American Bandstand Host Dick Clark Dies At 82
KTLA has confirmed that Dick Clark died from a heart attack Wednesday at the age of 82.
Clark is best known for hosting long-running television shows such as “American Bandstand," five versions of the game show Pyramid, and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.
He was 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."
Clark was born in Mount Vernon, New York in 1929 and began his show business career in the 1940s in the mailroom of a radio station.
He worked as a new announcer and weatherman, then graduated from Syracuse University in 1951.
Clark served as chairman and chief executive officer of Dick Clark Productions, which he has sold part of in recent years.
He suffered a significant stroke in late 2004.
With speech ability still impaired, Clark returned to his New Year's Rockin' Eve show on December 31, 2005/January 1, 2006.
Subsequently, he appeared at the Emmy Awards on August 27, 2006, and every New Year's Rockin' Eve show since then.
Clark has been married 3 times — and has 3 children from his first two marriages.
He is survived by his current wife Kari Wigton.
