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Dick Clark, known for American Bandstand (1952-1989), New Year’s Rockin’ Eve (1974-2012), Pyramid (1973-1988), TV Bloopers & Practical Jokes,  Top 40 Countdown, and countless successful entertainment productions, died yesterday at the age of 82. A man who was synonymous with “fun” combined America’s love of music and television to produce long-lasting hits of his own. Some go as far as to credit him with creating and giving a voice to youth culture when there was none.

Like Betty White, he is a legend of Hollywood who didn’t understand the word “no”. While other entertainers gracefully fade, Clark was full of ideas and happiest when his thoughts were put into action.  After a stroke several years ago that left him unable to talk, he re-learned basic skills and had a come back appearances with co-host Ryan Seacrest on New Year’s Eve countdown TV production from New York. Dick Clark was known as the World’s Oldest Teenager.

Born Richard Flagstaff Clark on Nov. 30, 1929 in Bronxville, New York, he died of a massive heart attack in a Santa Monica hospital where he was receiving an outpatient procedure on April 18, 2012. His  family (wife Kari Wigton & Clark’s 3 children from 2 previous marriages) said there will be no funeral but a public memorial service is yet to be determined.  Clark and Wigton were married approx. 35 years and lived in Malibu.

Other entertainers who have passed away recently include Whitney Houston and Earl Scruggs.