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Shaun Cassidy

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Shaun Cassidy
Cassidy (right) with Parker Stevenson in The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries
Cassidy (right) with Parker Stevenson in The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries
Background information
Birth nameShaun Paul Cassidy
Born (1958-09-27) September 27, 1958 (age 66)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
GenresPop rock
Occupation(s)Screenwriter, actor, singer, television producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, piano
Years active1976–present
LabelsWarner Bros. (USA)

Shaun Paul Cassidy (born September 27, 1958) is an American television producer/creator, screenwriter, and former singer-actor. He is the eldest son of singer-actress Shirley Jones and singer-actor Jack Cassidy. His older half-brother is singer-actor David Cassidy.[1]

He is known for starring in the television series The Hardy Boys Mysteries (1977–79) and Breaking Away (1980–81), as well as having several hit records in the 1970s. In the 1980s, he had a three-month stint on the daytime soap General Hospital and acted on Broadway and in the West End of London. Since the mid-1990s, Cassidy has worked exclusively as a writer/producer in television, creating a number of television series, including American Gothic, Roar (with Heath Ledger in his American debut), and Invasion.

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, leading to an American release of that album in 1977. The multi-platinum album netted him a No. 1 U.S. single with "Da Doo Ron Ron" and a Grammy Award 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 No. 3. His popularity continued with the concurrent 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" (#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 Sheriden's 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 produced numerous shows for network and cable including American Gothic, Roar (starring Heath Ledger), Cover Me, Invasion and Ruby & The Rockits. Cassidy wrote and executive produced the Amazon Studios television series Hysteria[4] which was released for viewing in August 2014.[5]

Personal life

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, he has two younger brothers, Patrick and Ryan Cassidy.[6]

Alongside his parents, and half-brother David, Cassidy was represented by former table tennis champion Ruth Aarons, who came from a theatrical family and found her niche later in life as a talent manager. Aarons is responsible for the successful launch of his career in 1977, and managed him during his formative years as a teen idol and musician.[7]

In December 1979, Cassidy married model Ann Pennington.[8] They had two children together. Cassidy was also briefly married to actress Susan Diol; they have a daughter.[citation needed] Since 2004, Cassidy has been married to producer Tracey Lynne Turner.[9] They have four children.[citation needed]

Discography

Albums

Compilations

Soundtrack appearances

Other album appearances

  • 1991: The Christmas Album... A Gift of Hope – Benefitting Hospital's for Children (track: "Silver Bells" with Shirley Jones)

Singles

Year Title US Billboard US Cash Box WLS Chicago CAN ARIA Australia New Zealand Musikmarkt Germany
1976 "Morning Girl" — — — — — — 40
"Hey There Lonely Girl" — — — — 5 — —
1977 "Da Doo Ron Ron" 1 1 1 1 — 36 19
"That's Rock 'n' Roll" 3 4 1 1 2 — 11
"Hey Deanie" 7 21 6 23 — — —
1978 "Do You Believe in Magic" 31 37 22 39 — — —
"Our Night" 80 — — — — — —
1989 "Memory Girl" — — — — — — —

Filmography

Actor

Writer

Producer

  • 1995: American Gothic (supervising producer; producer for pilot)
  • 1997: Roar (executive producer)
  • 1998: Hollyweird (executive producer)
  • 2000–01: Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family (executive producer)
  • 2001–03: The Agency (executive producer)
  • 2003: Cold Case (executive producer)
  • 2004–05: The Mountain (executive producer)
  • 2005–06: Invasion (executive producer)
  • 2008: Inseparable (executive producer)
  • 2009: Ruby & The Rockits (executive producer)
  • 2011: Blue Bloods (consulting producer)
  • 2012: The Frontier (executive producer)
  • 2014: Hysteria (pilot; executive producer)

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 2012-1-30. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  3. ^ "Grammy Rewind: 20th Annual Grammy Awards". Grammy.com. 17 January 2012. Retrieved 2012-1-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  4. ^ Spangler, Todd (1 July 2014). "Amazon Studios Adds Thriller 'Hysteria' From Shaun Cassidy to Next Pilot Wave". Variety.
  5. ^ "Amazon Explores New Distribution Methods, Teases Third Pilot Slate". The Hollywood Reporter. 12 July 2014.
  6. ^ "Cassidy on Staying Grounded". Website. Oprah.com. Retrieved 12/23/11. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  7. ^ "TeamUSA".
  8. ^ 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)
  9. ^ "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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