AncientFaces Your browser does not support JavaScript!
Please enable JavaScript to view the entire contents of this page.

Jack Cassidy 1927 - 1976

Jack Cassidy was born on March 5, 1927 at Richmond Hill in Queens County, New York United States. He married Evelyn Ward on June 28, 1948 and they later divorced on July 2, 1956. They had a child David Bruce Cassidy. He married Shirley Jones on August 5, 1956 and they later divorced on May 26, 1975. They had children Shaun Cassidy, Patrick Cassidy, and Ryan Cassidy. Jack Cassidy died at age 49 years old on December 12, 1976 in West Hollywood, Los Angeles County, CA.

Jack Cassidy

March 5, 1927

Richmond Hill in Queens County, New York, United States

December 12, 1976

West Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California, United States

Male

Looking for another Jack Cassidy?

Jack Cassidy Jack Cassidy (1927 - 1976)

ADVERTISEMENT BY ANCESTRY.COM

This page exists for YOU
and everyone who remembers Jack.

Share what you know,
even ask what you wish you knew.

Invite others to do the same,
but don't worry if you can't...

Someone, somewhere will find this page,
and we'll notify you when they do.

Jack Cassidy's History: 1927 - 1976

Uncover new discoveries and connections today by sharing about people & moments from yesterday.

- Discover how AncientFaces works.

