Casey Kasem

Casey Kasem was a radio personality best known as host of the long-running syndicated program American Top 40. He began the program in 1970 and continued until 2004, when he was succeeded by Ryan Seacrest.

In addition to his radio career, Kasem worked for decades as a voice-over performer for numerous TV commercials and animated programs. Most notably, for more than 40 years he was the voice of Shaggy, the lanky beatnik member of the Mystery Inc. gang, on an array of Scooby Doo series and specials.

Born Kemal Amin Kasem in Detroit, Michigan, Kasem was the son of Lebanese immigrants and sought to promote greater understanding of Arab Americans whenever he could. He broke into radio after graduating from Wayne State University and eventually moved to Los Angeles, where he developed his signature style of introducing records with historical anecdotes while working at local station KRLA.

In 1970, Kasem conceived American Top 40 along with Don Bustany, a film producer and childhood friend. The two men modeled the concept on Your Hit Parade, which began in 1935 as a radio program, migrated to television in 1950, and continued until 1959.

Kasem’s trademarks included heartfelt readings of listeners' song dedications and his ability to maintain an anodyne tone suitable for all audiences, even when pop songs occasionally veered into racy territory as the years passed.

In addition to his voice-over work, Kasem had the occasional role in films such as New York, New York and Ghostbusters and television shows such as Ironside, Quincy, Switch, Charlie's Angels and Fantasy Island.

Kasem died June 14, 2014, in Gig Harbor, Washington. He was 82.