Dick Clark's Wife Was with Him 24/7 When He Was in Wheelchair & Unable to Talk - Timeline of Their 35 Years

• Dick Clark made his start in life like many other American teenagers, finding a girl he loved and settling down.
• Although he thought he and his high school sweetheart would last a lifetime, he soon found them growing apart.
• Clark went through more than one divorce but finally settled with a woman who stuck by him until his death.

Television has produced its fair share of cultural icons, but few were as influential as the beloved TV presenter Dick Clark. Born in Mount Vernon, New York, on November 30, 1929, Clark had dreams of becoming a successful presenter early in life. He landed one of his earliest jobs with the radio station WFIL.

One month after accepting a permanent position with the Christian radio station, Clark decided it was time to settle down with his high school sweetheart, Barbara Mallery. She was a beautiful, young, blue-eyed cheerleader when Clark first met her at a Halloween party. They were both attending A.B. Davis High.

Although they liked each other from the start, Mallery was dating Clark's best friend at the time. However, Mallery soon realized that Clark was a perfect fit for her, and she left her boyfriend to be with him. While Mallery was smitten by Clark, her mother wasn't so sure. Mallery's mom thought the young cheerleader might have better options.

In 1970, Clark met the woman he would spend the rest of his life with.

Mallery recalled how her mom encouraged her not to stick with one boy and to keep her options open. She had nothing against Clark, but she thought her daughter was "missing half [her] life," sticking with Clark. Despite her mother's misgivings, Mallery knew that Clark was the only boy for her.

While dating in high school, the young couple actually broke up at one point, choosing to see other people. It was during this time that Clark and Mallery realized there was no one else they'd rather be with than each other, so they got back together. However, after high school, their relationship would once more be tested.

The two had to endure not seeing each other regularly, since Clark had to move away to build his career. For two years, they were separated, maintaining their relationship long-distance. Luckily, Mallery moved closer to Syracuse — where Clark was located — to study at Oswego State Teachers' College.

They saw each other every weekend until they finally tied the knot on June 28, 1952. The two got married a short time after Mallery graduated from college, and they found a cozy one-bedroom apartment in suburban Philadelphia. Mallery found a job at a local school while Clark worked on furthering his own career.

Soon, Clark would go from a radio personality to the host he was famous as. When former "Bandstand" emcee, Bob Horn, was fired in disgrace, Clark found the opportunity he had been looking for. The producers of "Bandstand" wanted Clark for his pristine reputation, and once he had the job, he made some significant changes.

The TV dancers all had to dress up — the guys in jackets and ties while the girls couldn't wear tight clothing. Clark was turning "Bandstand" into something more than a local production. By 1957, the show was rebranded as "American Bandstand" and went national. Dick was a strict showrunner, but it paid off.

The host forbade his dancers from taking other jobs and generally ran a tight ship. But while his co-workers were restricted to one show, Clark had his eye on numerous projects. The host was looking to make money wherever he could, so he hosted game shows, ran the American Music Awards, and started a New Year's telecast.

But while Clark was becoming one of the most recognizable faces on TV of his time, his marriage was taking a number of blows. Mallery stayed at home looking after their son, Richard Clark, while her husband was off living large. He had started drinking, and those close to Clark noticed that Mallery seemed unhappy.

Finally, the two ended their marriage, but by 1962, Clark married his former secretary Loretta Martin. The couple had two children, Duane Clark and Cindy Clark, but Clark and Martin's marriage wouldn't last for a decade. Finally, the TV host found happiness with his third wife, Kari Wigton.

How Clark Made His Third Marriage Last

1970

In 1970, Clark met the woman he would spend the rest of his life with. Kari Wigton was an employee of Dick Clark Productions, who would later on become his wife. In an interview Clark and Wigton did together, the two revealed that they had been living together for seven years before the thought of marriage came to them.

Clark's life changed drastically when he woke up on December 6, 2004.

By 1977, Clark and Wigton discussed the topic of marriage, finally deciding to make things official. Kari also assumed the role of executive assistant some time between 1970 and 1977, and the couple worked closely together on a daily basis.

1977

Wigton and Clark said their vows and settled down, worked on the various shows Clarke was hosting, and raised the TV host's children. Clarke's oldest son commented that the bond Larke and Wigton shared was almost perfect. They worked together like a well-oiled machine, with Wigton writing little notes to keep her husband on schedule.

Wigton's little notes filled the TV host's pockets, and every time he dipped his hand in one, he pulled out a reminder of how his day would progress. While Clark's previous two marriages largely failed because of his busy schedule and unending work, Wigton managed to become a part of his world. Wigton noted:

"He's tough, he can be moody, he's a worrier. But I'm fairly happy and up nearly all the time, so we balance each other perfectly."

1988

With Clark and Wigton constantly working, the couple needed a place where they could get away from the bustle of business and relax. So, in 1988, Clark decided to build himself and his wife a house that would serve as the ideal getaway. Overlooking the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreational Area, the home was perfect.

