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Dick Clark

Dick ClarkAKA Richard Wagstaff Clark

Born: 30-Nov-1929
Birthplace: Mt. Vernon, NY
Died: 18-Apr-2012
Location of death: Santa Monica, CA [1]
Cause of death: Heart Attack
Remains: Cremated (ashes scattered in the Pacific Ocean)

Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: TV Personality, Actor, Disc Jockey

Nationality: United States
Executive summary: American Bandstand

After graduating high school in 1947, Dick Clark started as an office worker at WRUN-AM in Rome, NY. Almost immediately he was asked to fill in for the vacationing weatherman, and within a few months he was announcing station breaks. His quick rise may have been helped by the fact that his uncle owned the station, and his father managed it.

By 1952, Clark was disc-jockeying at WFIL in Philadelphia, and subbed as host on a local TV show called Bandstand, with teenagers dancing to rock-and-roll records. Clark got the gig permanently when the show's first host, Bob Horn, was arrested for drunk driving. Bandstand went national as American Bandstand in 1957, and ran until 1989. Clark left the show in 1987.

Clark hosted and produced dozens of TV shows, from TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes to New Year's Rockin' Eve, ad nauseum. He also produced the Jack Nicholson LSD flick Psych-Out (1968), and authored Dick Clark's Easygoing Guide to Good Grooming. But it was rock and roll that made Dick Clark a millionaire, and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. He died in 2012.

Dick's son RAC produces the annual Academy of Country Music Awards telecast.


[1] St. John's Health Center, Santa Monica, CA.

Father: Richard A.
Mother: Julia
Brother: Bradley (killed in WWII)
Wife: Barbara Mallery (m. 28-Jun-1952, div. 6-May-1961, one son)
Son: Richard A. Clark ("RAC", b. 9-Jan-1957)
Wife: Loretta Martin (m. 25-Apr-1962, div. 1971, one son, one daughter)
Son: Duane (twin, b. 8-Jan-1965)
Daughter: Cindy (twin, b. 8-Jan-1965)
Wife: Karen Wigton (m. 7-Jul-1977)

    University: BA, Syracuse University (1951)

    Dick Clark Productions Founder (1957-2007)
    Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity
    Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame
    Radio Hall of Fame 1990
    Hollywood Walk of Fame Sunset & Vine (television)
    Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 1993
    Daytime Emmy 1979 (game show host)
    Daytime Emmy 1985 (game show host)
    Daytime Emmy 1986 (game show host)
    Daytime Emmy 1994 (lifetime achievement)
    Stroke 8-Dec-2004 (mild, with some speech issues)
    Heart Attack Santa Monica, CA (18-Apr-2012) fatal
    Risk Factors: Diabetes

    TELEVISION
    TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes Co-Host (1984-88)
    The $10,000 Pyramid Host (1973-88)
    Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve Host (1972-)
    American Bandstand Host (1956-87)

    FILMOGRAPHY AS ACTOR
    Paul Williams Still Alive (11-Sep-2011) · Himself
    Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (31-Dec-2002) · Himself
    Bowling for Columbine (15-May-2002) · Himself
    Spy Kids (18-Mar-2001) · Financier
    The Suburbans (25-Jan-1999) · Himself
    Live Aid (13-Jul-1985) · Himself
    Deadman's Curve (3-Feb-1978) · Himself
    The Phynx (6-May-1970) · Himself
    Killers Three (Nov-1968) · Roger
    The Young Doctors (23-Aug-1961) · Dr. Alexander
    Because They're Young (Apr-1960)
    Jamboree (1957) · WFIL, Philadelphia

Official Website:
http://www.dickclarkproductions.com/


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