These are photos of Tom Hardy in London yesterday, the day after the UK premiere for The Dark Knight Rises. As you can see, Hardy was wearing a promotional t-shirt for TDKR, and he looks really happy and jazzed, especially with (what I’m assuming is) his promotional matte-black Bat-car. These photos were taken roughly ten hours before the horrific mass-shooting at a late-night screening of TDKR in Aurora, Colorado. We’re not a hard-news site – we only bump up against real news stories when they have some kind of celebrity attached, or when they involve pop culture in some way. So, I’m not going to be covering the hard-news developments of the deaths and injuries of these poor people who just wanted to see TDKR, and I won’t be giving any time to the POS a—hole shooter. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those injured or killed.

Here’s People Mag’s coverage thus far:

At least 12 fans attending a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises Friday morning were killed when a gunman opened fire on the audience in Aurora, Colo., a suburb of Denver.

Another estimated 50 were wounded, including a 6-year-old girl, Police Chief Dan Oates told reporters, CNN reports.

Police apprehended 24-year-old suspect James Holmes – a local resident who was said to be heavily armed and wearing a bulletproof vest – in a rear parking lot of the Century 16 Theater in Aurora’s Town Center Mall, police spokesman Frank Fania told CNN. “He did not resist. He did not put up a fight,” Fania said.

Holmes remains in custody. His home is currently being searched for possible explosive materials or devices.

Holmes’s mother, who lives in San Diego, confirmed to ABC News that her son was the shooter, saying, “You have the right person.” According to ABC News, she was unaware of the shooting until she woke up and had not been contacted by authorities. She also expressed her concern, and told ABC, “I need to fly out to Colorado.”

The attack in the theater began when the suspect tossed a canister of tear gas into the crowd through an emergency exit door, reports CNN affiliate KUSA. He then opened fire. Some moviegoers thought he was part of the show.

“We saw people running around and screaming,” an unidentified man told KUSA. Another moviegoer said the gunman wore a gas mask and moved through the theater, firing randomly.

Of the wounded, at least 20 were being treated at the University of Colorado Hospital for minor to critical gunshot wounds, spokeswoman Jacque Montgomery told CNN.

At the moment, the Dark Knight Rises cast – including Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Morgan Freeman and Marion Cotillard – is in Paris for a scheduled red carpet premiere on the Champs-Elysees Friday night. PEOPLE has been told that Warner Bros. has canceled all interviews related to the movie opening, as well as the premiere itself.

In a statement, the studio said: “Warner Bros. is deeply saddened to learn about this shocking incident. We extend our sincere sympathies to the families and loved ones of the victims at this tragic time.”

[From People]

Warner Bros. has pulled Hardy, Anne Hathaway, Christian Bale and the other actors from all of their promotional work in Europe for the time being. Warner Bros. also canceled tonight’s premiere of TDKR in Paris. According to Radar, the whole cast had already flown to Paris (from the UK) before they heard about the Colorado massacre. My guess is that the Paris premiere will be canceled for good, and Warner Brothers will do a media blackout for the weekend, and then the actors’ promotional duties will resume on Monday. That’s just my guess, btw, I have no inside information. Also – Nikki Finke is already talking about how this devastating tragedy will affect TDKR’s opening weekend. Too soon, Finke.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

Andy Griffith has passed away. So sad. I always thought of him like “Television’s Gregory Peck”. There was simply a niceness, a wholesomeness that came through. And here in the South, local channels still run old episodes of The Andy Griffith Show too. Trust me – I swear that every time I go into a mechanic’s garage, The Andy Griffith Show is playing in the waiting room. Not only will some of us remember him from that show, but your parents probably watched more than one episode of Matlock. Matlock was pretty good (although I prefer Murder She Wrote). Beyond those television series, Griffith had a far-ranging career in television and film, and he was gospel singer. You can see AG’s Wiki page here.

Andy Griffith, an icon of TV, has died … this according to Andy’s close friend, former UNC President Bill Friday.

Griffith, who became famous for “The Andy Griffith Show,” passed away at his home in Manteo, North Carolina this morning.

Friday broke the news to WITN News in North Carolina.

In addition to starring in his show and the subsequent “Mayberry R.F.D.,” Griffith was a Grammy award-winning southern gospel singer. Of course, Griffith also starred in the long-running series, “Matlock” and often made guest appearances in other shows, including “Dawson’s Creek.”

