Veteran T.V. Icon Dick Clark passed away at the age of 82 after suffering a massive heart attack in a Santa Monica hospital on Wednesday.
Clark was born in Mount Vernon, New York. His passion for showbusiness was evident from his student days at Syracuse University when he worked as a local DJ.
After he graduated in 1951, he began working at his dad’s radio station.
He finally got his big break when he moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he hosted his own musical show – Dick Clark’s Caravan of Music. In 1956, he hosted American Bandstand which featured the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley.
In 1963, he launched Dick Clark Productions which is famous for TV awards shows and masterminding specials like Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve which is still a tradition today.
Unfortunately, a stroke in 2004 led to a deterioration of his health over subsequent years. He continued to work even with his medical problems.
Clark is survived by his wife Kari Wigton and his three children Richard, Duane and Cindy.
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