TV Legend Dick Clark Dead at 82
Long time TV producer and host of “New Years’ Rockin’ Eve Dick Clark died today. He was 82 years old. Clark was in St. John’s Hospital in L.A undergoing an outpatient procedure when he was struck by a heart attack. Efforts to resuscitate him failed. Ringing in the New Year will never be the same without America’s Oldest Teenager.
Clark had been battling type 2 diabetes since 1994, though he kept the disease a secret until 2004. That year he suffered a stroke, which caused him to retire from his New Years’ show and pass the baton to Ryan Seacrest. Clark continued to make appearances on the program after his retirement.
Dick Clark was born and raised in New York. He got into the entertainment industry while he was still in high school working at local radio stations. He got his big break in 1956 becoming the full time host of “American Bandstand”. Clark interviewed Elvis Presley in the show’s first national appearance. Clark would continue producing the show until 1989.
Clark created New Years’ Rockin Eve in 1972 and hosted the program until a stroke forced him to retire in 2004. He also hosted a top 40 radio countdown show, and the game show “Pyramid”. Clark was also the CEO of Dick Clark Productions. He was married three times and had three children. He is survived by his wife Kari Wigton.
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The North Mobile Post was founded in April of 2011. The site serves as a blog covering Mobile County as well as news from around the world.