There’s a famous statue of Andy and Opie — played by Ron Howard — in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Griffith was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George W. Bush in 2005.

[Via TMZ]

Well, he had a great long life, and it sounds like he was surrounded by friends and family in the final months. You know poor Ron Howard is probably downing a few stiff drinks today – Ron and Andy were still, to this day, like father and son, and I know Ron adored Andy and still spoke to him often. Best wishes to all of Andy’s family and friends. Rest in peace, Andy.

Photos courtesy of INDB, WENN.

Before today, I never knew that Nora Ephron’s husband was Nicholas Pileggi. His name was Nick! They were “Nick and Nora”! That’s wonderful. As you know by now, Nora Ephron has passed away at the age of 71 after a little-discussed battle with leukemia. I didn’t even know she was sick! Nora was a wonderful novelist, essayist, screenwriter, director, humorist, producer, food-lover, friend, mother and wife. This is an epic loss. Here’s People Magazine’s coverage:

Nora Ephron, one of the most powerful figures in Hollywood as the creative force behind such blockbusters as You’ve Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle and When Harry Met Sally, died on Tuesday at age 71.

The three-time Oscar nominee “passed away June 26, 2012 at 7:40 pm at New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center surrounded by her family. The cause of death was acute myeloid leukemia,” her family tells PEOPLE in a statement. “We thank you all for your thoughts.”

A writer and director who was as comfortable with romantic comedies as she was with hard-hitting dramas with social themes, Ephron’s films featured strong female roles that attracted such A-listers as Meg Ryan, Meryl Streep, Amy Adams and Cher.

The daughter of playwrights and sister to three other writers, Nora was married and divorced to author Dan Greenberg before marrying Watergate investigative reporter Carl Bernstein. She based her searing novel and screenplay Heartburn on the collapse of their marriage.

She also wrote the screenplays for the drama Silkwood (starring Streep and Cher) about nuclear activist Karen Silkwood, but was best known – and reached the highest levels of success – with her lighter fare.

Described both affectionately – and sometimes not – as “chick flicks,” the wildly successful trio of Harry, Sleepless and Mail (co-written with sister Delia), had Ryan falling in love with Billy Crystal or Tom Hanks – and turned the actress into a mega-star.

Ephron’s last film was the time-shifting Julia Child foodie flick Julie & Julia and in 2008 she wrote a bestseller about aging called I Feel Bad About My Neck.

At the time of her death she was married to her third husband, Goodfellas writer Nicholas Pileggi.

Per the family, donations may be made in her honor to The Public Theater and The Motion Picture and Television Fund.

[From People]

My favorite Nora Ephron work is her book and screenplay for Heartburn. The novel was loosely based on her marriage to Carl Bernstein (of Woodward and Bernstein), and the film starred Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep. The book is amazing and hilarious and heartbreaking, and the movie is just wonderful. Several years ago, Nora was on PBS’s Charlie Rose, and it was shortly after Mark Felt had come out and admitted that he was Deep Throat. Nora told Charlie Rose that Carl Bernstein would never tell her who Deep Throat was, but that she had made an educated guess during their marriage, and after they split up (because Carl was a raging philanderer), she told everyone her theory on the identity of Deep Throat – and she was right. That’s just who she was.

Anyway, this is a great loss for Hollywood, for women who love a cheeky romance, and for those of us who just love a great humorist. Nora was beloved and adored, and her loss is being felt all over the world.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

This news really made me feel for Jennifer Love Hewitt, and to identify with her. Her mother just passed from cancer at the age of 67. My mom is around that age, and I can’t imagine how devastating it would be to lose her. So I’m thinking of J.Love and hoping that she’s ok. Jennifer’s mom moved to L.A. from Texas when Jennifer was just 10 in order to help her daughter pursue an acting career. The two were particularly close, and Jennifer lived with her mom until she was into her 20s. The last photos we have of the two of them together are from this Mother’s Day just a month ago. (They’re the photos with both Jennifer and her Mom in white dresses.) So they probably spent a lot of time together and this has got to hit her hard. Here’s more:

Jennifer Love Hewitt’s biggest supporter has died.

The actress’s mom Patricia, 67, lost her battle with cancer on Tuesday, Hewitt’s rep announced in a statement.

