American Idol: Ryan Seacrest Pays Tribute To American Bandstand Host Dick Clark

By Ankita Mehta | April 19 2012 7:04 AM

Ryan Seacrest Wednesday kicked off the American Idol show with a tribute to his personal idol Dick Clark, who passed away on the same day.

Courtesy

Dick Clark, who made a name for himself as a game show host, TV and radio host of several programs, including "American Bandstand" and the annual "New Year's Rockin' Eve" on ABC, died suddenly on Wednesday. Sources say Clark, who had suffered a significant stroke in 2004, died as the result of a heart attack. He was 82.

Sponsorship Link

Seacrest expressed his thoughts minutes after the credits rolled down. He acknowledged Clark by saying, Without Dick, a show like this would not exist.

It's a tremendously emotional day for so many people, said Seacrest. Fans of music, fans of television, broadcasters and certainly me personally as Dick Clark was one of those incredible pioneers of our business. He taught me how to do television, I studied him as a kid and I had the fortunate opportunity to work with him for several years on New Years Eve.

He will be missed greatly. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, he added.

Seacrest then paused for a moment and said, I know he is in a better place and he is saying hey lets go on with the show.

Hollie Cavanagh, season 11 finalist, said Seacrest was a little down.

Clark, a famed television personality and radio host, died of a massive heart attack at the age of 82 in Los Angeles Wednesday. He was admitted to St. John Hospital in Los Angeles Tuesday where he underwent an outpatient procedure.

Attempts to resuscitate were unsuccessful, his agent Paul Shefrin said in a statement. He is survived by his wife Kari and his three children, RAC, Duane and Cindy.