Norm Clarke, a former Associated Press sports writer who later became a well-known celebrity columnist in Las Vegas, has died at the age of 82 after a long battle with prostate cancer.
Clarke passed away Thursday at a hospice center in Las Vegas, his brother Jeff Scheid confirmed.
Recognizable by his signature eye patch—worn since losing his right eye in a childhood accident—Clarke gained prominence with his Vegas Confidential column for the Las Vegas Review-Journal from 1999 onward. His coverage of celebrity news, including high-profile scoops such as Britney Spears' brief Las Vegas marriage in 2004 and Michael Jackson’s unexpected return to the city in 2006, made him a household name.
“Norm’s Review-Journal column was so popular he became a celebrity in his own right,” said the newspaper’s Executive Editor Glenn Cook.
A Career Spanning Sports, Breaking News, and Hollywood Gossip
Before his Vegas years, Clarke built his reputation as a skilled and aggressive journalist with the Associated Press. He joined the AP in 1973, covering the back-to-back World Series-winning Cincinnati Reds, known as the Big Red Machine. His reporting on Pete Rose’s contract disputes, departure to Philadelphia, and retirement was both groundbreaking and, at times, contentious—culminating in a face slap from Rose years later after Clarke named him one of Las Vegas’ worst tippers.
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Clarke’s journalistic tenacity extended beyond sports. He led AP’s coverage of the deadly 1977 Beverly Hills Supper Club fire in Kentucky, running a mile to the scene due to traffic gridlock. He was the first to interview a busboy who saved lives by warning diners to evacuate. His exhaustive reporting continued for 16 straight hours.
In the 1980s, Clarke was reassigned to Las Vegas, where he covered the tragic MGM Grand Hotel fire, which killed 85 people. Later, as a reporter for the Rocky Mountain News, he chronicled Denver’s successful bid for an MLB franchise and produced award-winning investigative pieces on illegal sports betting.
A Love for Journalism, Adventure, and Storytelling
Clarke’s career was marked by a deep love for storytelling. As a teenager in Montana, his first paid assignment—covering a basketball tournament for $5—sparked a lifelong passion.
His adventurous spirit extended beyond journalism. He twice ran with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, and was trampled during the first-ever running of the bulls in Tecate, Mexico.
In his final years, Clarke completed his memoir, Power of the Patch, which he wanted to be distributed for free in schools and libraries in the cities where he worked.
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He is survived by his wife, Cara Roberts Clarke, his siblings Nancy Morast and Newell Clarke, and his godson’s family. A memorial service will be scheduled later.
Source: With input from agency