Casey Kasem

**Casey Kasem** (born **Kemal Amin Kasem**; April 27, 1932– June 15, 2014) was an American radio personality, music historian, actor, and voice artist. He is known for his many voice roles in cartoons and for being a public radio personality.

## Early life

Kasem was born **Kemal Amin Kasem** in Detroit, Michigan, on April 27, 1932, to Lebanese Druze immigrant parents. They settled in Michigan, where they worked as grocers. Kasem graduated from Northwestern High School in Detroit and Wayne State University.

## Career

Kasem's career began in the radio business in the 1950s in Flint, Michigan. He then made his first movie appearance in _Easy Rider_ in 1967.

He was the host of the weekly _American Top 40_ radio show from 1970 to 1988, and again from March 1998, until January 10, 2004. Ryan Seacrest is now the host. Kasem is the host of two weekly radio shows, _American Top 20 with Casey Kasem_ and _American Top 10 with Casey Kasem_.

Kasem did the voice of many advertisements, has done many voices for _Sesame Street_, and is the voice of 'Shaggy' for the animated television show _Scooby-Doo_.

Kasem retired in 2009, because of old age and health concerns.

## Personal life

Kasem married Linda Myers in 1972. The couple had three children. Kasem then married Jean Thompson in 1980. The couple had one child. Kasem lived in Washington state.

Kasem was a Democrat. He narrated television ads for 1972 president candidate George McGovern's campaign.

### Disappearance

On May 12, 2014, Kasem was declared missing by a Los Angeles court judge ordered an investigation for his whereabouts. Soon after, Kasem was found alive in Washington state.

### Health

Kasem suffered from Parkinson's disease and an early form of dementia.

On June 6, 2014, Kasem was in critical but stable condition at a hospital in Washington state hospital, receiving antibiotic treatment from blood pressure and bedsores. He also suffered from Lewy body disease, the most common type of progressive dementia after Alzheimer's and was bed-ridden.

## Death

Kasem died in Gig Harbor, Washington from complications of dementia and sepsis, aged 82. On August 14, it was reported in the Norwegian newspaper _Verdens Gang_ that Kasem was going to be buried in Oslo. The funeral administration of Oslo, Norway confirmed that Kasem was buried at Vestre Gravlund in Oslo on December 16, 2014.

## Further reading

- Durkee, Rob. _American Top 40: The Countdown of the Century_, Schriner Books, New York, 1999.
- Battistini, Pete. "American Top 40 with Casey Kasem (The 1970s)", Authorhouse.com, January 31, 2005.

## Other websites

- Kasem entry at the National Broadcaster's Hall of Fame

## Infobox (person)

- **name**: Casey Kasem
- **image**: Casey Kasem.jpg
- **caption**: Kasem at the 41st Annual Emmy Awards on September 17, 1989
- **birth name**: Kemal Amin Kasem
- **birth place**: Detroit, Michigan, United States, U.S.
- **death place**: Gig Harbor, Washington, U.S.
- **death cause**: Sepsis caused by dementia with Lewy bodies
- **resting place**: Vestre gravlund, Oslo, Norway
- **nationality**: Americans, American
- **alma mater**: Wayne State University
- **occupation**: Radio personality, musician, disc jockey, actor
- **years active**: 1954–2009
- **spouse**: Linda Myers (m. 1972-1979, divorced)
Jean Kasem (m. 1980-2014, his death)
- **signature**: Casey Kasem (signature).png