dick clark

Dick Clark backstage during the Grammy Awards telecast in 1990 Born Richard Wagstaff Clark

November 30, 1929 (1929-11-30) (age 79)

Mount Vernon, New York, USA Other names The World's Oldest Teenager (nickname) Children Richard Augustus "Rac" Clark II (b. 1957; mother Barbara)

Duane Clark and Cindy Clark (b. January 8, 1965) (mother Loretta)

Richard Wagstaff "Dick" Clark (born November 30, 1929) is an American television, radio personality, game show host and businessman; he served as chairman and CEO of Dick Clark Productions, which he has sold part of in recent years. He is best known for hosting long-running television shows such as American Bandstand, five versions of the Pyramid game show, and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.

Clark has long been known for his departing catchphrase, "For now, Dick Clark...so long," delivered with a military salute, and for his youthful appearance, earning the moniker "America's Oldest Teenager", until he suffered a stroke late in 2004. With some speech ability still impaired, Clark returned to his New Year's Rockin' Eve show on December 31, 2005. Subsequently, he has appeared at the Emmy Awards on August 27, 2006 and the New Year's Rockin' Eve show on December 31, 2006, as well as on December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2008. Contents [hide] 1 Life and career 1.1 Personal life and early career 1.2 American Bandstand 1.3 Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve 1.4 Pyramid game shows 1.5 Other radio programs 1.6 Other television programs 1.7 Entertainment ventures 1.7.1 Restaurants 1.7.2 Theaters 1.7.3 '57 Heaven 1.8 Other media appearances 2 Stroke and appearances since 2.1 Initial news 2.2 First statement after stroke 2.3 Return to television 2.4 Subsequent appearances 3 Youthful longevity references 4 List of accolades 5 References 6 External links //

Life and career

Personal life and early career

Dick Clark was born in Mount Vernon, New York, where he was raised, the son of Julia Fuller (née Barnard) and Richard Augustus Clark.[1] His only sibling, older brother Bradley, was killed in World War II. Clark has been married three times. His first marriage was to Barbara Mallery in 1952; the couple had one son, Richard A. (named after his father), and divorced in 1961. Clark married Loretta Martin in 1962; the couple had two children, Duane and Cindy, and divorced in 1971. Clark has been married to his current wife, Kari Wigton, since July 7, 1977.

Clark's career in show business began in 1945 when he started working in the mailroom of radio station WRUN in Utica, New York (which was owned by his uncle and managed by his father). Clark was soon promoted to weatherman and news announcer. Clark attended Syracuse University and was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He graduated from Syracuse in 1951 and began his television career at station WKTV in Utica and was also subsequently a DJ on 1490 WOLF