Introduction

Jack Cassidy Born March 5, 1927 in Richmond Hill, New York, USA Died December 12, 1976 in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA Birth Name John Edward Joseph Cassidy Height 5' 10" (1.78 m) He was an actor, known for The Hollywood Squares (1965), The Eiger Sanction (1975) and Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol (1962). He was married to Shirley Jones and Evelyn Ward. He died on December 12, 1976 in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA. Shirley Jones (5 August 1956 - 26 May 1975) (divorced) (3 children) Evelyn Ward (28 June 1948 - 2 July 1956) (divorced) (1 child) One of the most Tony-nominated musical actors in Broadway history. He died when his couch, and subsequently apartment, caught fire after he fell asleep on it with a lit cigarette. Turned down the role of Ted Baxter on Mary Tyler Moore (1970), but did guest star as Ted Baxter's brother. His idol was John Barrymore, whom he played in W.C. Fields and Me (1976). While researching his Irish ancestry, he discovered his family's crest. He had 6 gold pinky rings made bearing the crest, and gave one to each of his 4 sons and one to his brother. His own ring helped authorities identify his remains. It was later stolen from his son, Patrick Cassidy's house. Father, with Evelyn Ward of son David Cassidy. Father, with Shirley Jones, of sons Shaun Cassidy, Ryan Cassidy and Patrick Cassidy. Won Broadway's 1964 Tony Award as Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Musical) for "She Loves Me". This was followed with three other Tony nominations in the same category: in 1965 for "Fade Out -- Fade In," and as Best Actor (Musical) in 1966 for "It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman!" and in 1969 for "Maggie Flynn.". Portrayed by Malcolm McDowell in The David Cassidy Story (2000). He was nominated for a 1976 Joseph Jefferson Award for Director of a Play for "Wait Until Dark", at the Drury Lane Theatre North in Chicago, Illinois. Born to William Cassidy, who was of Irish descent, and Charlotte Koehler, who was of German descent. His father, William Cassidy, was a railroad engineer. Graduated from Richmond Hill High School. Took singing lessons with Polly Robertson and was mentored by his uncle, Ben Dova, a former vaudevillian, who organised auditions for him. Jack first appeared, on stage, in the chorus of Michael Todd's "Something For the Boys" in 1943. In the March 15, 1965 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) episode, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour: The Photographer and the Undertaker (1965), he played a hit man who disposes of the victim's body by setting fire to his apartment, which was the scene of the murder. This was an attempt to conceal the murder and have the authorities believe that he was the deceased. He later died in a fire, at his home, on December 12, 1976 and was so badly burned that he could only be identified by the unique ring he was wearing. In December 1974, Cassidy was hospitalized in a psychiatric facility for 48 hours. At that time, Jones found out that he had been previously diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Cassidy won the 1964 Tony Award for best featured actor in a musical for his role in She Loves Me and was nominated for two Emmy Awards: in 1968 for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Comedy, for He & She, and 1971 for Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for the film The Andersonville Trial (1970). The role of the vain, shallow, buffoon-like newsman Ted Baxter on TV's The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970-1977) was reportedly written with Cassidy in mind. Although Cassidy had played a similar buffoonish character in the 1967-68 sitcom He & She, he turned down the role, feeling that it was not right for him; the part went to Ted Knight. In his 1994 autobiography, C'Mon, Get Happy, Cassidy's eldest son David wrote that he became increasingly concerned about his father in the last years of his life. Jack Cassidy suffered from bipolar disorder and was an alcoholic, who was displaying increasingly erratic behavior. Cassidy was approved for a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005, and fund raising efforts are currently underway to fund the dedication ceremony. According to Cassidy's ex-wife Shirley Jones, on December 11, 1976, Cassidy asked her over for drinks but she declined his invitation. He then ate dinner alone at an Italian restaurant. Cassidy returned to his apartment by himself, by which time he was drunk. In the early morning hours of December 12, Cassidy lit a cigarette and fell asleep on his Naugahyde couch. He then dropped the cigarette, which ignited the couch. The flames quickly spread throughout the apartment and the building. His remains were cremated and scattered on the Pacific Ocean. A charred body, burned beyond recognition, was found in the doorway of Cassidy's apartment. As Cassidy's car was missing (it was later returned by a friend who had borrowed it), his family hoped that he had traveled to Palm Springs, which were his intended plans for the following day bur the body was then positively identified as Cassidy's by dental records and by a signet ring that he wore, bearing the Cassidy family crest. Along with Patrick McGoohan, Robert Culp, George Hamilton and William Shatner, he is one of only five actors to play two or more murderers in Columbo (1971): Ken Franklin in Columbo: Murder by the Book (1971), Riley Greenleaf in Columbo: Publish or Perish (1974) and Columbo: Now You See Him (1976). Made his Broadway debut at the age of 16 in the chorus of Cole Porter's "Something For The Boys.". Mother Charlotte was from Hamburg, Germany. Personal Quotes (14) Anyway, in Paris, we were thrown together. We'd said we wouldn't see each other any more. But how can you not see each other when you are kissing each other every night on the stage every night? We came back and I asked my wife for a divorce which wasn't the first time... The rewards of comedy are instant. I have no desire to look out into an audience to see if there are any tears. I work fast because of the many years of machination when I try to come up with a performance quickly or otherwise somebody was waiting in the wings to replace me. There was no time for all of that (Actor's) workshop approach. Daytime TV and talk shows also helped me. I am fascinating on all those programs. Full of witty remarks and sly innuendo which I have been preparing all day. Anyway, the ladies love it, and when I tour in a play or musical I do quite well at the box office. When we reconciled after our other split, I begged her to let us move to a more stable area. But she insisted Beverly Hills schooling was important for the boys. Hell, what about their sense of values. At age 17 Shaun is the owner of a 71 Cadillac convertible. Christ and the Bible have helped me muddle through the past year. In a way I have become a bit of a recluse and loner. I don't go to parties much anymore. You see, I have been that route. I'm looking for something more. If I would have stayed with Evelyn [Evelyn Ward], my son, David [David Cassidy], might have turned out better. I wanted to raise him but she wouldn't give him up. That's all right. I don't care if David doesn't want to see me. I have three other sons who still love their father. You're all rank amateurs when it comes to losing. How about this for a case history? There was a time when an actor friend of mine and I were both starving, waiting for a Broadway break. All of a sudden he got a job in 'Oklahoma!' and stayed with the show for the full seven years of its Broadway run. During that time I was in 15 different shows, nearly all of them flops. I'll say one thing for flops though, you learn from them in a way you never learn from winners. So in a way I am grateful for them. I'd say the breakup was my fault. We toured together and I had a nervous breakdown. We try to do as many things as we can that keeps up with the children. If one of us is away, the other is usually at home. I'm a very strict father, but affectionate also. I was raised strictly and I can't shed it. I care about discipline and I think boys need it. That's what's wrong with a lot of kids today; they don't get it. I tell the boys, I can let you go your own way but that ain't love. The way I look has categorized me. Producers think I can't play a tough character, but I can. The trouble is I don't mess up easily. Even when I don't shave, even when I wear a beard, I still look neat. We had an apartment in New York but I like living in a house. I put a lot of energy and brickwork into it. We want to buy a farm or a ranch where I can grow some produce and probably have some cattle, get drunk every night and listen to the wind. Water is humbling. The ocean is a wonderful contradiction of ultimate peace and overwhelming power. It's the vast liquid expanse that makes you feel small. [on his divorce from Shirley Jones] Oh, I still love Shirley. If I had worked on the marriage, we wouldn't be divorced today. Then, too, Shirley needed to be needed. She felt I wanted her rather than needed her. I wish we hadn't divorced. But when I think of getting together again, I don't have a clue about how to bring about a reconciliation. She's dating someone now and I wouldn't dream of intruding. See also
03/5

