Rick Dees Net Worth

May 2024 · 6 minute read

Rigdon Osmond Dees net worth is
$35 Million

Rigdon Osmond Dees Wiki Biography

Rigdon Osmond Dees III was born on the 14th March 1950, in Jacksonville, Florida USA, and is a Golden Globe Award-nominated actor, comedian and radio personality, best known for his radio show “The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 Countdown” which has aired since 1983. Dees has also worked in such movies as “Saturday Night Fever” (1977) and “La Bamba” (1987). Rick was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1999, and the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2007. His career started in 1976.

Have you ever wondered how rich Rick Dees is as of early 2017? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Dees’ net worth is as high as $35 million, an amount earned thanks to his successful career on the radio. In addition to being a host of popular radio shows, Dees also worked as an actor and appeared on television as well, which improved his wealth.

Rick Dees Net Worth $35 Million

Rick Dees grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he went to the Grimsley High School, and later graduated with a bachelor’s degree in motion pictures, TV, and radio from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Rick began working on radio while at high school, while in 1976, he recorded the song called “Disco Duck”, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart and achieved over six million sales. In 1977, Dees worked on the soundtrack of the Oscar-nominated movie “Saturday Night Fever” starring John Travolta, Karen Lynn Gorney, and Barry Miller, while in 1978, he had a role in “Record City”. He continued appearing in numerous series during the ‘80s, and from 1986 to 1988, Rick lent his voice to various characters in TV series“The Flintstone Kids”. In 1987, he had a minor part in the Golden Globe Award-nominated “La Bamba” starring Lou Diamond Phillips, Esai Morales, and Rosanna DeSoto, and more recently, he appeared in two episodes of “The Young and the Restless” in 2008.

Rick Dees also works as a host, including on 11 episodes of a Primetime Emmy Award-winning “Solid Gold” (1984-1985), and 20 episodes of Primetime Emmy Award-nominated “Into the Night” (1990-1991), among others. In addition to being a regular on radio, on which he has made most of his fortune, Dees has also released five albums: “The Original Disco Duck” (1976), “Hurt Me Baby, Make Me Write Bad Checks” (1983), “Put It Where the Moon Don’t Shine” (1984), “I’m Not Crazy” (1985), and “Spousal Arousal” (1996), adding to his net worth.

In 1984, Rick asked Marvin Fisher, the owner of the copyright to the music of the song “When Sunny Gets Blue”, to give him permission to use the sample of the song on his album “Put It Where the Moon Don’t Shine”. Fisher refused, but Dees decided to go with it and used the song, and Fisher later sued him for copyright infringement. The trial court concluded that Dees is not guilty of infringement as the song was used to “poke fun”.

Regarding his personal life, Rock Dees was married to Nancy Carmody from 1970 to 1976, and then married Julie McWhirter in 1978, with whom he has a child.


Full NameRick Dees
Net Worth$35 Million
Date Of BirthMarch 14, 1950
Place Of BirthJacksonville, Florida, U.S.
ProfessionEntertainer
EducationUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel, Hill Grimsley High School
NationalityAmerican
SpouseJulie McWhirter (m. 1977), Nancy Carmody (m. 1970–1976)
ChildrenKevin Dees
Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/RickDees1
Twitterhttps://twitter.com/rickdees
IMDBhttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0214418/
AwardsPeople's Choice Award for Favorite New Song
AlbumsDisco Duck, Hurt Me Baby Make Me Write Bad Checks!
NominationsJuno Award for International Single of the Year
MoviesJetsons: The Movie, La Bamba, The Gladiator, Stanley the Ugly Duckling, Record City, Dan Savage's New Threat to Rick Santorum
TV ShowsSolid Gold
#Fact
1Received his Bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1972).
2Attended and graduated from Grimsley High School in Greensboro, North Carolina (1968).
3Named morning radio host of KHHT 92.3 FM in Los Angeles, California. [March 2012]
4Named morning show host of Movin 93.9 FM in Los Angeles, California. [August 2006]
5He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio at 1560 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California on September 17, 1984.
6Was replaced with entertainment personality Ryan Seacrest from his 20 year position in radio, as producers for his show wanted to go with someone younger. [January 2004]
7Inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1999 and the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2007.
8As Rick Dees and his Cast of Idiots, he hit #1 on the Billboard Charts in 1976 with the song "Disco Duck".
9(1983-present) Counts down two different versions (Contemporary Hit Radio and Hot AC) of "The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40" on international radio.
10He appeared in the music video and sang in the choir on the song "Voices That Care".

