JACK CASSIDY

March 5, 1927

John Joseph Edward Cassidy, known as “Jack” was born in Richmond Hill, Queens, and became an actor and singer known for his work in the theatre, television and films. 

He received multiple Tony Award nominations and a win as well as a Grammy Award for his work on the Broadway production of the 1964 musical She Loves Me.  His career on Broadway began in 1943 at the Alvin Theatre, the same venue that later hosted Lucille Ball in Wildcat. He was also Tony nominated for Fade Out – Fade In (1965) starring Carol Burnett and Maggie Flynn (1968) with his second wife, Shirley Jones.  

He made his television debut in August 1952 on “All-Star Summer Revue,” a summer edition of “All-Star Revue” aka “Four Star Revue”.  His acting debut on TV came in “Shadow of Evil” a February 1957 episode of the “United States Steel Hour.”  He co-starred with his new wife, Shirley Jones. 

In October 1962, he guest-starred on Desilu’s “The Real McCoys” as Jack Masters in “The Roofing Salesman” co-starring Doris Singleton. 

He returned to Desilu for “Lucy and the Undercover Agent” (TLS S4;E10) aired on November 22, 1965. 

Cassidy played Professor Zoorkin in an episode that that was appropriately Broadway-themed, with Lucy dressed as Carol Channing from Hello, Dolly!  Coincidentally, Cassidy’s next two TV acting roles were on “I Spy” and “The Girl From U.N.C.L.E”, both in 1967. 

In September 1967, he was cast as an egotistical actor playing a TV superhero named Jetman in “He & She” starring Paula Prentiss and Richard Benjamin (who were husband and wife in real life as well). Coincidentally, Cassidy had been in Superman on Broadway the year before. Although he did not play the man of steel, he earned another Tony nomination. “He & She” only lasted one season on CBS. It was his only time as a series regular and as usual, it earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. 

He earned a second Emmy nomination for “The Andersonville Trial” in 1970.

The role of Ted Baxter on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” (1970–1977) was reportedly written with Cassidy in mind, 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 brother Hal.

Cassidy’s final screen role was playing Broadway writer Damon Runyon in The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover, which premiered posthumously in 1977.

He was the father of teen idols David Cassidy and Shaun Cassidy. David was the son of Cassidy’s first wife, Evelyn Ward. In addition to Shaun, Jones and Cassidy also had two more sons, Patrick and Ryan. 

In the last years of his life, Cassidy suffered from bipolar disorder and alcoholism. In her 2013 memoir, Shirley Jones wrote that Cassidy had many same-sex affairs, including one with Cole Porter. In the early morning hours of December 12, 1976, Cassidy lit a cigarette and fell asleep, igniting the couch. The flames spread throughout the apartment and building. Cassidy’s remains were later scattered into the Pacific Ocean. He was 49 years old.