'America's Oldest Teen' Dick Clark Dies
 

"Bandstands" Dick Clark Dead @ 82
Updated 6:43 PM EDT, Wed April 18, 2012


Los Angeles (CNN) -- Broadcast icon Dick Clark, the longtime host of "American Bandstand," has died, publicist Paul Shefrin said. He was 82.
Clark suffered a heart attack while at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica for an outpatient procedure, his publicist said. "Attempts to resuscitate were unsuccessful."

Clark suffered what was then described as "a mild stroke" in December 2004, just months after announcing he had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. That stroke forced Clark to cut back on his on-camera work, including giving up the hosting duties for the "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" specials. He returned as a co-host with Ryan Seacrest on December 31, 2005.

Clark anguished each year over whether to continue appearing on the annual show because of limitations on his speech from the stroke, U.S. Rep. David Dreier, a longtime friend, told CNN Wednesday. "But then he would get deluged by people who were stroke victims and other people who had infirmities and they were such admirers of his fighting spirit," said Dreier, R-California.
Clark appeared on the last show for New Year's Eve 2011.


"He loved it, but at the same time he knew that his continued diligence was providing inspiration to a lot of people who were going through difficulties, facing infirmities themselves," Drier said.

Seacrest gave a statement to CNN Wednesday expressing deep sadness for "the loss of my dear friend Dick Clark." "He has truly been one of the greatest influences in my life," Seacrest said. "I idolized him from the start, and I was graced early on in my career with his generous advice and counsel. When I joined his show in 2006, it was a dream come true to work with him every New Year's Eve for the last 6 years."

Seacrest called Clark "smart, charming, funny and always a true gentleman." "I learned a great deal from him, and I'll always be indebted to him for his faith and support of me," he said. "He was a remarkable host and businessman and left a rich legacy to television audiences around the world. We will all miss him."

Former CNN talk host Larry King said Clark's secret for success was his ability to be natural on camera. "The hardest thing in the business is to be yourself and no one knew that better than Dick Clark," King said.
His "American Bandstand" work, which he began when it was a local TV show in Philadelphia in 1956, earned him the nickname "America's oldest living teenager." The show was picked up by ABC and broadcast nationally a year later.

"Only God is responsible for making more stars than Dick Clark," said singer Tony Orlando, who was 16 when he first appeared on Clark's show in 1961. "You had to go through the world and universe of Dick Clark in order to part of the record business," Orlando said.

Clark became wealthy also as a businessman, producing successful TV shows through Dick Clark Productions. He sold the company to Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder in 2007. "One of the real draws when we purchased Dick Clark Productions was the opportunity to build on the tremendous foundation of programming that this icon of American broadcasting created," Snyder said Wednesday. "I got to know Dick over the past five years and he was just as personable and warm in person as he was on television. Once you got to know Dick, it was obvious why he was so beloved by his fans. He was, in every sense of the word, a giant."
Born Richard Wagstaff Clark in Mount Vernon, New York, on November 30, 1929, he began his broadcast career working at a radio station managed by his father.

Clark, who was married three times, is survived by his wife, Kari, two sons and a daughter. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted Clark in its nonperformer category in 1993.

Clark also hosted numerous other television favorites including "$25,000 Pyramid" and "TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes." "This guy was the best," said singer Freddy Cannon, who appeared on "American Bandstand" 110 times. "He helped me from the very bottom of my career all through the '80s and the '90s, and he's going to be missed a lot."

Clark's passing follows by less than three months the death of another TV dance show icon, Don Cornelius, the creator of "Soul Train." Cornelius was found dead of what authorities said was a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Los Angeles on February 1. He was 75.

'America's Oldest Teen' Dick Clark Dies
 

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In this undated file photo released by ABC, Dick Clark hosts the New Year's eve special from New York's Times Square. Clark, the television host who helped bring rock `n' roll into the mainstream on "American Bandstand," has died. He was 82. Spokesman Paul Shefrin says Clark died but did not provide further details. Clark had continued performing even after he suffered a stroke in 2004 that affected his ability to speak and walk. Photo: ABC, Donna Svennevik / AP

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• In this July 8, 2004 file photo, Richard Clark speaks about diabetes during a visit to Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, Fla. Clark, the television host who helped bring rock 'n' roll into the mainstream on "American Bandstand," has died. He was 82.
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• In this Dec. 1980 file photo released by ABC, Dick Clark is shown. Clark, the television host who helped bring rock `n' roll into the mainstream on "American Bandstand," has died. He was 82. Spokesman Paul Shefrin says Clark died but did not provide further details. Clark had continued performing even after he suffered a stroke in 2004 that affected his ability to speak and walk. Photo: File / AP
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• In this Feb. 3, 1959 file photo, Dick Clark selects a record in his station library in Philadelphia. Clark, the television host who helped bring rock `n' roll into the mainstream on "American Bandstand," died Wednesday, April 18, 2012 of a heart attack. He was 82. Photo: Chris O'Meara /AP
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• In this 1973 file photo released by ABC, Dick Clark presents the Rock and Roll Year_ a musical portrait of the 1950s and 1960s on the ABC television network in a series of five specials. Clark, the television host who helped bring rock `n' roll into the mainstream on "American Bandstand," died Wednesday, April 18, 2012 of a heart attack. He was 82. Photo: ABC / AP

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• This July 26, 1960 file photo shows Dick Clark and Barbara Mallery with their son, Richard, 3, in their home near Philadelphia. Clark, the ever-youthful television host and tireless entrepreneur who helped bring rock `n' roll into the mainstream on "American Bandstand," and later produced and hosted a vast range of programming from game shows to the New Year's Eve countdown from Times Square, died of a heart attack on Wednesday, April 18, 2012. He was 82. Photo: AP / AP
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• FILE - In this Jan. 24, 1993 file photo, singer Michael Jackson and American Music Awards executive producer Dick Clark go over the script during rehearsals for The American Music Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Clark, the television host who helped bring rock `n' roll into the mainstream on "American Bandstand," died Wednesday, April 18, 2012 of a heart attack. He was 82. Photo: File / AP
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• FILE - In this 1974 file photo originally provided by ABC-TV, "American Bandstand" host Dick Clark is shown. Clark, the television host who helped bring rock `n' roll into the mainstream on "American Bandstand," died Wednesday, April 18, 2012 of a heart attack. He was 82. Photo: ABC / AP
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In this 1957 file photo, Dick Clark is seen surrounded by fans during a television broadcast of "American Bandstand." Clark, the television host who helped bring rock `n' roll into the mainstream, died Wednesday, April 18, 2012 of a heart attack. He was 82. Photo: File / AP

Re: 'America's Oldest Teen' Dick Clark Dies
 

Very nice photos of him, I hope he rests in peace.

Thanks for the pics and the report Freak

Re: 'America's Oldest Teen' Dick Clark Dies
 

Thank You Ladybbird !

Re: 'America's Oldest Teen' Dick Clark Dies
 

:hugs:

:chicken:


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