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Dan Savage's New Threat to Rick Santorum2011Short
The Young and the Restless2008TV SeriesBartender
Diagnosis Murder1996TV SeriesRick Dees
Burke's Law1994TV Series
Roseanne1992TV SeriesKen
Jetsons: The Movie1990Rocket Rick Ragnarok (voice)
The Flintstone Kids1986-1988TV SeriesAdditional Voices
La Bamba1987Ted Quillin
The Gladiator1986TV MovieGarth Masters
Pink Panther and Sons1984TV SeriesAdditional Voices
The Greatest American Hero1983TV SeriesAnnouncer
The Gary Coleman Show1982TV SeriesAdditional Voices
Stanley, the Ugly Duckling1982TV MovieD.J. (voice)
The Love Boat1982TV SeriesMelvin
Strike Force1982TV SeriesLothario
Top Ten1980TV Movie
Casper and the Angels1979TV Series voice
Record City1978Gordon
Days of Our Lives1965TV SeriesRicardo Diaz (1999)

Writer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Live Fearless2011TV Series
Cigars!: The New Rage!1996Video documentary written by
Into the NightTV Series creator - 6 episodes, 1990 - 1991 writer - 6 episodes, 1990 - 1991
Solid GoldTV Series 10 episodes, 1984 - 1985 writer - 1 episode, 1984

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Cinema Snob2016TV Series performer - 1 episode
One Hit WonderlandTV Series documentary performer - 1 episode, 2012 writer - 1 episode, 2012
The Secret Disco Revolution2012Documentary performer: "Disco Duck" / writer: "Disco Duck"
Todd's Pop Song ReviewsTV Series documentary performer - 1 episode, 2011 writer - 1 episode, 2011
I Love the '70s: Volume 2TV Series performer - 1 episode, 2006 writer - 1 episode, 2006
Beavis and Butt-HeadTV Series performer - 1 episode, 1994 writer - 1 episode, 1994
Meatballs1979performer: "Meatballs"
Saturday Night Fever1977performer: "Dr. Disco", "Disco Duck" / writer: "Disco Duck"
Top of the PopsTV Series performer - 2 episodes, 1976 writer - 2 episodes, 1976

Producer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
InFocus: Robb Report Car of the Year2010TV Movie executive producer
Cigars!: The New Rage!1996Video documentary executive producer

Director

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Cigars!: The New Rage!1996Video documentary

Thanks

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Love Ranch2010the producers wish to thank
Mr. Show with Bob and David1995TV Series special thanks - 1 episode

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Under the Smogberry Trees2016Documentary post-productionHimself
Home & Family2016TV SeriesHimself
Live Fearless2011TV SeriesHimself
Longtime Listener2006ShortHimself
Jingle Ball Rock2003TV MovieHimself
2003 Radio Music Awards2003TV SpecialHimself
The 2000 Radio Music Awards2000TV SpecialHimself - Presenter DJ
E! True Hollywood Story1998TV Series documentaryHimself
The Hunchback of Notre Dame: Festival of Fools1996TV MovieHimself - Host
Cigars!: The New Rage!1996Video documentaryHimself - Host
Advanced English: Interviews with the Famous1995TV SeriesHimself
Married with Children1994TV SeriesHimself
Vicki!1994TV SeriesHimself
Melrose Place1992TV SeriesHimself
The Howard Stern Show1992TV SeriesHimself
Dying for a Smoke1992Video documentaryHimself
Into the Night1990-1991TV SeriesHimself - Host
The 5th Annual American Comedy Awards1991TV SpecialHimself
Voices that Care1991TV Movie documentaryHimself - Choir Member
The 4th Annual Soul Train Music Awards1990TV SpecialHimself
The Pat Sajak Show1989TV SeriesHimself
The New Hollywood Squares1988TV SeriesHimself
Soul Train1985TV Series documentaryHimself
Solid Gold1984-1985TV SeriesHimself - Host
The 27th Annual Grammy Awards1985TV SpecialHimself
Best Defense1984Himself
The Alan Thicke Show1981TV SeriesHimself
The Brady Bunch Variety Hour1977TV SeriesHimself
The 3rd Annual People's Choice Awards1977TV SpecialHimself - Performer
New American Bandstand 19651976TV SeriesHimself

Archive Footage

Won Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
1984Star on the Walk of FameWalk of FameRadioAwarded on September 17, 1984 at 1560 N. Vine Street

Known for movies


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