Danny Lee Clark

{{No footnotes|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox person | name = Danny Lee Clark | image = | caption = | other_names = Nitro | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|5|21}} | birth_place = [[Zama, Kanagawa|Zama, Kanagawa, Japan]] | alma_mater = [[San Jose State University]] | occupation = {{flatlist| * Actor * author * television personality * athlete * producer}} | years_active = 1987–present }} '''Danny Lee''' "'''Nitro'''" '''Clark''' (born May 21, 1964) is a former American football professional athlete, television personality, author, actor, and producer. He is best known for his role as gladiator Nitro on the TV show ''[[American Gladiators (1989 TV series)|American Gladiators]]''. He is also a health and fitness expert and the creator of the "Gladiator Rock'n Run".

==Biography== Clark began his career as an athlete, playing [[American football|football]] for [[San Jose State University]] where he was a standout [[defensive lineman]]. Clark was also a member of [[Sigma Alpha Epsilon]] fraternity. He played briefly for the [[Los Angeles Rams]] of the [[National Football League]], and in the [[Italian Football League]] for the [[Legnano Frogs]] in Europe for one season.

Clark, an actor, writer, TV Host, producer, and speaker, is best known from the [[game show]] ''[[American Gladiators (1989 TV series)|American Gladiators]]'', having worked on both the original version and the revival; from 1989 to 1992, 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 [[American Gladiators (2008 TV series)|2008 revival]], he is the coordinating producer for the show. The original series aired in over 40 countries, with reruns on [[USA Network]], [[Turner Network Television|TNT]], [[Paramount Network|Spike]], [[ESPN Classic]], and airs currently on [[Charge! (TV network)|Charge!]]. 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.

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 (film)|Equilibrium]]'', with [[Christian Bale]]. He has also guest starred in TV series including ''[[Ellen (TV series)|Ellen]]'', ''[[Walker, Texas Ranger]]'', [[California Dreams]], ''[[V.I.P. (American TV series)|V.I.P.]]'', ''[[Married... with Children]]'', ''[[Who's the Boss?]]'', ''[[Saved by the Bell]]'', and ''[[The Brothers García]]''.

Clark was the writer/[[Film director|director]]/[[Film producer|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]].

Clark wrote his memoir ''Gladiator: A True Story of 'Roids, Rage, and Redemption'' for Simon and Schuster, published in February 2009 which was purchased by [[Netflix]] for the docuseries ''[[Muscles & Mayhem]]'', which debuted at #1 on the charts. Clark's Company "Nitro Up Media" co-produced [[Netflix's]] ''[[Muscles & Mayhem]]''.

Clark has appeared on a variety of [[talk show]]s including: ''[[The Tonight Show]]'', ''[[Good Morning America]]'', ''[[Extra TV]]'', ''[[Entertainment Tonight]]'', ''[[CBS Morning News]]'', ''[[Today (NBC program)|Today]]'', and ''[[Live with Regis and Kathie Lee]]''. He has also appeared on the cover of ''[[TV Guide]]'' and numerous other magazines.

Clark enjoys all sports, acting, writing and [[martial arts]] (he has a [[Black belt (martial arts)|black belt]] in [[Taekwondo]]) 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 [[Southern California]] and can often be found walking his [[Labradoodle]], Ricky, and playing [[Pickleball]] at a nearby park.

Clark is the creator of the "Gladiator Rock'n Run," an obstacle adventure run in America that challenges participants to test their skills over a 5k to 10k course. It is publicized as the "Most Insane Day of your Life." Proceeds benefit Talk About Curing Autism and has raised hundreds of thousand of dollars for the cause.

Clark was a contestant featured in the [[bull riding]] [[reality show]], ''[[Ty Murray's Celebrity Bull Riding Challenge]]'', which premiered in August 2007 on [[Country Music Television|CMT]].

In 2017, Clark released his 2nd Bestselling book "F Dying" about his journey after his 2013 heart attack. He also gave a [https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_nitro_clark_the_art_of_living_a_happy_life TEDx talk] that has over 500k views about "How to live a Happy life."

==Filmography== * [[Twin Sitters]] (1994) * [[Special Forces (2003 film)|Special Forces]] (2003)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{IMDb name|0163812}} *[http://www.gladiatorstv.com/international/america/gladiators/nitro.php American Gladiators Nitro Profile (GladiatorsTV.com)] *[http://www.hollywoodknights.com/hk/roster/danclark.jpg Photo of Nitro] *[http://www.nfl.com/players/danclark/profile?id=CLA241425 Dan Clark's NFL player page] *{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100220003737/http://databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=CLARKDAN01 Stats]}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clark, Danny Lee}} [[Category:1964 births]] [[Category:American football linebackers]] [[Category:American game show hosts]] [[Category:American male television actors]] [[Category:American male voice actors]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Los Angeles Rams players]] [[Category:Participants in American reality television series]] [[Category:People from Zama, Kanagawa]] [[Category:Sportspeople from Kanagawa Prefecture]] [[Category:San Jose State Spartans football players]] [[Category:American expatriate players of American football]] [[Category:Japanese emigrants to the United States]] [[Category:Sigma Alpha Epsilon members]] [[Category:NFL replacement players]] [[Category:Italian Football League players]]