This enterprising TV host and announcer turned high-powered producer and executive has gained fame and fortune with his ever-youthful look and the adolescent aim of many of his productions. These qualities have branded Dick Clark as "the world's oldest teenager"--he did, after all, host "American Bandstand" from 1956 until 1989 before finally passing the torch to a younger fellow. In addition to hosting one of TV's longest-running entertainment shows, Clark has produced thousands of hours of programming ranging from telefilms to documentaries to awards shows, hosted thousands of others, crossed over to radio. He has, in short, built an entertainment empire comprised of "Dick Clark productions", which went public in 1987, and Unistar Communications Group, which distributes his radio shows. Clark was only 17 when he first tried radio announcing, on WRUN in Utica, NY, where he did news, weather and station breaks. By 1952, he had settled in Philadelphia, working for WFIL radio and TV. The station had an afternoon dance show called "American Bandstand" not dissimilar to similar rock 'n roll dance shows on local stations around the country. In 1956, the host of "American Bandstand," Bob Horn, was arrested for driving under the influence--not the image sponsors wanted for a show that catered to impressionable teens. The station tapped the then twentysomething Clark to take his place. In 1957, Clark convinced ABC to run "American Bandstand" as a network show, which it did weekday afternoons and, for a short time that year, on prime time. The network also gave Clark his own primetime variety series from 1958-60. From 1963-87, ABC ran the show as a weekly Saturday morning offering, with Clark still hosting in jacket and tie, very much the moderator, not one of the kids, yet accessible to them. To this day, his concept of "rating a record" has gone into the American lexicon. In 1987, after ABC asked Clark to cut the show back to half an hour, Clark pulled it from ABC and went into syndication. In 1989, the USA Network began airing the show, but Clark had shifted behind the scenes to serve as executive producer only while the 26-year old David Hirsch hosted. The show soon disappeared from TV as an ongoing production. But it had made Clark not only a household word, but a very rich man as well. Clark shrewdly used "American Bandstand" as the foundation of his empire. Besides "Bandstand," Clark originated "The American Music Awards" in 1974, and has been executive producer since. His company has also produced "The Academy of Country Music Awards," "The Soap Awards," "The Daytime Emmy Awards," "The Golden Globe Awards," and, in 1996, "The 48th Annual Emmy Awards." As a TV-movie producer, Clark's credits include "The Man in the Santa Claus Suit" (1978), as well as "The Birth of the Beatles" (1979), "Elvis" (1979), "The Woman Who Willed a Miracle" (1984), and Barry Manilow's TV-movie debut for CBS, "Copacabana." More recently, Clark has taken over production of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Tournament of Roses Parade for NBC. His variety show work includes "TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes," which he co-produced with Johnny Carson's company in 80s, as well as "Live! Dick Clark Presents" for CBS in 1988, and a host of retrospective specials. Clark has also frequently hosted game shows produced by others, thereby increasing his own profile. For 15 years, beginning in 1973, he hosted "The $10,000 Pyramid". (The ante was later raised to "$20,000" then "$25,000" and later even "$100,000.") Clark did this on CBS daytime, ABC daytime, and in syndication. Some of his other game show gigs proved less successful: "The Object Is" (ABC, 1963), "Missing Links" (ABC, 1964), "The Krypton Factor" (ABC, 1981), and "Scattergories" (NBC, 1989). Clark also performed hosting chores on many of the in-studio shows produced by his company, such as the syndicated "Puttin' on the Hits" (1985-89). In addition to playing himself in cameos in films and on TV, Clark has, on occasion, acted as well. He played in two episodes of "Burke's Law" for NBC in 1964, and, around the same time, played an unmasked killer in a tense courtroom scene on an episode of "Perry Mason" for CBS. Clark made his big screen acting debut as a do-gooder teacher in "Because They're Young" (1960) in which he also had a hand in producing. The next year, Clark played a doctor in the soap operatic "The Young Doctors." As a producer, his company has offered "Psych-Out" (1968), in which a deaf Susan Strasberg comes to San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury looking for her brother (Bruce Dern) only to fall for pony-tailed rocker Jack Nicholson. This vintage piece of 60s psychedelia was helmed by Richard ("The Stuntman") Rush who also directed "The Savage Seven" (1968), Clark's tepid follow- up biker flick follow-up. Clark ventured into mainstream action filmmaking as the executive producer of "Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins" (1985)—with limited success. Clark has continued to work in radio, with shows such as "Rock 'n' Roll Remembers" and "Countdown America" both distributed by his Unistar Communications as weekly shows. Unistar had 3,000 affiliates when it merged with Infinity Broadcasting in 1993. Clark has authored numerous books and often can be seen on TV commercials and in print ads. There seems to be no end to his energy, or the reaches of his burgeoning company. They recently entered the home video and compact disc market, with "Dick Clark's Best of Bandstand" tapes and "Dick Clark's All-Time Hits" CDs. Clark did have one close call, however, much earlier in his career. In 1960, he was brought before the House Committee on Legislative Oversight, which was investigating "payola" in the record and radio industry. (This was the practice of deejays and others accepting bribes and favors to promote records.) Clark claimed no wrongdoing and was cleared of all suspicions. The other chief witness, Alan Freed, did not fare as well and was consigned to the dustbin of pop culture history while Clark's ascendance continued. As befitting the workplace of such a venerable rock icon, Clark's Burbank office is practically a museum, featuring memorabilia that would make most rock fans drool. His company also provides vintage footage for many contemporary films dealing with recent American history. On December 31, 1972, Clark began a tradition that spanned the decades through the new millennium—hosting the annual New Year’s Eve special from Times Square in New York City called “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” (ABC, 1972- ). Over the years, he has counted down the ball dropping while introducing performances from diverse names in the music industry—from KC and the Sunshine Band and Barry Manilow to The Spice Girls and Nelly. Clark stepped back from hosting duties for the 1999-2000 Millennium Eve, appearing instead as a correspondent while ABC’s Peter Jennings anchored the show for 25 consecutive hours. For 2001-2002, Clark isolated himself in a glass booth fearing that he’d be shot by terrorists because of the attacks on September 11, 2001. Then in late 2004, Clark suffered a debilitating stroke that left him with slurred speech and impaired mobility. Regis Philbincovered for the ailing host. But he returned for the 2005-2006 celebration, though in a more reduced role—Ryan Seacrest took over hosting duties while Clark remained off-camera most of the night. Still, Clark braved the effects of his illness and made frequent comments in voice over as millions tuned in to watch. It was unclear after the broadcast whether or not he would be back for 2006-2007.