Although the Recreational Area initially objected to a property popping up so close to their serene park, Clark presented them with a design that fitted into the surrounding area almost seamlessly. Adamant to build there, Clark posited the idea that the house could look like a rock formation, which appeased the disputing party.

So, Clark started to build his caveman home, modeling the interior to fit the theme of a natural rock formation. The inside seemed to be carved out of a giant boulder, and even the table and drawers were cut to resemble stone structures. And the home had incredible views of the surrounding environment.

2002

By 2002, Clark and Wigton had been married for almost three decades. The two were still happy together, balancing their personal lives with their professional but working together like a team. The two opened up about their relationship on numerous occasions, with Wigton confessing that they are constantly on the go.

Nonetheless, Wigton has always been happy in her marriage. She also commented that she and Clark are "extremely compatible," which makes their marriage easy to maintain. Clark also noted that they separate their work from their home life, refraining from bringing business into their house. He also said about Wigton:

"She's my best buddy, she's my lover, my business partner. That doesn't happen very often when people are together that much."

December 2004 - Wigton Took Clark to the Hospital

Clark's life changed drastically when he woke up on December 6, 2004. The TV personality recalled how he opened his eyes and realized that the right side of his body was almost entirely numb. At first, he had no idea what was going on. Clark commented, "I thought a dog had slept on my side."

With Clark's health continuing to degrade, many viewers expected the TV host to step down by the end of 2011.

He mentioned the numbness to his wife, who guessed what was wrong. She told her husband that she suspected he had suffered a stroke and quickly drove him to the hospital. The doctors started rehabilitation therapy instantly, and luckily, Clark managed to recover.

January 2006 - Learned to Walk & Talk Again

With Wigton by his side, Clark slowly recovered the motor function he had lost in the right side of his body. As a TV host, the stroke had more consequences than the physical impairments. Clark and those close to him initially kept the extent of the damage quiet, but in 2005, he decided to open up for the first time.

Clark confessed that he often needed to use a cane or a walker to get around and that he had been in physical therapy for a while, trying to regain the use of his limbs. But the resilient host assured his fans that he would be ringing in the New Year once more at the start of 2006.

Clark confessed it was a "long, hard fight" to get back up on his feet, but the TV host commented, "I wouldn't have missed this for the world." Despite his stroke, the TV host wanted to keep working and keep welcoming the new year with the crowds in Times Square.

April 2009 - Wigton Didn't Leave Clark When He Was in a Wheelchair

With impaired speech and some loss of muscle control, Clark kept coming back year after year to celebrate with the crowds in Times Square. Following his stroke, his health degraded considerably, but Clark refused to back down and retire. A friend commented:

"Some people who have strokes just withdraw. That's not Dick."

He insisted on continuing to ring in the new year as he had done for over 37 years, and although some people wanted him to retire, he was there again in 2009. All the while, Wigton supported Clark and stood by his side.

Clark's Last Broadcast

January 1, 2012

With Clark's health continuing to degrade, many viewers expected the TV host to step down by the end of 2011. Clark had other plans. By the time 2012 came around the corner, Clark was still there to welcome it, and this time he had Wigton by his side, on television, ready to start the countdown.

As the moment drew closer, the timer approached zero, and the crowds waited expectantly for the new year to show its face, Clark sat holding his beloved wife's hand. When the timer inevitably ran out, Wigton leaned into her husband for a kiss on live television.

Although Clark still had no intention of stepping down and retiring, this would be his last year hosting his famous New Year's Eve countdown. Although he lived through a large part of 2021, the TV host's health was sadly failing.

April 18, 2012 - Goodbye, Dick

In April 2012, the media was abuzz with news of Clark's death. As one of the most famous faces in television history, his death came as a great shock to a tremendous amount of people. After news of his death broke, countless fans congregated on social media to honor the television legend.

Known lovingly as "America's oldest teenager," Clark had hosted the shows an entire generation had grown up with, and his influence on American TV was undeniable. TV host Ryan Seacrest praised Clark for his role in shaping television after his death, writing, "He has truly been one of the greatest influences in my life."

Clark passed away on April 18, a day after he was admitted to Saint John's Hospital in Santa Monica for an outpatient procedure. His health had taken a few blows over the years, and Clark died of a heart attack while still in the hospital.

September 29, 2014

Besides bringing life to a host of shows, Clark also inspired a new generation of TV show hosts, and his own children followed him into the industry. Clark's company also spearheaded numerous programs, allowing his legacy to live on.

In 2014, Clark's name was further cemented in the annals of history when the Newhouse Studio and Innovation Centre dedicated the Dick Clark Studios to the late TV host.

With Clark and his three children all graduating from the school years prior, Newhouse was where the family found its start, and Wigton thanked them for the honor. The TV host would have been 94 in 2023. Much like his contemporary Pat Sajak, Clark found happiness after a long life spent dedicated to his craft.