1927

Birthday

March 5, 1927

Birthdate

Richmond Hill in Queens County, New York United States

Birthplace

ADVERTISEMENT BY
Professional Career

Career Cassidy achieved success as a musical performer on Broadway. He appeared in Alive and Kicking, Wish You Were Here, Shangri-La, Maggie Flynn, Fade Out – Fade In, It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman, and She Loves Me, for which he won a Tony Award. He also received Emmy Award nominations for his television performances in the 1967-68 CBS Television Network series He & She and The Andersonville Trial. On television, he became a frequent guest star, appearing in such programs as The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Gunsmoke, Bewitched, Get Smart, That Girl, Hawaii Five-O, Cannon, Match Game, McCloud, and Barnaby Jones for an episode titled "Murder in the Doll's House" (1973). Cassidy also appeared three times as a murderer on Columbo in the episodes "Murder By the Book" (1971, directed by the not-yet-famous Steven Spielberg, with a teleplay by a young Steven Bochco), "Publish or Perish" (1974), and "Now You See Him..." (1976). He co-starred with Ronnie Schell in a television revival of Hellzapoppin'. Cassidy also co-starred as an informer in the movie The Eiger Sanction with Clint Eastwood and provided the voice of Bob Cratchit for the pioneering animated television special Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol. His frequent professional persona was an urbane, witty, confident egotist with a dramatic flair, much in the manner of Broadway actor Frank Fay. Cassidy perfected this character to the extent that he was cast as John Barrymore in the feature film W.C. Fields and Me. The role of the vain, shallow, buffoon-like newsman Ted Baxter on TV's The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–1977) was reportedly written with Cassidy in mind. Cassidy had played a similar buffoonish character in the 1967–1968 sitcom He & She, but he turned down the role, feeling that it was not right for him; the part went to Ted Knight. Cassidy later appeared as a guest star in a 1971 episode as Ted's highly competitive and equally egotistical brother Hal.
12/12

1976

Death

December 12, 1976

Death date

Unknown
Cause of death

West Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California United States
Death location

ADVERTISEMENT BY
Obituary

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 12— Jack Cassidy, whose career took him from Broadway musicals to film and television roles, died today in a fire that swept through his penthouse apartment. The actor's badly burned body was found in the apartment and identified by the Los Angeles Medical Examiner through dental charts, according to a spokesman for the county sheriff's office. Jewelry belonging to Mr. Cassidy was also found on the body, said Rowland Perkins, the actor's agent. Mr. Cassidy, 49 years old, was formerly married to Shirley Jones and was the father, from a previous marriage, of David Cassidy, the pop singer. The fire in which he died extensively damaged the interior of his penthouse apartment arid, according to fire officials, was apparently touched off by a cigarette left smoldering on a couch.

ADVERTISEMENT BY
Looking for more information?
share

Memories

below

Join 4 others
who remember Jack

Select options below to share special moments.

Ethnicity & Family History Nationality & Locations Early Life & Education Baptism Religious Beliefs Military Service Personal Life & Family Gravesite & Burial Add Memory Add Photo

Share what you remember.
Ask what you wish to know.
Connect to discover more.
Advertisement
Did you know?

Jack Cassidy lived 24 years shorter than the average family member when died at the age of 49.

ADVERTISEMENT BY
Looking for more information?
share

Memories

below

16 Memories, Stories & Photos about Jack

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.7k+ favorites

09/14/2017

Jack Cassidy

A photo of Jack Cassidy

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

Comments

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.7k+ favorites

09/14/2017

A really talented actor who had beautiful children when he was married to Academy Award Winning Actress and Singer, Shirley Jones.

Favorite

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.7k+ favorites

09/15/2017

Jack Cassidy

A photo of Jack Cassidy

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

Comments

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.7k+ favorites

09/15/2017

Jack Cassidy

A photo of Jack Cassidy

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

Comments

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.7k+ favorites

09/15/2017

Jack Cassidy and Shirley Jones

A photo of Jack Cassidy and wife Shirley Jones

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

Comments

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.7k+ favorites

09/15/2017

David and Jack Cassidy

A photo of Jack Cassidy and son David Cassidy. David's Stepmother was Shirley Jones and they both starred in the tv show "The Partridge Family" in the 1960's. Shirley played David's mother in the show.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

Comments