Biography

Casey Kasem

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Born
April 27, 1932 · Detroit, Michigan, USA
Died
June 15, 2014 · Gig Harbor, Washington, USA (complications from Lewy body dementia)
Birth name
Kemal Amen Kasem
Height
5′ 3″ (1.60 m)

Born an entertainer, Casey reigns from Michigan, the same birthplace for fellow Shaggy voice actor Matthew Lillard (whom both Casey and Matthew do a very fine, smashing job voicing the iconic character). Debuted as a radio operator and legendary disc jockey in his early days, he was the greatest and most likely the best one seen in recent years. Having an iconic voice and a set of vocal cords, Casey pleased the audience through radio and voice. Casey hit the big time in the early 60's with voicing both major and minor roles in television series, until Hanna-Barbera released, then later debuted, the same role he characterized his career off of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, in which he had the pleasure of working with legendary voice actors Don Messick and Hal Smith. For over 3 decades, he co-founded and hosted American Top 40, which aired the top songs of the week. In his later years, he spent his time with his friends and family, in the way he could showcase with love, passion, and voicing. He died on June 15th, 2014. He was 82 years old. He will be forever missed in the hearts of fans around the world.
- IMDb mini biography by: Chase Otis (MN)

Distinctive exciting voice
The voice of Shaggy Rogers
The voice of Robin on the Super Friends animated series
The catchphrase: "Keep your feet to the ground and keep reaching for the stars."
His youthful appearance.

For decades, he provided the voice of Shaggy Rogers on the "Scooby-Doo" animated series.
Daughter Kerri Kasem was granted conservatorship over Jean Kasem's objection. The court also ordered an investigation into her father's whereabouts, after her stepmother's attorney told the court her father was "no longer in the United States". Kasem was found soon after in Washington state [May 12, 2014].
Before he was a successful voice actor, and a radio personality, he was drafted into the United States Army (1952), and sent to Korea, where he was a disc jockey and announcer on the Armed Forces Radio Korea Network.
Met another disc jockey, Dick Clark, on KTLA's after-school dance show, "Shebang". The friendship lasted 49 years, until Clark's death on April 18, 2012.
His father died in 1955, after a car crash on the way to see him act in a play.

[his catchphrase] Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.
Growing up, I actually wanted to be a professional baseball player, instead of a radio DJ. Believe it or not.
[on his American Top 40 show] I accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative. That is the timeless thing.
[on his recognizable voice quality] It's a natural quality of huskiness in the midrange of my voice that I call 'garbage'. It's not a clear-toned announcer's voice. It's more like the voice of the guy next door.

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