Casey Kasem, Dead at 82
Casey Kasem, one of the most recognizable voices in radio who hosted "American Top 40" for four decades, died Sunday morning. He was 82.
His daughter Kerri revealed the news in a Facebook post:
Early this Father's Day morning, our dad Casey Kasem passed away surrounded by family and friends. Even though we know he is in a better place and no longer suffering, we are heartbroken. Thank you for all your love, support and prayers. The world will miss Casey Kasem, an incredible talent and humanitarian; we will miss our Dad.
With love, Kerri, Mike and Julie.
Kasem was being treated at St. Anthony Hospital in Washington since last week. His daughter Kerri was placed in charge of his medical care last Friday, after she won a legal battle with Kasem's second wife, Jean.
Kasem, born Kemal Amin Kasem in Detroit in 1932, got his start in radio after being drafted into the U.S. Army, where he worked on the Armed Forces Radio Korea Network. He began as host of American Top 40 in 1970, where he would combine long distance dedications, memories, and music knowledge with the top hits of the day, before ending with his signature sign-off: "Keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars."
In addition to his radio work, Kasem voiced the Shaggy character in Scooby Doo for almost 40 years. He retired in 2009. Here he is doing his Shaggy voice at the Muscular Dystrophy Association telethon with Jerry Lewis in the 1980s:
Kasem himself suffered from Lewy body disease, a kind of dementia with symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease. He is survived by his wife, Jean Kasem, and four children.
[Photo via Getty]