Lew Klein, ‘American Bandstand’ executive producer who launched Dick Clark’s career, dies at 91

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Lew Klein, a broadcast pioneer who helped create “American Bandstand” and launched the careers of Dick Clark and Bob Saget, has died at 91.

Klein died Wednesday, according to Temple University, where Klein taught and mentored students for more than six decades.

He began working at WFIL-TV, now WPVI-TV, where he directed “Romper Room” and co-created “Captain Noah and His Magical Ark,” two popular children’s programs in the 1960s that attracted a bigger local audience than “Sesame Street.”

A native of Philadelphia, Klein served as executive producer of “American Bandstand,” the popular music performance and dance television show hosted by Clark. Klein is credited with launching Clark’s career and served on the board of Dick Clark Productions.

In this April 19, 2012 file photo, broadcast pioneer Lew Klein, who helped to create "American Bandstand", speaks during an interview in Jenkintown, Pa. Klein taught and mentored at Temple University in Philadelphia for more than six decades, lending his name to its communication school. The school said he died Wednesday, June 12, 2019. He was 91. (Photo: Matt Rourke, AP)

He spent 15 years producing telecasts for the Philadelphia Phillies and also helped with the careers of players-turned-sportscasters including Richie Ashburn and Tim McCarver.

Only a couple years after he graduated with an English degree from the University of Pennsylvania, Klein started teaching at Temple. He stayed for more than 65 years.

In 2017, Temple renamed the College of Media and Communications in his honor. During a ceremony, which included remarks from comedian Saget, Klein said he was “so proud and very thankful” to be honored by the university.

Saget, on Facebook before the ceremony, called Klein a “great influencer.”

Kevin Negandhi, a sports anchor for ESPN’s “SportsCenter,” tweeted that Klein was a great role model.

“He was sharp. He was kind. His impact will be felt for generations,” Negandhi said.

Joe Conti, president of the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters, called Klein a “titan within the broadcast community.”

“He was a compassionate leader, tireless advocate and mentor to generations of broadcast television and radio professionals,” he said in an emailed statement.

Survivors include Klein’s wife, Janet; children Ellen and Stephen; granddaughter Anna and her husband, John; and great-grandchildren Oscar and Miriam.

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