Ryan Seacrest biography

Synopsis

Early Life

Born on December 24, 1974, in Atlanta, Georgia, popular radio and television personality Ryan Seacrest has also become a powerhouse behind the scenes as a producer of such reality TV hits as Keeping Up with the Kardashians. He developed the desire to become a radio disc jockey at an early age. Seacrest listened to such DJs as Casey Kasem and Rick Dees growing up, studying and copying the way they talked during their shows. American Bandstand host Dick Clark was another important early influence.

At Dunwoody High School, Seacrest "wore braces and glasses and was fat and got teased about," he once explained to the New York Times. "But I was always very ambitious." His first broadcasting job was handling announcements at the school. Seacrest then managed to land an internship at an Atlanta radio station, which led to his first on-air gig. He stayed with the station while attending the University of Georgia.

Radio Star

In the mid-1990s, Seacrest relocated to Los Angeles. There, he launched a popular afternoon radio show called Ryan Seacrest for the Ride Home, which lasted until 2004. In 2003, Seacrest started a syndicated program, On Air with Ryan Seacrest. The following year, he took over for one of his idols, Casey Kasem, as host of American Top 40.

Despite becoming a television star and producer, Seacrest continues to be a presence in radio. He continues to host On Air with Ryan Seacrest and American Top 40, in addition to his more recent roles.

Television Personality

After to moving to Los Angeles, Seacrest started stepping front of the cameras. He hosted Radical Outdoor Challenge on ESPN and the syndicated kids show Click in the 1990s. In 2002, Seacrest landed his first major TV job with the national singing-competition show American Idol. He co-hosted the show with Brian Dunkleman in its first season, but he became the show's only host in all of the sequent seasons. One of the show's creators, Simon Cowell, explained to The New York Times that the source of Seacrest's appeal comes from his unwaveringly upbeat personality. "He's happy. Always, always. If he had a tail, he'd wag it."

Seacrest realized a lifelong dream in 2005, when he started working with Dick Clark on his annual New Year's Eve special, Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. Around this same time, he began hosting the cable entertainment show E! News—a position he held until 2011. In 2012, Seacrest inked several deals to keep himself in front of the cameras for years to come.