Richard Wagstaff "Dick" Clark (born November 30, 1929) is an American television, radio personality, game show host and businessman; he served as chairman and CEO of Dick Clark Productions, which he has sold part of in recent years. He is best known for hosting long-running television shows such as American Bandstand, five versions of the Pyramid game show, and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.

Clark has long been 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", until he suffered a stroke late in 2004. He is recovering and still needs the help from his wheelchair, but he is able to walk. With some speech ability still impaired, Clark returned to his New Year's Rockin' Eve show on December 31, 2005. Subsequently, he has appeared at the Emmy Awards on August 27, 2006 and the New Year's Rockin' Eve show on December 31, 2006, as well as on December 31, 2007.

Personal life and early career

Dick Clark was born in Mount Vernon, New York, where he was raised, the son of Julia Fuller (née Barnard) and Richard Augustus Clark. His only sibling, older brother Bradley, was killed in World War II. Clark has been married three times. His first marriage was to Barbara Mallery in 1952; the couple had one son, Richard A. (named after his father), and divorced in 1961. Clark married Loretta Martin in 1962; the couple had two children, Duane and Cindy, and divorced in 1971. Clark has been married to his current wife, Kari Wigton, since 1977.

Clark's career in show business began in 1945 when he started working in the mailroom of radio station WRUN in Utica, New York (which was owned by his uncle and managed by his father). Clark was soon promoted to weatherman and news announcer. Clark attended Syracuse University and was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He graduated from Syracuse in 1951 and began his television career at station WKTV in Utica and was also subsequently a DJ on 1490 WOLF (AM) Syracuse. Clark's first television hosting job was on the Cactus Dick and the Santa Fe Riders, a country music program. He would later replace Robert Earle (who would later host the GE College Bowl) as a newscaster.

American Bandstand

In 1952 Dick Clark moved to Philadelphia and took a job as a disc jockey at radio station WFIL. WFIL had an affiliated television station with the same call sign which began broadcasting a show called Bob Horn's Bandstand in 1952. Clark was a regular substitute host on the show and when Horn left, Clark became the full time host on July 9, 1956. The show was picked up by ABC and was first aired nationally on August 5, 1957 and renamed American Bandstand. A high point on the show was Clark's interview with Elvis Presley.