“Her family mourns her loss,” the rep says. “She was an angel to all who knew her and they are grateful she is now in a better place. They ask for privacy at this difficult time. No further details are being provided.”

Hewitt, 33, who kept her mom’s illness private, appreciated her acceptance of the career decisions she made.

For example, the actress’s mother was able to find her role as a prostitute on The Client List “hilarious,” Hewitt joked two years ago.

“She was like, ‘So let’s review … For 15 years people have been talking about your boobs. Earlier this year, you wrote about your hoo haw in a book. Now you’re playing a crack ho on TV.’ She was like, ‘Do you think maybe you could do an animated movie next?’ “

[From People]

I checked J.Love’s twitter account, and she normally tweets constantly, but she went quiet a few days ago and her last tweet is on June 11. She said she was headed to Monte Carlo at that time, and OK! reports that she flew back to L.A. after her mother passed. This is sad news, and I hope Jennifer has friends and family around her for support.

Video is below
Last night’s Billboard Awards paid tribute to the late Whitney Houston with performances of her hits by John Legend and Jordin Sparks. Legend did a soulful, if somewhat shaky, version of “The Greatest Love of All” while Sparks belted out “I Will Always Love You.” (Video is below.) The camera panned to Whitney’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina, in the audience several times and she was understandably crying.

Whitney was posthumously awarded the Billboard Millennium Award, which Bobbi accepted on her behalf. She was accompanied on stage by her aunt, Whitney’s sister in law, Pat Houston. Bobbi was very well spoken and composed on stage. She did seem a little buzzed to me, but maybe she was just overwhelmed in the moment. She’s gone through so much these past three months. Here’s a little more, thanks to Radar Online.

Whitney Houston’s daughter Bobbi Kristina made a rare public appearance Sunday night at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas to take part in an emotional tribute to her late mother…

John Legend and Jordin Sparks, who plays Houston’s daughter in her final film, Sparkle, performed her hits, with Legend singing the Greatest Love of All, while Sparks amazed with her rendition of I Will Always Love You.

Following the moving memorials, the late singer’s sister-in-law Pat Houston and daughter Bobbi Kristina accepted the Billboard Millennium Award on Whitney’s behalf.

Pat said, “This is truly an honor. We thank you, Billboard; we thank you, Whoopi, Jordin; we love you, John. But tonight, the one person that should be accepting this award is the one person that Whitney loved most,” ushering in Bobbi Kristina.

Bobbi Kristina said she “just really want to say thank you to everyone who supported us through it all.

“Not just when it was good, but when it was bad too,” she said. “Thank you so much for showing that much love, ’cause she deserved it. There will never be another one, ever. I thank you so much.”

[From Radar Online]

I can’t imagine losing my mom when I was just 18. (Bobbi Kristina turned 19 in March.) My grandmother died when I was in my early 20s and I was devastated. It’s got to be even harder when your mom is famous and you’ve got to get dressed up, go out to an event and make a speech on her behalf. Krissi did an amazing job, though.

Bobbi Kristina’s boyfriend, 22 year-old Nick Gordon, was next to her in the audience. Like Krissi, he was wearing a pin with Whitney’s photo on it. Nick walked Krissi up on stage and gave her a kiss before she went on. It was sweet, and it made me worry less about the stories that he’s taking advantage of her. There was a lot of controversy when Krissi and Nick first got together, as Nick was raised by Whitney and Krissi used to consider him her “adopted brother.” The fact that he looks so supportive of her makes me think differently about their situation.

Here’s video of the tribute to Whitney. Kriss comes on at about 6:00.

I was so surprised and saddened to learn that disco queen Donna Summer had died at the young age of 63. Donna succumbed to cancer, in Florida, after a long battle. Donna is known for strings of hits in the late 70s and 80s. Her music helped define a generation and an era, and she will be sorely missed. Here’s a little more, from US Weekly:

The chart-topping, Grammy-winning singer behind such colossal disco hits as “Hot Stuff,” “Last Dance,” “Bad Girls” and many others — plus 80s smashes like “She Works Hard for the Money” — passed away in Florida after a battle with cancer.

The biggest, most enduring star of the disco era, Summer helped usher disco, dance and later electronic music into the mainstream — influencing the careers and sounds of Madonna, Beyonce, Michael Jackson and countless others.

