Richard Wagstaff Clark
- Born:
- November 30, 1929, Mount Vernon, New York, USA
- Died:
- April 18, 2012, Santa Monica, California, USA
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Television Personality, Radio Personality, Producer, Businessman
Early Life and Education
- Graduated from A.B. Davis High School in Mount Vernon.
- Graduated with a business administration degree and a minor in advertising from Syracuse University in 1951.
- While at Syracuse, he worked at WAER, the campus radio station.
Career and Major Achievements
- Started his career in radio at WRUN in Utica, New York and then at WKTV in Utica.
- Joined WFIL radio and WFIL-TV in Philadelphia in 1952.
- Hosted Bandstand, a local Philadelphia television program, starting in 1956.
- Bandstand became American Bandstand, a nationally broadcast program on ABC in 1957.
- Hosted American Bandstand until 1989.
- Founded Dick Clark Productions in 1957.
- Produced and hosted numerous television specials, including Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, starting in 1972.
- Hosted Pyramid game shows in various formats from 1973 onwards.
- Received a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host for The $100,000 Pyramid in 1985, 1986, 1987, and 1988.
- Received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Daytime Emmy Awards in 1994.
- The dick clark biography pbs youtube documentary explores his influence on music and television.
Notable Works
| Title | Type | Years |
|---|---|---|
| American Bandstand | Television Program | 1957-1989 (Host) |
| Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve | Television Special | 1972-2011 (Host) |
| Pyramid | Game Show | 1973-1988, 1991, 2002-2004, 2012 (Host) |
| Blooper and Practical Joke Shows | Television Series | Producer |
Legacy and Impact
Dick Clark was a highly influential figure in American popular culture, particularly in music and television. He helped launch the careers of numerous musicians and shaped the landscape of American television programming, especially regarding music-based entertainment and game shows.