Born and raised in Anderson, Indiana, Dane Clark started playing the piano at age 8, the guitar at age 9, and drums at age 10. Dane went to college on a music scholarship and graduated with a degree in percussion performance. Dane started started doing session work as a drummer in the Indianapolis area, including work on several Christian releases. Dane joined John Cougar Mellencamp’s band in 1996 as a drummer.
His father owned a sporting goods store in New York City.
Made his Broadway debut in Orson Welles Mercury Theatre production of "Panic" in 1935.
Was considered at one point to play Al Jolson in a remake of "The Jazz Singer" but the whole idea was scrapped for years later until Danny Thomas was given a title role in the early 1950s remake.
In the September 1946 edition of Movie Life Magazine he was dubbed "the most stylish actor in Hollywood".
In 1955, he was starring in a stage production of "The Shrike" at the old Carthay Circle Theater in Los Angeles with actress Isabel Bonner who died unexpectedly in his arms during a love scene from a sudden brain hemorrhage.
Both of his marriages were childless.
His widow was a real estate agent.
Was given a 1948 Buick Roadmaster by Jack L. Warner as a birthday present.
Upon the death of his first wife, Clark had every painting she ever created sent from New York to California where he had them displayed throughout his home for the remainder of his life.
He was considered for the male leads, but never screen tested, in such films as The Asphalt Jungle , 99 River Street , The Bridge on the River Kwai , and Picnic .
In 1996 director James Cameron called Clark at his California home asking him if hed be interested to come of out retirement to star as Captain Edward John Smith in Titanic but he declined the offer based on health issues.
When he wasnt acting or bowling, Clark loved to cook and was well known for his version of chicken cacciatore.
Was close friends with Glenn Ford and Dick Powell.
He has a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located on South Side of the 6900 block of Hollywood Boulevard.
He was an avid bowler who was known to seldom miss a strike. He was so successful at this sport that in his home he used two spare rooms to hold his large trophy collection.