She is survived by daughters Brooklyn and Amanda, her grown daughters with husband Bruce Sudano, a fellow musician whom she married in 1980, and Mimi, her eldest daughter with first husband, actor Helmuth Sommer.

Summer’s rep had no immediate comment. According to TMZ, Summer had been working on a new album weeks before her passing.

[From US Magazine]

Aw, I can hardly believe she’s gone. She was younger than my mom, and that’s way too early to go. This really saddens me.

RIP Donna, your music touched so many of us.

This is one of my favorite Donna Summer songs, and is one I remember so fondly from my childhood. “She Works Hard For The Money”

“Last Dance”

Donna performing “Bad Girls” in 1979

“Hot Stuff”

“I Feel Love”

Photo credit: WENN.com and PRPhotos

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The first part of Bobby Brown’s interview with Matt Lauer aired on The Today Show this morning. We had some advance details yesterday, when we heard that Bobby denied being the one who got Whitney hooked on drugs. He told Lauer that Whitney was doing narcotics before he met her, and that he had only done pot and booze before they got together.

Bobby said a lot of really nice things about how much he loved Whitney and cherished their time together. He didn’t seem that emotional about her, though. He was somewhat detached when it came to describing how he learned about her death. Bobby came across as very pragmatic about Whitney, and I guess I expected him to at least get choked up about her. When you lose someone and are describing how you found out they died you usually remember how you felt at the time and start to get teary about it. He did say that he cried at the time. Maybe he’s just very guarded about his feelings. Here’s more:

Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston may no longer have been a couple when she died in February, but as he told TODAY’s Matt Lauer in an interview that aired Wednesday morning — his first interview since her death — he still misses her fiercely.

“Our relationship was great,” he said. “I had 14 beautiful, beautiful years with that woman.” And it’s not just his revisionist history, he insisted: “I can honestly say that — I loved that woman with — with everything that I am. And I believe she loved me the same way.”

Still, Whitney and Bobby’s relationship was, almost from the start, filled with conflict of one kind or the other. Brown says he never used hard drugs before meeting Houston, and said that she had used drugs before they were involved. “I worried about it when … we first got together until I tried it,” he said. “And when I tried it, for some reason, I have an addictive personality.”

He does have some regrets, wondering to Lauer whether “I coulda done something different, you know to — ensure that she had a longer life. But … you have to want it, you know?”

The 2005 single-season reality show “Being Bobby Brown,” which put an uncomfortable spotlight on their relationship and showed Houston’s temper flaring, he says, was a “wake-up, because we were able to see what others were saying about us …. (to) see that our drug use had affected our relationship, had affected the love we felt for each other.”

But Houston declined to appear on a second season of the show, and the pair separated in 2006; they divorced the following year. Still, said Brown — who told Lauer he would be getting remarried “soon” — he still has a lot of room in his heart for his late former wife.

“My fiancee knows how I felt about that woman,” Brown said. “My kids know how I feel … how I felt about Whitney. It’s not a secret, you know? I was in love with her deeply.”

[From The Today Show.MSNBC.com]

Bobby loved Whitney, but he had moved on from her before she died, and it showed. I like what he said about how she was glowing the last time he saw her, a week before her death. We heard rumors of their reconciliation back in 2008, and I tend to think they had an on-off relationship that didn’t end for good until one of them was in another relationship.

Also, I just want to say that I’m glad Matt Lauer did this interview instead of Ann Curry. Ann would have just asked Bobby how he was doing and gone “mmmhmm” and tried to look deep into his eyes, probing for sadness. She wouldn’t have asked any hard questions at all.

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It’s been almost three years since Farrah Fawcett died, but that time frame seems off to me somehow, like she passed either just a year ago or over five years ago. I’m not sure how to explain it. Well since Farrah has passed her family has been truly struggling, especially her son, Redmond, who has been in and out of jail and rehab. Redmond’s dad Ryan was a piss poor parent to to say the least. Ryan and Redmond, now 27, were arrested for drug possession, including meth, in 2008 before Farrah passed. Redmond had to get a pass from jail to attend his mother’s funeral, and he went in shackles and a jumpsuit. Ryan also had a domestic abuse incident in 2007 against his older son, Redmond’s half brother Griffin. Griffin later claimed that Ryan first introduced him to cocaine when he was just 11 years old, and that Ryan regularly did drugs with Redmond. He also said that Ryan often cheated on Farrah and that he was so sweet to her later in life because he was hoping to be put in her will. (He wasn’t, Farrah’s estate went to charity and to Redmond.)

