American and TV icon Dick Clark has died today at the age of 82 of a heart attack.  Dick Clark was the creator of hit shows like "American Bandstand" and "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve".

News reports are saying he died of a massive heart attack this morning at a hospital in Santa Monica California.

Fox News reports:

Attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.

Clark had suffered a stroke in 2004, which forced him to significantly curtail his hosting of "New Years' Rockin' Eve," a show he created in 1972.

Long dubbed "the world's oldest teenager" because of his boyish appearance, Clark bridged the rebellious new music scene and traditional show business, and was equally comfortable whether chatting about music with Sam Cooke or bantering with Ed McMahon about TV bloopers.

He thrived as the founder of Dick Clark Productions, supplying movies, game and music shows, beauty contests and more to TV. Among his credits are "The $25,000 Pyramid," "TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes" and the American Music Awards.

Dick Clark
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But it was "American Bandstand" for which Clark was best known. The show was one of network TV's longest-running series, airing as part of ABC's daytime lineup from 1957 to 1987. Over the years, it introduced stars ranging from Buddy Holly to Michael Jackson to Madonna.

So sad to lose such a TV and American icon.  RIP Dick Clark!

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