Shaun Cassidy

Shaun Paul Cassidy (born September 27, 1958) is an American singer, actor, writer and producer. He has created and/or produced a number of television series including '' American Gothic'', ''Roar'' and ''Invasion''. Cassidy was also an executive producer and writer for NBC's medical drama ''New Amsterdam''.

While in high school, Cassidy signed a contract with Warner Bros. Records, leading to his albums ''Shaun Cassidy'', '' Born Late'', '' Under Wraps'', ''Room Service'', and ''Wasp''. Almost concurrently, Cassidy starred in the ABC television series '' The Hardy Boys Mysteries'', as well as '' Breaking Away'' and had a stint on the daytime soap ''General Hospital''.

While appearing on Broadway in the hit musical drama '' Blood Brothers'', he wrote his first television pilot, '' American Gothic''. In 2020, Cassidy returned to the stage with his one-man show ''The Magic of a Midnight Sky''. Cassidy is the eldest son of Academy Award–winning actress Shirley Jones and Tony Award-winning actor Jack Cassidy. He is older brother of actor Patrick Cassidy, the younger half-brother of singer and actor David Cassidy and uncle of actress Katie Cassidy.

Early life, family and education

Shaun Cassidy grew up in Los Angeles, California and New York City; he is the son of Shirley Jones and Jack Cassidy. In addition to an elder half-brother, David Cassidy, he has two younger brothers, Patrick and Ryan Cassidy.
He attended boarding school in Bucks County, Pennsylvania at the Solebury School in Solebury Township, and graduated from Beverly Hills High School.

Career

Singer and recording artist

While still in high school, Cassidy signed a contract with Mike Curb's Curb Records 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. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 single with "Da Doo Ron Ron" and a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist at the 20th Annual Grammy Awards. 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 Mysteries'' (1977–1979).

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 was in decline and his teen-star appeal had begun to fade. His next album, ''Room Service'', failed to chart on the US ''Billboard'' 200. 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 of songs including David Bowie's " Rebel, Rebel" and The Who's " So Sad About Us" among others.

Actor

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 Drama-Logue Award for his work in Mark Sheriden's ''Diary of a Hunger Strike'' at the Los Angeles Theater Center, and he appeared 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.

Writer and producer

Since then, Cassidy has created, written, and produced numerous shows for network and cable including ''American Gothic'' (1995–1996, produced with Sam Raimi), ''Roar'' (1997, starring Heath Ledger), '' Cover Me'' (2000–2001), ''Invasion'' (2005–2006), '' Ruby & The Rockits'' (2009, starring his brothers Patrick and David) and ''New Amsterdam'' (2018–2023, starring Ryan Eggold) on NBC.

In 2021, Cassidy took his one-man show ''The Magic of a Midnight Sky'' to the stage, playing to standing-room-only crowds nationwide, his first live music performance in almost forty years.

Personal life

Cassidy has been married three times and has seven children. He married Ann Pennington, a model and former ''Playboy'' playmate, in 1979 and divorced in 1993; they had two children together.

Cassidy married actress Susan Diol in 1995 and divorced in 2003; they have one daughter.

In 2004, he married producer Tracey Lynne Turner; they have four children.

Discography

*''Shaun Cassidy'' (1976)
*'' Born Late'' (1977)
*'' Under Wraps'' (1978)
*''Room Service'' (1979)
*''Wasp'' (1980)

Filmography

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cassidy, Shaun
1958 births
Living people
20th-century American male actors
20th-century American singer-songwriters
20th-century American male singers
20th-century American male writers
21st-century American male writers
American male child actors
American male pop singers
American male screenwriters
American male singer-songwriters
American male television actors
American male television writers
American pop rock singers
Television writers from California
Beverly Hills High School alumni
Male actors from Los Angeles
Singers from Los Angeles
Singer-songwriters from California
Television producers from California
Warner Records artists
Writers from Los Angeles