New Year’s Eve host, American Bandstand legend Dick Clark dead at 82

New Year's Eve will never be the same.

Dick Clark, the face of American Bandstand and New York City's New Year's Rockin' Eve, died today. He was 82. 

TMZ initially reported his death, which was later confirmed by CNN and ABC.

Clark's representative told The New York Times the music industry legend died of a heart attack. 

Clark started his show business career in high school, eventually spinning records on a show called Dick Clark's Caravan of Music before rocking American teenagers' worlds with the afternoon dance show American Bandstand.

Clark became the host of New York City's Times Square new year's eve celebration, counting down to midnight with viewers around the world for more than 30 years. 

Clark had a stroke in 2004 that left him partially paralyzed and caused him to miss a ball drop, but he returned for the the following year's festivities. 

"I had to teach myself how to walk and talk again. It's been a long, hard fight. My speech is not perfect but I'm getting there," he told audiences after the stroke. 

The Associated Press has compiled a photo gallery chronicling Clark's career since the 1950s.

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