Jack Cassidy

One of the most Tony-nominated musical actors in Broadway history.

Received help entering show business from a family member who was a contortionist in the circus.

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" , but did guest star as Ted Baxters brother.

Worked as a bell hop, counterman, dishwasher, chauffer, clothing salesman, postal clerk, hotel clerk, stable boy, coal and ice truck handler before getting his big break.

His idol was John Barrymore , whom he played in W.C. Fields and Me .

While researching his Irish ancestry, he discovered his familys 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.

Wrote a play, "A Waltz for Willie Ryan".

Father, with Evelyn Ward of son David Cassidy. Father, with Shirley Jones , of sons Shaun Cassidy , Ryan Cassidy and Patrick Cassidy.

Won Broadways 1964 Tony Award as Best Supporting or Featured Actor 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 in 1966 for "Its a Bird...Its a Plane...Its Superman!" and in 1969 for "Maggie Flynn.".

On June 24, 2005, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced he would receive a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for live theatre.

The 4th floor penthouse where he died is located at 1221 North Kings Road, West Hollywood.

Portrayed by Malcolm McDowell in The David Cassidy Story .

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 Mike Todd s "Something For the Boys" in 1943.

In the March 15, 1965 "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" episode, "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" {The Photographer and the Undertaker (#3.21)} , he played a hit man who disposes of the victims 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.

In 1974, his neighbors were shocked to see him watering his front lawn naked in the middle of the afternoon. Cassidys second wife Shirley Jones described a similar incident when she found him sitting naked in a corner, reading a book. Jones said to Cassidy that they had to get ready to do a show, and he calmly looked up and said, "I know now that Im Christ".[.

David Cassidy also claimed that his father was bisexual, citing attributed personal accounts and reports, both anecdotal and published, of his fathers same-sex affairs, a fact neither he nor his siblings discovered until after Cassidys death. In her 2013 memoir, Shirley Jones confirms that Cassidy had many same-sex affairs, including one with Cole Porter.

The role of the vain, shallow, buffoon-like newsman Ted Baxter on TVs 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, CMon, Get Happy, Cassidys 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 Cassidys 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 Cassidys apartment. As Cassidys 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 Cassidys 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" : Ken Franklin in "Columbo" {Murder by the Book } , Riley Greenleaf in "Columbo" {Publish or Perish (#3.5)} and "Columbo" {Now You See Him (#5.5)} .

Made his Broadway debut at the age of 16 in the chorus of Cole Porters "Something For The Boys.".

Mother Charlotte was from Hamburg, Germany.

Father-in-law of Tracey Lynne Turner , and Melissa Hurley. Former father-in-law of Ann Pennington , Sue Shifrin , Kay Lenz , and Susan Diol.

Grandfather of Jack Cassidy , Katie Cassidy , Caitlin Cassidy , Beau Cassidy , and John Cassidy.

Shirley Jones freely admitted to not being able to deal with Jacks bipolar disorder. They divorced in 1975.

Son of Patrick Cassidy and Melissa Hurley.

Nephew of David Cassidy , Ryan Cassidy , and Shaun Cassidy.

Grandson of Shirley Jones and Jack Cassidy.

Cousin of Katie Cassidy , Caitlin Cassidy and John Cassidy.

The rewards of comedy are instant. I have no desire to look out into an,audience to see if there are any tears.

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.

We try to do as many things as we can that keeps up with the children.

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.