Shaun Cassidy

Shaun Paul Cassidy (born September 27, 1958) is an American singer, actor, writer and producer. Cassidy starred in the television series The Hardy Boys Mysteries (1977–1979), Breaking Away (1980–1981) and a stint on the daytime soap General Hospital (1987). In the 1980s and 90s, Cassidy worked almost exclusively as an actor in the theater, performing on Broadway and in the West End of London. Since the mid-1990s, Cassidy has been a writer and producer in television, creating and producing a number of television series, including American Gothic, Roar and Invasion. He is currently the consulting producer on NBC's medical drama New Amsterdam. Cassidy is the eldest son of Academy Award-winning actress Shirley Jones and Tony Award-winning actor Jack Cassidy. His older half-brother was David Cassidy.

Career

While still in high school, Cassidy signed a contract with Mike Curb's division of Warner Bros. Records and began recording music. He scored a couple of hit singles in several countries, leading to an American release of his first solo album, Shaun Cassidy, in 1977. The multi-platinum album netted him a number-one U.S. single with "Da Doo Ron Ron" and a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. 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 netted the hit "Hey Deanie" (#7), also written by Carmen, and a remake of The Lovin' Spoonful's "Do You Believe in Magic?" became 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 million-seller Under Wraps, AM radio had dramatically changed formats and his teen-star appeal had begun to fade. His next album, Room Service, failed to appear on the US Top 200 Album chart. Cassidy tried a different musical approach for his final release, 1980's Wasp. This 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, Cassidy, and cover versions including David Bowie's "Rebel, Rebel" and The Who's "So Sad About Us" among others.

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, landing Cassidy on the cover of “People” magazine for the third time). 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, Ruby & the Rockits, Emerald City and more recently, New Amsterdam (starring Ryan Eggold).

Personal life

Cassidy grew up in Los Angeles and New York City, attending boarding school in Bucks County, Pennsylvania at the Solebury School in Newtown, 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.

Marriages and children

Cassidy has been married three times and has eight children. His first wife was Ann Pennington, a model and former Playboy playmate; she and Cassidy married in 1979 and divorced in 1993. From this marriage Cassidy has a daughter, Caitlin (b. 1981); a son, Jake (born 1985); and a stepdaughter, Jessica (born 1970).

He married actress Susan Diol in 1995. They have one daughter, Juliet (born 1998), and divorced in 2003.

He has been married to producer Tracey Lynne Turner since 2004. They have four children: Caleb (born 2005), Roan (born 2006), Lila (born 2008), and Mairin (born 2011).

Discography

Albums

• 1976: Shaun Cassidy (US No. 3)
• 1977: Born Late (US No. 6)
• 1978: Under Wraps (US No. 33)
• 1979: Room Service
• 1979: That's Rock 'N' Roll Live
• 1980: Wasp

Compilations

• 1992: Greatest Hits

Soundtrack appearances

• 1976: Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway (TV)
• 1995: Blood Brothers (Broadway)

Other album appearances

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

Singles

Accolades