Dick Clark Birthday & Fun Facts

Dick Clark Birthday Highlights

Birth Name

Richard Wagstaff Clark

Place Of Birth

Mount Vernon, USA

Age

94 years old

Birth Date

November 30 1929

Dick Clark Facts

Child Star?

no

Occupation

Television Personality

Education & Qualifications

Syracuse University

Net Worth

$200,000,000

Current Partner

Barbara Mallery

Children

Duane Clark, Richard A. Clark, Cindy Clark

Parents

Julia Fuller Clark, Richard Augustus Clark

Richard Wagstaff Clark was an American radio and television personality, producer, film actor, and cultural icon best known for presenting 'American Bandstand' from 1956-1989.

He began his career as a disc jockey at the student-run radio station at Syracuse University in 1951. On November 30, 1929, Dick Clark was born and reared in Mount Vernon, New York, by Julia Fuller and Richard Augustus Clark Sr.

Clark popularised rock and roll in America by serving as the presenter of 'American Bandstand'. Before coming in 1952 to WFIL Radio in Philadelphia, he worked at radio and television stations in Syracuse and Utica, New York. In addition to changing the show's name, Clark added artist interviews (beginning with Elvis Presley), lip-sync performances, and 'Rate-A-Record', which allowed teens to rate the songs on the show. This feature gave rise to the expression "It's got a good beat, and you can dance to it", which has become very popular. Additionally, Clark instituted a formal dress code, requiring males to wear a coat and tie and women to wear dresses and skirts.

What was Dick Clark’s net worth?

In his off-stage duties, Clark held the position of Chief Executive Officer of Dick Clark Productions, a company he owned financially but eventually sold off. But after enrolling in college, he quit his family's radio station and went to work for WOLF-AM, a country music station. He has also won many awards during his career. The total income of Dick Clark was around $200 million when he died.

How much did Dick Clark earn per year?

In the early ’50s, after graduating from college, he momentarily entered the workforce first at WRUN radio station alongside his father. He stepped down as the proponent of a television hosting job at WKTV in Utica for the country music television program 'Cactus Dick' and the 'Santa Fe Riders'. Later in his career, Dick Clark also inaugurated Dick Clark Productions and many other shows; one such is the 'Dick Clark Show'. The per year income of Dick Clark is around one million. Dick Clark began his career as a disc jockey at the student-run radio station at Syracuse University in 1951. After that, he was employed at media organizations in Syracuse and Utica, New York, ultimately transferring to WFIL Broadcast throughout Philadelphia in 1952. After getting more experience with radio and broadcasting, he founded other production houses. Additionally, other radio programs were created by Dick Clark Productions, including 'Countdown America' and 'The Dick Clark National Music Survey'.

How tall was Dick Clark?

Dick Clark is around 5 ft 8 in (175 cm) tall.

How old was Dick Clark?

Dick Clark passed away in Santa Monica on April 18, 2012. During the time of his demise, he was 82 years old.

Clark was born in Bronxville, New York, and raised in neighboring Mount Vernon, the second child of Richard Augustus Clark and Julia Fuller Clark, o Barnard. The Battle of the Bulge claimed the life of his sole sibling, older brother Bradley, a P-47 Thunderbolt pilot in World War II. Clark was a typical student at A.B. Davis High School in Mount Vernon, which was later renamed A.B. Davis Middle School. Clark chose to pursue a career in radio at the age of 10. He enrolled at Syracuse University to achieve that aim, earning a minor in radio and a degree in advertising in 1951. He belonged to the fraternity Delta Kappa Epsilon while attending Syracuse (Phi Gamma). He did know for a long time that he wanted to be a radio host.

Who was Dick Clark’s partner?

Since Dick Clark was such a big TV personality, his personal life was always a common interest among his fans. Clark has three marriages. In 1952, he married Barbara Mallery, his high school sweetheart, and the two had one son, Richard, before divorcing in 1961. In 1962, he wed Loretta Martin; they had two children, Duane and Cindy, before divorcing in 1971. Kari Wigton, with whom he married in 1977, was his third wife, and they were together until his passing. He had three grandkids as well.

Best Known For…

At WRUN, Clark started his employment in the mailroom in 1945, an a.m. radio station in Utica, New York, owned by his uncle, and his father managed it. Soon after, he was asked to cover for the weatherman who was on vacation, and after a few months, he began making station break announcements. He took over as presenter of WFIL-Bandstand, TV's a well-liked afternoon show where youths danced to records, in 1956. Clark not only announced on television and radio, but he also ran several radio stations. He briefly returned to WRUN after graduating and under the alias Dick Clay. Bandstand was chosen by ABC as 'American Bandstand' for statewide distribution commencing on August 5, 1957, primarily due to Clark's efforts. Two Bakersfield-based country performers were promoted in 1968, such as the Western drama 'Killers Three', which Clark wrote, produced, and featured in with Merle Haggard and Bonnie Owens. Dick Clark and his efforts landed him a very fruitful and profitable career in radio! He developed and organized the annual American Music Awards program, which is comparable to the Grammy Awards, in 1973. With 'American Dreams', Clark was dubbed the "world's oldest adolescent" and continued to benefit from the union of television and rock and roll five decades after he started influencing the viewing and listening habits of music enthusiasts with 'American Bandstand'. Clark started running the wildly popular American Music Awards in 1973. Dick Clark Productions went public in 1986. Clark continued to produce television shows and films throughout the ’90s.

What awards did Dick Clark win?

The American Music Awards, The Country Music Awards, and The Golden Globes are just a few of the events that Dick Clark Productions has worked on. During his career, Dick Clark was honored with many awards, including The Grammy trustees award, Daytime Emmy Award, Academy Of Country Music Awards, and Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.

Dick Clark’s Hobbies And Interests

Clark showed it very early that he was interested in radio; at age 10, he started seeing the dream of becoming a Radio Host.

• 'American Bandstand' was shifted to Saturdays and Los Angeles in 1963 to keep up with the moving center of the music business and provide Clark with more opportunities to be involved in television production.
• Bob Horn served as the host of the television show Bandstand, which was also broadcast on WFIL.
• Additionally, Dick Clark appeared in two flashback scenes of 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'. He mimics himself at a Philadelphia restaurant in one episode, and in another, he assists Will Smith's character in hosting gags from that sitcom's previous episodes.
• On July 7, 1977, he and his wife, Kari Clark, were united in marriage in a 7:00 pm ceremony. At the time, his Burbank address was PO Box 7777.
• David Clark was Edward L. Montoro's partner in the ownership of the Film Ventures International Pictures for a while.

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