Radio and TV legend Dick Clark died today in Los Angeles at 82 years old of a massive cardiac arrest. He will be missed.
Here is a brief bio of his amazing life:
Richard Wagstaff Clark was born on November 30, 1929, in New York. As a high school student he began his career in show business in 1945 in the mailroom of a local radio station. He was quickly promoted to weatherman and then news announcer. After graduating from high school in 1947, he attended Syracuse University and graduated with a degree in Business in 1951. Clark climbed the ladder at local stations and eventually, in 1952, landed a job at radio and affiliated television station WFIL in Philadelphia.
At WFIL Clark hosted a teen dance show called “Bandstand.” In 1956, the show was picked up by ABC and renamed “American Bandstand.” On the first episode of the show, Clark interviewed the legendary Elvis Presley. The show was moved to California where Clark produced “American Bandstand” for syndicated television and USA Network until 1989.
Throughout his career, the small screen legend earned the nickname “America’s Oldest Teenager” due to his eternally youthful appearance. In addition to “American Bandstand” and “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve,” Clark also served as a Top 40 radio countdown host, hosted five versions of the TV game show “Pyramid” since 1973, and served as chairman and CEO of Dick Clark Productions, which he had sold part of in his final years.