Ryan has a new memoir out chronicling his life with Farrah. He’s also suffering from prostate cancer, he was just diagnosed, and leukemia, which he’s had for years. Ryan was on The Today Show this morning, having canceled yesterday’s interview after a panic attack. He said it was his first panic attack. During the interview he seemed very pitiful and kind of lost. You could tell he was having trouble explaining himself and that he was unprepared to answer questions about the book. He hedged and changed the subject quite a few times. Here’s more on what he said about his kids, thanks to Radar:

In a sad segment on Tuesday’s Today Show, one-time Hollywood hunk Ryan O’Neal came off as a broken man, admitting his failure as a parents and his profound loneliness without longtime love Farrah Fawcett, as he himself now battles cancer.

Ryan — who abruptly left the show’s New York set for a scheduled chat Monday — said he’d “just broke out into a terrible sweat.

“You wouldn’t have wanted me,” Ryan said, looking tired with a bandage on his nose after a recent procedure.

Asked if he’d indeed had a panic attack, O’Neal said he assumed he did, though he “never had one before.”

The subject of his kids came up and it made for extremely uncomfortable TV: The father-of-four — Patrick, Tatum, Griffin and Redmond — was honest in assessing his accountability in the the addiction issues of the latter three, and past jail histories of the latter two.

“Were you a bad parent?” Lauer asked the Love Story star, who said contritely, “Looks like it, doesn’t it? Sure looks like it … I suppose I was.”

Ryan said he “wasn’t trained” to be a father, and can’t continue to be held accountable with his children all adults.

“Griffin is 45, Tatum is 49, who’s the other one? Redmond is 27. They have to take hold of their own existences.”

He joked, “Even with those kids … I never suffered a panic attack.”

[From Radar]

Radar didn’t recap the things that Ryan said about Farrah. That was truly hard to watch. Lauer questioned Ryan about allegations he made about Farrah in the book, that she was obsessed with her appearance as she got older, and that she suffered from mood swings. He hedged and skirted around the questions, and I found it particularly sad the way he addressed the question about her moods. That’s at about 4:20 in the video above:

On if Farrah sought treatment for mood swings
“No. I felt that she was uncomfortable with me and that maybe I had grown boring to her. It was tough.”

See, he didn’t really answer the question at all and turned it around to where he was some kind of victim. At about 5:10 Ryan looked confused and said that “she loved me, she said so. She said so. I couldn’t write a book if she hadn’t.” It seemed kind of heartbreaking. He just looked down the whole time and barely looked at Matt Lauer in the eye.

I got the impression that O’Neal used a ghostwriter for the most of the book and didn’t realize everything that was in it. He came across as ashamed about his life and not sure how to explain things. I also got the impression that he felt sorry for himself, and that his grief over Farrah was something of a put on. I’m not saying he didn’t love her deeply, just that it seemed like he was trying to get us to feel for him. Maybe he’s just very sick and confused, though.

Photos are from yesterday in NY. Credit: Diane Cohen/FameFlynet Pictures

In 2001

Bobby Brown is about to have a two-part interview air with Matt Lauer on the Today Show tomorrow and Thursday. The Huffington Post has a preview for us, and of course they primarily talk about Brown’s late ex wife, Whitney Houston. The way Brown’s statement is worded, it sounds like he’s sort-of suggesting that it was Whitney who turned him on to drugs, not the other way around. Remember when Whitney went on Oprah and said that Bobby was “her drug”? She said in 2009 that “He was my drug. I didn’t do anything without him. I wasn’t getting high by myself. It was me and him together. We were partners.”

A lot of people blamed Bobby for corrupting Whitney somehow and turning her into an addict. She had such a sweet songstress image in the 80s when she hit the scene, and that all went downhill when she married Bobby. Of course Bobby wasn’t around and had been out of the picture for years when she ultimately died from drugs. He’s now trying to set the record straight, and claims that he’s not the one who got Whitney hooked. Here’s more, thanks to the Huffington Post:

Since the death of his ex-wife, Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown has been targeted by those who believe his “negative influence” on the legendary singer led to her tragic end. Now, Brown is speaking out for the first time since Houston’s death, telling NBC’s “Today” show anchor Matt Lauer, “I’m not the reason she’s gone.”

