Ted Cassidy

Biography

Date of Birth 31 July 1932, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA Date of Death 16 January 1979, Los Angeles, California, USA (after heart surgery) Birth Name Theodore Crawford Cassidy Height 6' 9" (2.06 m) Mini Biography He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and raised in Philippi, West Virginia. Ted Cassidy was a well respected actor who portrayed many different characters during his film career. His most notable role was Lurch, the faithful butler on "The Addams Family" TV series. His most memorable dialogue as Lurch would be, "You rang?", whenever someone summoned him. Due to his large size, (6ft. 9in.) he portrayed larger than life characters. His deep voice, was used for narrations and for dubbing certain character's voices. His acting career spanned three decades. Ted Cassidy died in 1979 from complications following open-heart surgery. His live-in girlfriend had his remains cremated, then buried in the backyard of their Woodland Hills home. Spouse Margaret Helen Jesse (14 June 1956 - September 1975) (divorced) 2 children Trade Mark Incredibly deep, almost Basso Profundo, voice Trivia Worked as a staff announcer for WFAA radio in Dallas prior to his acting career and was part of WFAA's ongoing coverage of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Among the first to interview assassination eyewitnesses W.E. Newman Jr. and Gayle Newman. Played one season of college basketball at Stetson University in the 1950s and averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds a game. Lurch was supposed to be silent, as in the Charles Addams cartoons, but during the shooting of the pilot, when Ted made his very first appearance at the sounding of the gong, he ad libbed the now famous line, "You rang?" in his trademark sonorous voice, and everyone was so impressed that Lurch became a speaking role. Married immediately after graduating from Stetson and worked at a radio station in Jacksonville, Florida, and then at a radio station in Pensacola, Florida (where his children were born), before taking a job at WFAA in Dallas Texas. Contacts made at WFAA led to his audition for The Addams family. Two children, a boy (Sean) born in 1957 and a girl (Cameron) born in 1960. Both children are now lawyers. Brother-in-law of actor Dan Jesse. He was married to Jesse's sister from 1956 to 1976. Best remembered by the public as Lurch in "The Addams Family" (1964). Personal Quotes "If I'm up for a part if, I'm asked to play something, I really worry what I'm going to be because they always make fellows like me the big dumb galoot, the oaf who doesn't know anything, who trips over himself. We are apparently idiots, all big men. You end up never leading anybody to anything. You end up holding people, while the boss hits them in the face -- scratching your head a lot wondering where all your marbles went. Well, that kind of thing doesn't appeal to me at all. I used to think that's how it was and I would do it, but I won't do it anymore. I turn down everything that comes along like that. So, the only thing you can rely on are those who have worked with you and know that you are consistent, talented and reliable, and maybe they're friends of yours and are willing to put you to work so you don't end up in the welfare line." (from a 1978 interview) "None. None of them! I don't want to be remembered for any of them because I don't like any of them. I'm not proud of any of them. I am still waiting for the one role I will have pride in and want to be associated with down the years." (on the role he would most like to be known for playing)