- Danny Lee Clark
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Danny Lee Clark Born May 21, 1964
Zama, JapanDanny Lee "Nitro" Clark (born May 21, 1964) is an American athlete, television personality, actor, and producer. He is best known for his role as gladiator Nitro on the TV show American Gladiators.
Danny Nitro is also a drummer for the UK Sleaze/ hard rock band Toxic Shoxx
Biography
Clark began his career as an athlete, playing football for San Jose State University where he was a standout defensive lineman. He then went on to play briefly for the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL, and in the Professional European League.
Clark, a health and fitness expert, is best known from the game show American Gladiators, having worked on both the original version and the revival; from 1989–92, and again in 1994-95, he was the gladiator Nitro; during the original show's final season, he was the analyst and co-host for the show. In the 2008 revival, he is the coordinating producer for the show. The original series aired in over 40 countries, with reruns on USA Network, TNT, Spike, and airs currently ESPN Classic. The revival aired on NBC.
When American Gladiators returned to the U.S. airwaves on ESPN Classic on April 1, 2007, the network aired a marathon of episodes. Clark was the on-air host for that marathon, telling behind-the-scenes stories and trivia about the series in between the episodes. Clark also conducted an ESPN chat session related with the show, where he announced that MGM was in consideration of a revival of the show, which began taping in November 2007 for 2008 broadcast.
After American Gladiators, Clark turned to acting, appearing in such motion pictures as Death Becomes Her, with Meryl Streep, Bruce Willis, and Goldie Hawn; and Equilibrium, with Christian Bale. He has also guest starred in TV series including Ellen, Walker, Texas Ranger, California Dreams, V.I.P., Married… with Children, Who's the Boss?, Saved by the Bell, and The Brothers García. He also did voice acting in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
Clark was the writer/director/producer of the independent film Looking for Bruce. He has also written several screenplays for various studios, producers, and production companies, including a bio-pic Battle of Harlem, about the first African American police officer in the NYPD.
Dan wrote his memoir Gladiator: A True Story of 'Roids, Rage, and Redemption for Simon and Schuster. Published in February 2009.
Clark has appeared on a variety of talk shows including: The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, CBS Morning News, Today, and Live with Regis and Kathy Lee. He has also graced the cover of TV Guide and numerous other magazines.
Clark enjoys all sports, yoga, acting, writing and martial arts (he has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do) and is often called on to perform his own stunts. Since 2002 he has also been a mentor in the Young Story Tellers program which is dedicated to increasing literacy among inner city youths. Clark makes his home in the Hollywood Hills and can often be found walking his Labrador Retriever, Ella, at nearby Runyon Canyon Park.
Clark was a contestant featured in the bull riding reality show, Ty Murray’s Celebrity Bull Riding Challenge, which premiered in August 2007 on CMT.
Dan is also the founder of "Ten Thousand Pounds", a program that tackles the epidemic of childhood obesity through education, motivating, and empowering Americas Youth.
References
External links
Preceded by
Lisa MaloskyAmerican Gladiators co-host with Mike Adamle
1995-1996Succeeded by
New Hosts
Hulk Hogan and Layla Ali
Van Earl Wright, play-by-play
2008 RevivalCategories:- 1964 births
- American football linebackers
- American television actors
- American television personalities
- American voice actors
- Living people
- American people of Japanese descent
- Los Angeles Rams players
- Participants in American reality television series
- San Jose State Spartans football players
- Japanese emigrants to the United States
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