Brown had dinner with Houston and the ex-couple’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina, a week before the singer’s death and remembers a glowing Whitney who “looked really well” and exhibited a positive demeanor that left Brown even more shocked upon news of her death.

“I was hurt. I was hurt … Because, you know, me being off of narcotics for the last seven years — I felt that she was, you know, I didn’t know she was struggling with it still. But at the same time, you know– listen, it’s a hard fight,” Brown told Lauer. “It’s a hard fight to, you know, maintain sobriety that way.”

But Brown doesn’t blame Houston’s longtime battle with drug use for her death.

“From what I feel and you know, how I saw her, the last time I saw her, it had to be that particular day. You know, it had to be that one, because that’s all it takes … One hit, you know, and you know, it could definitely take your life away from you. And, unfortunately, that was it.”

As for those who believe that Brown’s introduction into Houston’s life is what sparked her downward spiral, Brown says those negative comments coming from Houston’s family, friends and fans have no grounds.

“I didn’t get high before I met Whitney … I smoked weed, I drank the beer, but no, I wasn’t the one that got Whitney on drugs at all … I’m not the reason she’s gone.” Brown says.

Though Brown tells Lauer that he has been off drugs for seven years, the singer seems to still be battling alcohol abuse. Brown pled no contest last Wednesday to his March DUI arrest. Brown will reportedly undergo a 90-day alcohol education course as well as three years of informal probation as part of his sentence.

[From Huffington Post]

At least Bobby isn’t doing the hard stuff anymore, although drinking and driving can definitely kill you. I guess I believe him that he didn’t introduce Whitney to drugs. Even if he did, she’s responsible for her own drug use and she chose to stay with him for a long time.

Have you guys heard this other crazy story about Whitney? A former bodyguard for Micheal Jackson (who also claims to be Blanket’s dad, and he looks just like the kid. There’s a video here with more on that if you’re interested) says that Whitney and Michael Jackson had a fling in the early 90s, and that Jackson was head over heels for Whitney and never got over her. Really, that’s what this guy claims. Here are his quotes, via Wonderwall:

, “This affair will end all the myths that Michael was some kind of child molester. He was a straight man. One of the many stories that has never been told about Michael is that he had an ultra-secret affair with Whitney Houston that he never got over. He was furious when he heard she had also slept with (brother) Jermaine, but this didn’t stop him holding a candle for her his whole life.”

Fiddes tells the publication Jackson and Houston met in 1991, when both were at the height of their careers.

He says, “They instantly connected as kindred spirits because they understood each other’s massive fame. Whitney practically moved in to Michael’s ranch and they had a fling like any other young couple. But Michael said later he had always hoped the relationship had gone further, and I know he dreamed of marrying her.”

Fiddes claims the romance lasted just two weeks and came a year before Houston wed Bobby Brown.

[From Wonderwall]

I don’t know, I’m not really buying it. I see Jackson as having been either asexual or not interesting in adult relationships, and I’ll leave it at that.

It will be interesting to see Bobby’s interview tomorrow. I bet he’s still in a lot of pain. There were stories that he behaved badly at Whitney’s funeral, but he claims he was treated poorly by security.

In 2004 with Bobbi Kristina:

In 2000:

Photo credit: Bauer Griffin and Fame

This makes me sad. Dick Clark has passed away at the age of 82. His rep tells People Magazine that Mr. Clark suffered a “massive heart attack”. Clark also had Type 2 Diabetes and he had debilitating stroke in 2004 which caused him to significantly ease up on his work commitments, including his hosting gig on “New Year’s Rocking Eve” (which Ryan Seacrest took over).

Dick Clark, the producer and television personality known as “America’s Oldest Teenager” for his perennially youthful looks and enthusiasm, has died at age 82.

Clark suffered a massive heart attack, his rep has confirmed.

Clark had suffered a stroke in 2004 but continued in recent years to appear on his New Year’s Eve special from Times Square.

[From People Magazine]

In addition to simply being a nice guy, a class act, and a true professional, Mr. Clark was also a television pioneer, hosting American Bandstand in the 1950s through the 1980s. He hosted and produced numerous game shows, and he won a slew of awards, including 5 Emmys and a Peabody. Go here to his Wiki page to see just how long and amazing his career was. He is survived by his wife, his three children and his many, many friends. Rest in peace, Mr. Clark.

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.