Ryan Seacrest Biography (Courtesy Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Ryan John Seacrest (born December 24, 1974) is an American radio, television personality, and anchorman. Seacrest is also a former children's game show host, who gained prominence as the host of the reality television amateur-search series American Idol. In 2004, he replaced Casey Kasem as the host of American Top 40, and he has co-hosted Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Dick Clark since 2005.

Biography

Early life

Seacrest was born in Dunwoody, Georgia, to homemaker Constance Marie Zullinger and attorney Gary Lee Seacrest. He has a younger sister, Meredith. At a young age, he knew he wanted to be a DJ, and idolized radio personalities like Casey Kasem and Dick Clark. At the age of twelve, he made business cards for work, and handed them out when he met people. Ryan also hosted the morning announcements at his high school, Dunwoody High School, from which he graduated in 1993.

1990s

Seacrest began his career in 1990 at age 15 with Atlanta radio station WSTR/Star 94 FM while still in high school by interning with nighttime personality Tom Sullivan. Sullivan trained Seacrest in all aspects of broadcasting and put him on the air for the first radio broadcast of his career.

After completing high school, Seacrest went on to attend the University of Georgia. He majored in journalism. During his freshman year of college, Seacrest was offered his first television hosting job as the host of an ESPN program in which athletes competed against one another for cash prizes. He left the University of Georgia without graduating.

In 1995, Seacrest became the afternoon drive DJ at "Star 98.7" (KYSR-FM), an adult contemporary radio station in Los Angeles, California. Despite all of his other projects, he remained committed to that DJ role until 2003. Also during his early twenties, Seacrest hosted a few short-lived game shows. His first TV gig was Gladiators 2000 for syndication and Wild Animal Games for Fox Family (now ABC Family). In 1997, Seacrest hosted the weekly syndicated internet game show, Click, which lasted only two seasons.

2000-present

Seacrest appeared as the host of the fictional game show "Lover's Lane" on "Beverly Hills 90210" in The Final Proof.

Seacrest's first major television job was as the host of The New Edge, a weekend morning show created by CNET showcasing new technology. Later he co-hosted, with MTV's Maria Sansone, the syndicated Gladiators 2000. Seacrest's career took a turn in the right direction when he accepted the position as co-host of the hit reality TV series American Idol in 2002 with comedian Brian Dunkleman.

American Idol went on to become a success when the ratings went through the roof. This put Seacrest in the national spotlight. The following year, he became the sole host when Dunkleman left the show. (In a 2005 interview on the syndicated Howard Stern Show, Dunkleman insisted that it was his idea to leave Idol, to pursue his career as an actor, but he was bitter at Seacrest's occasional put-downs after Dunkleman's departure.) In 2003, Seacrest hosted the spin-off show, American Juniors.

In January 2004, Seacrest launched a daily entertainment/variety/talk syndicated television program, On Air with Ryan Seacrest. Due to low ratings, the show was cancelled and aired its last episode on September 17, 2004. In January of 2004, Seacrest became the new host of the legendary radio program American Top 40, created and formerly hosted by Casey Kasem. The show was syndicated by Premiere Radio Networks. Before he took over as host on AT40, he was a substitute host four times in 2003. In February 2004, Seacrest became host of popular Los Angeles radio station KIIS's morning show, replacing long-time host Rick Dees. This show, also known as On Air With Ryan Seacrest, remains on the air. }}

In January 2005, Seacrest hosted the "Celebration of Freedom" concert in Washington, DC for President George W. Bush, the Bush family and the United States Military.

In late April 2005, Seacrest received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at the age of 30, citing his contributions as a radio personality, and not for his television work. In August 2005, it was announced that Seacrest would become executive producer and co-host of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, and that he would be the legendary producer-host's eventual successor. On December 31, 2005 Seacrest performed much of the show's hosting duties. Dick Clark's role was limited by speech and mobility issues due to his recovery from a stroke. It was also announced that Seacrest will be co-hosting a revamped version of American Bandstand, alongside game show host John O'Hurley, a job that Clark has hosted for 37 years. Seacrest also occasionally serves as a substitute host on the CNN television program Larry King Live.

