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Shaun Cassidy

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Shaun Cassidy
Taken during the 2000's
Taken during the 2000's
Background information
Birth nameShaun Paul Cassidy
Born (1958-09-27) September 27, 1958 (age 65)
Los Angeles, California
GenresPop/rock
Occupation(s)Screenwriter, actor, singer, television producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active1976–present
LabelsWarner Bros. (USA)

Shaun Paul Cassidy is an American writer, producer, actor, and singer. He is the eldest son of Academy Award-winning actress Shirley Jones, and the second son (his older half-brother is David Cassidy) of Tony Award-winning actor Jack Cassidy.[1] He has created, written and produced a number of critically acclaimed television series, including American Gothic, Roar (with Heath Ledger in his American debut), and Invasion. In the late 1970s and 1980s, Cassidy worked as an actor and singer. He starred in two television series (The Hardy Boys Mysteries and Breaking Away), had a number of hit records, appeared on Broadway and in the West End of London, and played to SRO crowds at every major arena in the country. His last concert was at the Houston Astrodome in 1980. Since the mid-1990s, Cassidy has worked exclusively as a writer/producer in television.

Career

While still in high school, Cassidy signed a contract with Mike Curb's division of Warner Bros. Records and began recording music. His debut album Shaun Cassidy was initially released in Europe and Australia in 1976, and he scored a couple of hit singles in several countries. That lead to an American release of that album in 1977. The multi-platinum album netted Cassidy a No. 1 US single with "Da Doo Ron Ron" and a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist.[2] [3] The Eric Carmen penned "That's Rock 'n' Roll" (which had already been a hit in Australia and Europe) was the follow-up single and peaked at number three. Cassidy's popularity continued with the 1977 arrival of his television series, The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, which also starred Parker Stevenson.

Cassidy's next album Born Late peaked at No. 6 on the US Top 200 Albums chart and netted the hit "Hey Deanie" (US No. 7), also written by Carmen. His label ran the same formula as before by releasing a remake of a previous hit as the second single; this time with The Lovin' Spoonful's "Do You Believe in Magic?". It would become a moderate hit for Cassidy, peaking at No. 31.

Cassidy had released two successful albums, but by the release of his third album, 1978's Under Wraps, his teen-star appeal had begun to fade. The album just managed to crack the US top 40, peaking at No. 33, and it produced a minor hit in the song "Our Night" (US No. 80). Cassidy's 1979 album Room Service was also not successful and it failed to appear on the US Top 200 Album chart. Cassidy tried a different musical approach for his next release, 1980's Wasp. The album was more rock/pop-oriented and produced by Todd Rundgren with the group Utopia as the backing band. It featured songs written by Rundgren, and cover versions including David Bowie's "Rebel, Rebel" and The Who's "So Sad About Us" among others. The album, however, was not successful and became Cassidy's second album not to chart on the Billboard Album Chart.

Cassidy concentrated on stage acting for most of the 1980s and early 1990s. He appeared on Broadway and West End productions such as Mass Appeal and Bus Stop, as well as the American premiere of Pass/Fail at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. Cassidy won a Dramalogue award for his work in Mark Sheridenʼs Diary of a Hunger Strike at the L.A.T.C., and his final stage appearance was opposite his half-brother David in the Broadway production of Blood Brothers (which successfully ran for over a year on Broadway). It was during this production that Cassidy wrote his first television pilot, American Gothic, opening the door to a long-term contract with Universal Television.

From the late 1990s, Cassidy created, wrote, and/or produced numerous shows for network and cable including American Gothic (with Sam Raimi), Roar (starring Heath Ledger), Cold Case, Cover Me, The Agency (with Wolfgang Peterson), Invasion and Ruby & The Rockits.[4] Cassidy currently has projects in development for the 2012–13 season, including writer for NBC's The Frontier.[5][6] [7]

Personal life

Shaun Cassidy grew up in Los Angeles and New York City, attending boarding school in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and graduating from Beverly Hills High School. In addition to an elder half-brother, David Cassidy, he has two younger brothers: Patrick and Ryan Cassidy.[8]

In 1977 he was involved in a car crash[9]. A car appeared in front of him at high speed and in order to avoid a head on collision he quickly had to swerve. He wound up hitting a brick wall on the left side with the impact so heavy the car spun around coming to rest with the right side against the wall. The driver of the other car did not stop to render assistance. He went to hospital for observation on the insistence of the police. The "only damage to me was a broken fingernail. I caught a taxi and was driven to the studio to carry on with my work. Thinking back now, it's a miracle I'm still alive."[9]

In December 1979, Cassidy married Ann Pennington.[10][11][12] They had two children together, Jake (born February 27, 1985) and Caitlin (born November 25, 1981), and divorced in approximately 1992.[citation needed]. In 1995, Cassidy married Susan Diol. They have one daughter, Juliet (born March 19, 1998). They divorced in 2003.[13]

Since 2004, Cassidy has been married to producer Tracey Lynne Turner. They have four children: Caleb (born March 3, 2005), Roan (born September 23, 2006), Lila (born December 13, 2008), and Mairin (born June 25, 2011). The Cassidys make their home on a ranch outside Los Angeles.[14]

Discography

Solo albums

Soundtracks

Broadway Cast Albums

Singles

Filmography

Actor

Writer

Producer

  • 1995: American Gothic (3 episodes)
  • 1997: Roar (3 episodes)
  • 1998: Hollyweird
  • 2000–01: Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family (TV series)
  • 2001–03: The Agency (4 episodes)
  • 2003: Cold Case (3 episodes)
  • 2004–05: The Mountain (3 episodes)
  • 2005–06: Invasion (TV series)
  • 2008: Inseparable (TV series)
  • 2009: Ruby & The Rockits (3 episodes)
  • 2011: Blue Bloods (consulting producer) (6 episodes)
  • 2012: The Frontier (TV series)

Director

  • 2000: Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family (TV series)

References

  1. ^ "Shaun Cassidy: Biography". Television Show. Retrieved 12/23/11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. ^ "WB Rides Sizzling Singles Sales". Billboard. 12-10-1977. Retrieved 1-30-2012. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  3. ^ "Grammy Rewind". website. Retrieved 1-30-2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  4. ^ "Shaun Cassidy - IMDB". Website. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 12/23/11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  5. ^ http://www.deadline.com/2012/01/nbc-picks-up-drama-pilots-midnights-sun-do-not-harm/
  6. ^ "Deadline". Website/Blog. Retrieved 12/23/11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  7. ^ "Deadline". Website / Blog. Retrieved 12/23/11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  8. ^ "Cassidy on Staying Grounded". Website. Oprah.com. Retrieved 12/23/11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  9. ^ a b Pop Scene - Australia's International Pop Magazine, issue No 2, Gordon and Gotch, 1977.
  10. ^ Jeanne Malmgren (1996-12-15). "Every Page a Centerfold". St. Petersburg Times. pp. 10.F. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  11. ^ Associated Press (December 4, 1979). "Shaun Cassidy Married". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Retrieved April 26, 2010. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ Pat Hilton (July 22, 1987). "Cassidy Outgrows His 'Hardy Boy' Image". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved April 26, 2010. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ "Cassidy on His Dream and Accomplishments". Website. Oprah.com. Retrieved 12/23/11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  14. ^ "At Home with Shaun Cassidy". Television Show. "Oprah" / Harpo Productions. Retrieved 11/4/10. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

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