Shaun cassidy Opens Up About Challenging relationship with Father, Jack Cassidy
NEW YORK - Actor and singer Shaun Cassidy revealed a complex and often painful relationship with his late father, actor Jack Cassidy, describing him as a “phony” showman who prioritized performance over genuine connection. The candid admission, made in a recent interview, sheds light on a decades-long struggle to reconcile the public persona of his father with the man he knew privately.
Cassidy, 65, spoke openly about the emotional distance created by his father’s dedication to his craft and a perceived lack of authenticity. The revelation comes as Cassidy, himself a veteran entertainer, increasingly reflects on family and legacy while caring for his 91-year-old mother, Shirley Jones. The dynamic with his father profoundly shaped his own approach to both career and personal relationships.
“He was a performer, through and through,” Cassidy explained. “And that meant that everything was… curated.It wasn’t real. It was a phony kind of showmanship that I couldn’t connect with.” He described a childhood marked by a sense of emotional unavailability, despite his father’s considerable success on stage and screen, including roles in “The Columbo” series and the Broadway musical “She Loves Me.”
Cassidy recalled instances where his father seemed more invested in maintaining an image than in being present for his family. “I remember onc,I was sick,and he was rehearsing for a play,” he said. “He came home, and instead of asking how I was, he asked my mother how my ‘performance’ was - how well I was handling being sick.”
the actor acknowledged the irony of his own career path, given his father’s influence. Cassidy rose to fame in the 1970s with ”The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries” and a string of hit songs. Though, he consciously chose to approach his work with a greater emphasis on authenticity. “I wanted to be genuine. I wanted people to know the real me, not a character I was playing,” he stated.
Despite the difficult relationship,Cassidy expressed a degree of understanding for his father’s motivations. “He was a product of his time, and he was driven by a need for approval,” he said. ”But that doesn’t excuse the pain he caused.” Jack cassidy died in 1976 at the age of 44, leaving behind a complex legacy and a son still grappling with the complexities of their bond.
