Dick Clark Net Worth

Dick Clark's Quotes

• Humor is always based on a modicum of truth. Have you ever heard a joke about a father-in-law?
• Music is the soundtrack of our life.
• My business is teenagers. I don't set trends. I just find out what they are and exploit them.

Interesting Facts about Dick Clark

1. He and his wife, Kari Clark, were married on 7/7/77 in a ceremony that started at 7:00 pm. His address in Burbank at that time was PO Box 7777.
2. John Davidson's father was the man who performed Dick and Kari Clark's wedding vows.
3. First wife Barbara Mallery (aunt of composer Billy Mallery) was his childhood sweetheart.
4. Before he was a successful television host and producer, he began his career in 1945, in the mailroom of WRUN in Utica, New York, working his way up to weatherman and then newsman. WRUN was owned by Dick's uncle and run by Dick's father.
5. Graduated from Syracuse University in 1951 with a degree in business administration.
6. When Bandstand (1952) was picked up by ABC in 1957, he changed its name to "American Bandstand", ended the show's all-white policy and began introducing black artists. By 1959, it was broadcast by 101 affiliates and reached an audience of 20 million.
7. In 1959, the United States Senate began investigating the practice of "payola", in which record companies bribed radio personalities to play new records. Clark admitted he accepted a fur stole and jewelry and held financial interests in artists and songs that were frequently on Bandstand (1952). Even though he was cleared of any wrongdoing, he was ordered to either leave ABC or sell his interests; he sold.
8. Children with Loretta Martin: Duane Clark and Cindy Clark.
9. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.
10. Was the co-owner of Film Ventures International Pictures with Edward L. Montoro for several years.
11. On 2/14/02, Dick Clark Productions announced it will be acquired for $140 million by Mosaic Media Group, Inc., Capital Communications CDPQ Inc., and Jules Haimovitz, a senior television executive. Stockholders will receive $14.50 per share in cash. Clark himself will receive $12.50 per share in cash for a portion of his shares. Dick Clark Productions was founded in 1957.
12. Child with first wife Barbara Mallery, Richard, Jr., was born 9 January 1957 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
13. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1990.
14. Filed suit in federal court in Los Angeles, alleging that Michael Greene, president and chief executive of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, maintains a "blacklist" policy that prevents stars - including Britney Spears, Michael Jackson, Sean 'Diddy' Combs and Toni Braxton - from performing on both Greene's Grammy Awards and Clark's American Music Awards. The suit seeks $10 million in damages. (19 December 2001)
15. Rarely consumed alcoholic beverages, and every December 31, when he and his wife hosted "Rockin' New Year's Eve", she didn't drink, either.
16. In December of 2004 he was hospitalized for a mild stroke. He recovered.
17. In 2005, for the first time in 32 years, he was not around to see the New Year in with his "Rockin' New Year's Eve" celebration on television. It was hoped that after he had suffered his mild stroke in early December 2004 that he would recover enough to host the festivities. With Clark still in his hospital bed on New Year's Eve, Regis Philbin filled in for him.
18. Was a close personal friend of singer Connie Francis. Connie's music label was going to drop her if her last recorded song didn't sell. Thankfully, Dick played it, "Who's Sorry Now", on Bandstand (1952) and it became an instant hit. Dick stayed by her side even through her personal tragedies and she thanks him in every single one of her shows.
19. In one of his few dramatic roles, he played against his nice guy image to portray the murderer in the final episode (air date 2 May 1966) of Perry Mason (1957). The episode was appropriately titled, Perry Mason: The Case of the Final Fade-Out (1966). He also played against type as a nerdy guy who turns out to be a psycho killer in the film, Killers Three (1968).
20. He produced the late Friday night ABC-TV series, In Concert (1972) (1972-1973), which featured many of the top rock acts of the day including Alice Cooper, Jim Croce and The Allman Brothers Band.