Dick Clark Remembered: Host, Producer, CEO

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Dick Clark

Dick Clark passed away today at age 82.

Dick Clark may have been best known for hosting "American Bandstand" and ABC’s "New Year’s Rockin’ Eve," but he also was a hugely successful TV producer, and in many ways revolutionized TV production.

His Dick Clark Productions created more than 7,500 hours of TV programming, including 30 series and 250 specials, as well as 20 movies for theaters and TV, according to the Museum of Broadcast Communications. At one point in the 1980s, Clark’s production house had shows on all three networks, and he was listed on Forbes' list of the 400 Richest Americans.

Clark became the go-to producer for awards shows. He created the American Music Awards and he produced the Country Music Awards for decades. And in 1983, he began producing the Golden Globes, turning it into one of the biggest award events of the year.

When Dick Clark Productions went public in 1985, it had $55 million in revenue and $12 million in profits. In 2002, it was acquired by an investment consortium for $140 million, then bought by Dan Snyder’s Red Zone Capital for $175 million in 2007.

But what Clark may be best remembered for is hosting Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve show on ABC nearly every year, starting in 1972. 2013 won’t be the same without him.

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