In January 2006, U.S. cable channel E! announced a three-year, $21 million deal for Seacrest to host and produce various programs, including E! News and its red carpet awards show coverages (E!'s signature piece of original programming). An Associated Press profile portrayed Seacrest as using both the deal with E! and the Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve involvement as a springboard towards a long-lasting career in television production and ownership. In April 2006, he won a Daytime Emmy Award for co-hosting the 2005 Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade with Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa.

Seacrest will host the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 16, 2007.

Ryan Seacrest has been signed up to host a new celebrity show on Capital 95.8 and GCap Media's One Network in the UK. His new two-hour show, The Entertainment Edge, will premiere on London station Capital 95.8 at 11am on September 15 then It will be repeated the next day at 10am on the One Network, which comprises 42 regional radio stations in the UK with a total of 7 million listeners. The weekly show will comprise music and celebrity interviews and news updates and it has been put together by GCap Media and Premiere Radio Networks, which air Seacrest's US shows and will produce the programme.

Personal life

Seacrest reportedly earns $14 million a year, according to Forbes.

Seacrest dated actress Shana Wall from 2003 through 2005. They have since been spotted together on various occasions.

In March 2006, he was photographed kissing actress Teri Hatcher, who later told Access Hollywood that she was "not attached." Seacrest also stated on the May 2, 2006 episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show that he, "went out with Teri Hatcher a couple times, but that was it." Due to his longtime-bachelor status, rumors have persisted that Seacrest may be gay, due partly to the sometimes flirtatious banter between Seacrest and American Idol judge Simon Cowell. To date, Seacrest has steadfastly denied ever having a gay relationship, while he does acknowledge having gay fans, and "having no problem with that."

In a 2003 interview, Seacrest answered gay rumors in an interview with the weekly entertainment magazine Steppin' Out, "I'm trying to think of the best way to describe the feeling I get when I hear that particular rumor. I am a certain way. I am relatively clean cut and I do like to shop for clothes. If I had to break it down stereotypically, that would be a gay male habit. Well for me it's not. It's a straight male habit." Stuff magazine called him "the American poster boy for metrosexuality." While denying the gay rumors, he does not shy away from activities that might further fan the rumors' flames. In 2005, Seacrest sat as "Queen" of the annual Halloween Carnaval in West Hollywood, California, a city known for its large gay male population.

Seacrest's height appears to be a constant source of humor for the media including E! News's E! channel sister show The Soup. One clip showed The Soup host Joel McHale and Seacrest together at the 2006 Emmy Awards, Seacrest visibly stepping on a platform to get on equal footing with McHale. "Here's the scary part," McHale commented, "I'm five foot-three." (in reality, McHale is 6' 3"). His reported height varies between 5' 1" to 5' 9". Seacrest officially claims the latter. His co-host on E! News, Giuliana DePandi, is known for wearing flat shoes on the show when they are together.

Career history

Radio

• On Air with Ryan Seacrest: Host, executive producer
• American Top 40: Host
• 2003 Radio Music Awards: Co-host
• Radio Indigo: Ryan Seacrest's shows are also featured not only in US but also in India and many other countries
• Star 98.7: Former Afternoon Drive Deejay at the Adult Contemporary Los Angeles station.
• 102.7 KIIS-FM: Current Morning Drive Deejay with co-host Ellen K on the Top 40 Los Angeles station.
• The Entertainment Edge: Host in the UK

Film

• Knocked Up: Cameo

Television

• E! News Live: Co-Host
• Super Bowl XLII (2008) Host for pregame and halftime shows
• Gladiators 2000: Co-Host
• Wild Animal Games: Host
• The New Edge: Host
• Ultimate Revenge: Host
• Reality Check: Jack Craft
• The NBC Saturday Night Movie: Host
• American Idol: Host (season 2-present) Co-Host (season 1)
• American Juniors: Host
• Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve: Co-host, executive producer
• Hey Arnold!: Fighting Families Host
• Riverworld: Sam
• E! News: Executive producer
• Larry King Live: Guest host, substitute host
• Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade: (2005) Host
• America's Party: Live from Las Vegas: Host
• Good Day Live: Guest host
• Disneyland 2000: 45 Years of Magic: Host
• Robot Chicken: (2005) Himself
• Click: Host
• 59th Primetime Emmy Awards: Host

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