Shaun Cassidy, an American television producer, screenwriter, former actor, and singer, has had a diverse and successful career in the entertainment industry. Starting off as a singer, he gained immense popularity and became a teen idol with his albums and singles. He then ventured into acting, appearing in well-known shows such as ‘The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries’ and ‘General Hospital’. However, he later shifted his focus to screenwriting and production, writing scripts for various television movies and shows. With his extensive experience, he also took on the role of an executive producer.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Shaun Paul Cassidy
- Age: 65 Years, 65 Year Old Males
- Family:
- Spouse/Ex-: Tracey Lynne Turner (m. 2004), Ann Pennington (m. 1979–1993), Susan Diol (m. 1995–2003)
- Father: Jack Cassidy
- Mother: Shirley Jones
- Siblings: David Cassidy (half-brother), Patrick Cassidy, Ryan Cassidy
- Children: Caitlin Ann Cassidy, Caleb Cassidy, John Pennington Cassidy, Juliet Cassidy, Lila Tracey Cassidy, Mairin Cassidy, Roan Howard Cassidy
- Pop Singers
- TV & Movie Producers
- Height: 5’11” (180 cm), 5’11” Males
- U.S. State: California
- City: Los Angeles
Singing Career
Shaun Cassidy’s passion for singing began during his high school days. He signed a contract with Mike Curb’s division of Warner Bros. Records and embarked on his recording journey. His debut album, ‘Shaun Cassidy’ (1976), was initially released in Europe and Australia, where it became a major hit. It was later released in the US and quickly gained popularity. The single ‘Da Doo Ron Ron’ from the album topped the Billboard Charts, and Cassidy was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist.
His next album, ‘Born Late’, written by Eric Carmen, was also a big hit, peaking at No. 6 on the US Top 200 Albums chart. The album included several hit singles, including ‘Hey Deanie’, which reached No. 7 on the Billboard. However, Cassidy’s appeal began to decline with his third album, ‘Under Wraps’, which failed to meet expectations. It peaked at No. 33 on the US Top 40, and none of the album’s singles, except for ‘Our Night’, made it into the US Top 100. His next album, ‘Room Service’, performed even worse, failing to enter the Top 200.
Television Career
In the late 1970s, Shaun Cassidy decided to pursue a career in show business. He appeared in ‘The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries’, a television mystery series based on the popular novels. He also starred in the television movie ‘Like Normal People’ in 1979 and later appeared in the American comedy-drama series ‘Breaking Away’ from 1980 to 1981.
Cassidy landed a regular role in the American daytime medical drama ‘General Hospital’ in the 1987 season. He also made a guest appearance in the crime drama series ‘Murder, She Wrote’. In 1988, he acted in two television movies, ‘Once Upon a Texas Train’ and ‘Roots: The Gift’, as well as one episode of ‘Matlock’. He retired from acting that year and focused on scriptwriting and producing television shows. Some of the shows he wrote and produced include ‘American Gothic’ (1995), ‘Roar’ (1997), ‘Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family’ (2000-01), ‘The Agency’ (2001), ‘The Mountain’ (2004-05), ‘Invasion’ (2005-06), ‘Ruby & the Rockits’ (2009), ‘Hysteria’ (2014), and ‘Emerald City’ (2016).
Personal Life
Shaun Paul Cassidy was born on September 27, 1958, in Los Angeles, California. His parents, Jack Cassidy and Shirley Jones, were both well-known actors. Cassidy has two siblings, Patrick Cassidy and Ryan Cassidy, as well as a half-brother, David Cassidy, all of whom are involved in the entertainment industry. He graduated from Beverly Hills High School.
Cassidy has been married three times in his life. His first marriage to Ann Pennington in 1979 ended in divorce in 1993. They have two children together: Caitlin Cassidy, born on November 25, 1981, and John Cassidy, born on February 27, 1985. In 1995, he married actress Susan Diol, and they welcomed their daughter Juliet on March 19, 1998. The couple divorced in 2003. Cassidy’s third marriage to producer Tracey Lynne Turner took place on August 28, 2004. They have four children together: Caleb, born in March 2005; Roan, born on September 23, 2006; Lila, born on December 13, 2008; and Mairin, born on June 25, 2011.