Shaun Cassidy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shaun Cassidy
Cassidy in 1977
Born	Shaun Paul Cassidy (1958-09-27) September 27, 1958 (age 66) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Education	Beverly Hills High School
Occupation	Singer actor writer producer
Known for	The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries General Hospital
Parent(s)	Jack Cassidy Shirley Jones
Relatives	David Cassidy (half-brother) Patrick Cassidy (brother) Katie Cassidy (niece)
Musical career
Genres	Pop rock
Instruments	Guitar piano
Years active	1976–present
Labels	Warner Bros. (U.S.)
Associated acts	Utopia

Shaun Paul Cassidy (born September 27, 1958) is an American singer, actor, writer, and producer. He is known for his music and for starring in the TV show The Hardy Boys Mysteries. Shaun has also created and produced many television series. Some of these include American Gothic and New Amsterdam.

While he was still in high school, Shaun signed a music contract. This led to him releasing several albums. At the same time, he became famous for playing Joe Hardy in The Hardy Boys Mysteries. He also acted in other TV shows like Breaking Away and General Hospital. Later, he performed on Broadway in the musical Blood Brothers. During this time, he started writing for television. In 2020, Shaun returned to the stage with his own show called The Magic of a Midnight Sky. Shaun comes from a family of actors. His mother is Academy Award-winning actress Shirley Jones. His father is Tony Award-winning actor Jack Cassidy. He is also the older brother of actor Patrick Cassidy. His half-brother was the singer and actor David Cassidy.

Early Life and Family

Shaun Cassidy grew up in Los Angeles, California and New York City. His parents are Shirley Jones and Jack Cassidy. He has an older half-brother, David Cassidy. He also has two younger brothers, Patrick and Ryan Cassidy.

Shaun went to boarding school in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He later graduated from Beverly Hills High School.

Career Highlights

Music Career

Shaun Cassidy in 1978

While still in high school, Shaun Cassidy signed a deal with Warner Bros. Records. He started recording music and quickly had hit songs in many countries. His first album, Shaun Cassidy, came out in 1977. This album sold millions of copies. It included his number-one hit song "Da Doo Ron Ron". He was even nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. Another popular song from the album was "That's Rock 'n' Roll".

His next album, Born Late, had the hit song "Hey Deanie". He also had a moderate hit with his version of "Do You Believe in Magic?". Shaun released two very successful albums. However, by the time his third album, Under Wraps, came out in 1978, his popularity as a teen idol began to slow down. His next album, Room Service, did not become a hit.

For his last album, Wasp (1980), Shaun tried a different style. This album was more rock and pop. It was produced by Todd Rundgren and featured the band Utopia. The album included songs written by Shaun himself, as well as covers of songs by other artists.

Acting Career

Shaun Cassidy singing at the Ohio State Fair in 1979

Shaun spent most of the 1980s and early 1990s focusing on acting in plays. He performed in plays on Broadway and in London's West End. Some of these plays included Mass Appeal and Bus Stop. He won an award for his acting in a play called Diary of a Hunger Strike.

He also acted alongside his half-brother David in the Broadway show Blood Brothers. This play was very successful and ran for over a year. While working on Blood Brothers, Shaun started writing his first TV show idea, called American Gothic. This opened the door for him to work with Universal Television.

Writing and Producing for Television

Since then, Shaun Cassidy has created, written, and produced many TV shows. These shows have been for both network and cable television. Some of his notable works include:

• American Gothic (1995–1996)
• Roar (1997), which starred Heath Ledger
• Cover Me (2000–2001)
• Invasion (2005–2006)
• Ruby & The Rockits (2009), which starred his brothers Patrick and David
• New Amsterdam (2018–2023) on NBC

In 2021, Shaun returned to live music performances after nearly forty years. He performed his one-man show, The Magic of a Midnight Sky, to large audiences across the country.

Personal Life

Shaun Cassidy has been married three times and has seven children.

• He married model Ann Pennington in 1979. They had two children together before divorcing in 1993.
• In 1995, he married actress Susan Diol. They had one daughter and divorced in 2003.
• In 2004, he married producer Tracey Lynne Turner. They have four children together.

Discography

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

Filmography