Dan 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 for the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL, and in Europe.
Clark is best known from starring as "Nitro" on the smash hit reality 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 a producer for the show.
The original series aired in over 40 countries, with reruns on USA Network, TNT, Spike, and currently ESPN Classic. The revival airs 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.
Clark was the writer/director/producer of the independent film Looking for Bruce. He is also an award winning screenwriter who has 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.
An in-demand speaker and fitness expert, Clark has appeared on a variety of talk shows including: The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, CBS Morning News, Today, The Tyra Banks Show, Sean Hannity, Fox News, Red Eye, Access Hollywood, Inside Edition, E! and Entertainment Tonight. 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.
Dan has also been an honorary member of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness, volunteered at Special Olympics, and is the founder of Ten Thousand Pounds, a program that tackles the epidemic of childhood obesity through educating, motivating, and empowering Americas youth.
Clark is also the found of the obstacle adventure race: The "Gladiator Rock'n Run"
He makes his home in the Hollywood Hills and can often be found walking his Labrador Retriever, Ella, at nearby Runyon Canyon Park.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Dan Clark aka Nitro and other top speakers and celebrities.