Just had to come back for this permanent comment section, to tell you how wonderful your channel is! You are what my young niece calls “epic awesome sauce,” as her highest compliment. I think that YOU are epic awesome sauce! I gave up watching TV in 2007, and don’t miss it! I do, however, miss the golden age of TV! Thank you for inspiring me and others, Dave! God bless you!
I met John Astin and in chatting told him ever since I was a kid I always wanted to meet Ted Cassidy. He smiled, and for a moment i could see him thinking back, and he said, " What a wonderful guy he was." He told me that at one point he and another man had written a script, with Cassidy in the mind for the lead role about a minister who'd lost his church and his way. I replied, " Wow, that would have been great, he really could have sunk his teeth into a role like that." , to which Astin nodded in agreement, I asked, " What happened?" He shrugged his shoulders and said, " So many great ideas and scripts just never end up happening for one reason or another. That's the business." I understood, but damn, I wish that film had been made!
Ted Cassidy was awesome as Lurch. His concern over being typecast in that role was valid, but the way he made that character entertaining and lovable is a credit to his talent. He ad-libbed the "You rang?" line and that impressed the producers. I can't imagine Lurch being mute. His commanding voice was a huge asset, including his voice-over acting on Star Trek.
@Charles Edwards I guess it was assumed the whole family was there, but if I remember correctly it was only Lurch that stuck his head out the window. There was no consideration about "universes" in 60s television. Having stars from other shows do cameos is just something they did. They even had Sammy Davis Jr show up, as well as Colonel Klink, in character.
@James Gleason What do you want me to tell you. The episode happened and you could probably find the clip somewhere if you looked. I'm not going to try and explain "Camp" and why it's funny here.
Thank you so much for doing this for Ted Cassidy and his memory 💗. I thought he was so wonderful in everything he did especially The Addams Family especially doing the scenes were he was dancing and impressing his mom. When I recognized him on Butch Cassidy. I didn't know that he did voice overs. Now you will have me watching all these shows. You are wonderful ❣️.
Ted Played basketball at Stetson University in the late 40's early 50's while my parents went there. They showed me a picture of him playing basketball in one of their yearbooks.
There are a couple of things I remember about Ted Cassidy: one is that Cassidy not only played Lurch but also played Thing the hand that popped out of his box to answer the telephone; the second is that after "The Addams Family" he played an animated villain in a mixed live action and animated series entitled "The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn". The show was actually produced by Hanna Barbera and it had a brief run on the N.B.C. network. People might not know that Ted Cassidy got started on television as a reporter in Dallas and one of his assigments was covering the Kennedy assassination.
I remember Huck Finn. He was the voice of a number of bad guys in that one. He did A LOT of voice work. As mentioned he was the narrator for the intro of The Incredible Hulk TV show, which everyone of that age remembers.
@@peteg475 That show had a very brief run in 1968 but it left an indelible mark on my memory because it was probably the first show I can recall that had live characters interacting with animated ones. While it is true that "My World and Welcome to It" had animated segments they were more an insight into the mind of the narrator (William Windom) who played the James Thurber like character.
@@zoperxplex Yes. Cassidy voiced the antagonist "Injun Joe", and of course in the animated segments the 'bad guy" was always some alternate version of Joe with Cassidy's voice.
The year before in 63, Ted worked as a dj at WFAA radio in Dallas, and was pressed into a newscaster role on the day JFK was killed. He also played basketball at Stetson.
"You rang?" I still use that one to this day. And that photo with Ted dancing with Morticia is great! I can still picture that in my mind. Some of the best "good stuff" ever my friend!
