Radio icon Casey Kasem, king of the top 40 countdown, has passed away at age 82. Kerri Kasem, Casey’s daughter, announced the news on her Facebook page.
“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,” she wrote in a Facebook post. “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.”
Kasem, hospitalized in Washington state since June 1, had been in declining health.
Casey Kasem was best known for his role as host of radio’s American Top 40, which started in 1970. Over the years he hosted other version of his countdown show on both radio and television. He also did frequent voiceover work — including commercials and cartoon characters. Did you know he played Shaggy from the Scooby-Doo series?
Kasem had been in the news recently with his care the focus of a litigious dispute between his wife, Jean Kasem, and hischildren. For a time earlier this year, his children did not know his whereabouts.
[via USA Today]
