Casey Kasem
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| Name | Casey Kasem |
| Birth name | Kemal Amin Kasem |
| Birth date | April 27, 1932 |
| Birth place | Detroit, Michigan |
| Death date | June 15, 2014 |
| Death place | Gig Harbor, Washington |
| Occupation | Disc jockey, Music historian, Actor, Voice actor |
Casey Kasem was a renowned American Disc jockey, Music historian, Actor, and Voice actor, best known for hosting the popular Radio show American Top 40 and providing voices for various Cartoon characters, including Shaggy Rogers in the Scooby-Doo franchise, which was created by Hanna-Barbera Productions and aired on CBS and ABC. Kasem's distinctive voice and charismatic personality made him a beloved figure in the entertainment industry, with appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Saturday Night Live. He was also a frequent guest on The Mike Douglas Show and The Merv Griffin Show, alongside other notable celebrities like Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and The Beatles.
● Early Life and Career
Kasem was born Kemal Amin Kasem in Detroit, Michigan, to Dena Kasem and Abdul Kasem, Lebanese Druze immigrants who owned a Grocery store in Michigan. He grew up in Northwest Detroit and attended Northwestern High School, where he developed an interest in Radio broadcasting and began working at the school's Radio station. After graduating, Kasem attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where he studied Speech and Theater, and later transferred to University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Kasem's early career in Radio began at WJBK (AM) in Detroit, where he worked alongside other notable Disc jockeys like Dick Purtan and J. P. McCarthy, and later moved to KYA (AM) in San Francisco, California, which was owned by NBC and featured popular DJs like Tom Donahue and Al Kooper.
● Radio Hosting Career
Kasem's big break came when he began hosting American Top 40 in 1970, a show that counted down the top 40 Singles of the week, based on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, which was published by Billboard (magazine). The show was syndicated by Watermark Inc. and aired on over 500 Radio stations across the United States, including WABC (AM) in New York City and KHJ (AM) in Los Angeles, California. Kasem's smooth voice and engaging personality made him a natural fit for the show, which featured popular Music from artists like The Rolling Stones, The Who, and Stevie Wonder. He also hosted other popular Radio shows, including American Top 20 and American Top 10, which were broadcast on Westwood One and featured Music from Country music artists like Garth Brooks and Dolly Parton.
● Television and Film Career
In addition to his work in Radio, Kasem had a successful career in Television and Film, with appearances on popular shows like The Simpsons, The Golden Girls, and Murder, She Wrote, which starred Angela Lansbury and aired on CBS. He also provided voices for various Cartoon characters, including Shaggy Rogers in the Scooby-Doo franchise, which was created by Hanna-Barbera Productions and aired on CBS and ABC. Kasem's film credits include The Transformers: The Movie, Ghostbusters, and Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island, which was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and featured the voice talents of Billy West and Frank Welker. He also appeared in National Lampoon's Vegas Vacation, alongside Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo, and The Brave Little Toaster to the Rescue, which was produced by Hyperion Pictures and featured the voice talents of Debra Jo Rupp and Eric Lloyd.
● Personal Life
Kasem was married twice, first to Linda Myers from 1972 to 1979, and then to Jean Kasem from 1980 until his death in 2014. He had three children, Kerri Kasem, Julie Kasem, and Liberty Kasem, and was a longtime resident of Los Angeles, California, where he lived in a Mansion in the Holmby Hills neighborhood, near other celebrities like Michael Jackson and Elton John. Kasem was a devout Lebanese Druze and was involved in various Charity work, including the American Cancer Society and the Children's Hospital Los Angeles, which was founded by Hattie McDaniel and Mary Pickford.
● Later Life and Death
In his later years, Kasem suffered from Lewy body dementia and Parkinson's disease, which made it difficult for him to continue working in the entertainment industry. He was hospitalized in 2013 and again in 2014, and passed away on June 15, 2014, at the age of 82, at St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor, Washington, surrounded by his family, including his wife Jean Kasem and his children Kerri Kasem and Julie Kasem. Kasem's death was met with an outpouring of tributes from the entertainment industry, including statements from Ryan Seacrest, Dick Clark, and Jimmy Kimmel, who all praised his contributions to Radio and Television.
● Legacy
Kasem's legacy continues to be felt in the entertainment industry, with his iconic voice and charismatic personality remaining beloved by fans around the world. He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1992 and received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1981, alongside other notable celebrities like Marilyn Monroe and Charlie Chaplin. Kasem's work on American Top 40 and other Radio shows helped to shape the sound of popular Music in the 1970s and 1980s, and his contributions to Television and Film continue to be celebrated by fans of all ages, from Scooby-Doo to The Simpsons. Kasem's impact on the entertainment industry is still felt today, with many Disc jockeys and Voice actors citing him as an inspiration, including Howard Stern, Rush Limbaugh, and Seth MacFarlane, who have all followed in his footsteps in the world of Radio and Television. Category:American radio personalities