, his death) |
| Children | Richard Augustus Clark III aka RAC Clark (b. 1957) Duane Clark (b. 1963) Cindy Clark (b.1965) |
| Parent(s) | Julia Barnard (1897–1973), Richard A. Clark Sr. (1896–1989) |
| Family | Bradley Clark (Brother) |
| Awards | See Awards |
| Website | DickClarkProductions |
Richard Augustus Wagstaff "Dick" Clark Jr. (November 30, 1929 – April 18, 2012) was an American radio and television personality, as well as a cultural icon who remains best known for hosting American Bandstand from 1957 to 1987. He also hosted the game show Pyramid and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, which transmitted Times Square's New Year's Eve celebrations. Clark was also well known for his trademark sign-off, "For now, Dick Clark — so long!", accompanied with a military salute.
As host of American Bandstand, Clark introduced rock & roll to many Americans. The show gave many new music artists their first exposure to national audiences, including Ike and Tina Turner, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Stevie Wonder, Talking Heads and Simon & Garfunkel. Episodes he hosted were among the first in which blacks and whites performed on the same stage and among the first in which the live studio audience sat without racial segregation. Singer Paul Anka claimed that Bandstand was responsible for creating a "youth culture." Due to his perennial youthful appearance and his fame as the host of American Bandstand, Clark was often referred to as "America's oldest teenager" or "the world's oldest teenager".
In his capacity as a businessman, Clark served as Chief Executive Officer of Dick Clark Productions, part of which he sold off in his later years. He also founded the American Bandstand Diner, a restaurant chain modeled after the Hard Rock Cafe. In 1973, he created and produced the annual American Music Awards show, similar to the Grammy Awards.
...
Wikipedia