In a way, both Ted Cassidy and his doppelgänger Richard Kiel suffered from tall man’s curse. However, Richard did pretty well ,in his career. Certainly did quite well in the James Bond films but my favorite of his role was in The Longest Yard. “I told you I broke his f$$ing neck”; And yes, Ted as Harvey Logan who took on Butch in BC and Sundance, the first movie I ever saw. “Rules? In a knife fight? No rules”. Gold
Ted Cassidy Bellyached And Whined And Bad-Mouthed Richard Keil. What A Childish, Petty Thing To Do. RK Was A Happily Married-Man Who Was Content With His Life. TC Was Just Another Oh Boo-Hoo, Woe Is Me Nobody Wants Me. The Thing That Is Really Mindboggling Is How They Remain In The Busines They Actually Think A Wonderful-Oppertunity is Just Around The Corner. He Should Have Called It Quits. He Might Be With Us Today If He Did.
Now, I'm not as tall as Mr. Cassidy, but I've got the "You rang?" down to a science, and one of my favorite things to do was sneak up behind people, and grab their hats off their heads when they came to visit, much like Lurch did. That's always fun! Thanks, Dave, for remembering 1 of my favorite actors. 🙂
I loved the Addams Family as a kid , my great aunt gave me a autographed photo she had got from him while she was out in CA traveling around - I still have it , I framed it and hung it up on the wall in my artwork room. Ted was a good guy.
I met Ted in South Florida. He was filming a movie, about drug running and escaped female convicts, not far from my house. My friend, David, and I, did not harass him like the other boneheaded kids. We referred to him as Mr. Cassidy and really took a shine to us. We hung around with him during production, he carried us on his shoulders, we got to sit on the laps of the actresses who were the escapees. We saw the final scene were he had the BSO (Broward Sheriff's Office)helicopter and airboat after him and he dropped from a chopper after dangling from the landing skid. He was a great guy and a gentleman.
@@ovivargas397 He is listed on IMDB, as playing the Gorn along with Bill Blackburn, and Gary Combs all uncredited. Apparently still kicking his last movie credit was in 1983 but worked on Star Trek Continues in 2013. Your looking up the wrong guy, you need to polish up on your research skills. But then there is always a few Trekkies out there who like to argue.
I Loved him when he’d say”” You rang & that groan “” Thank You, So MUCH, for Sharing all these Star’s in heaven ! Through you, They still Live on ! ! ! ✨⭐️✨⭐️
I was just thinking about Ted Cassidy today. I remember reading an interview with him and he talked about the role of Lurch on The Addams Family. He stated that even though Lurch was a lumbering being who served the Addams’ , you didn’t think he was human. But Ted said that Lurch was brimming with humanity because he treated visitors well (even if Lurch didn’t exactly know his own strength because it seemed like he was a little rough on men). I was even more surprised to hear his vocal performance in Hanna/Barbera’s adaptation of Godzilla in the Godzilla Power Hour. I think he was in an episode of I Dream Of Jeanie as an angry genie who confronts Jeanie’s sister about a violation of some kind. Major Healey asked him what he was going to do with Jeanie’s sister, the genie says with murderous glee, “I’ll kill her.” In the cult sci-fi classic The Angry Red Planet, he was the uncredited voice of the Martian who warns the viewers of the film not to come to Mars or they will be destroyed. It is good that he was able to work on his own terms. Harvey Logan-“Guns or knives?” Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid Ted Cassidy was a giant of talent.
I liked him as when he was on The Six Million Dollar Man I got on board ❣️I love Andre the Giant ❣️❣️I heard a lot of men didn’t like it when other men were taller than them. SUPERFRIENDS❣️These tall guys are like a wall out of nowhere‼️His passing that’s so sad. Sorry he went out that way. RIP. Sorry for his family and friends and we fans. Thank you Dave you and yours have a great one❣️‼️
Thanks again Dave. We loved Ted Cassidy. Never knew he was the Gorn. Can't wait to tell my brother. I have to be honest though I kinda lost my train of thought after sighting Morticia Addams, Carolyn Jones. I never quite got over her in that skin tight black dress. Wow.
Dave you really surprised me with this one. I never realized that Ted did the intro for The Incredible Hulk. I loved his work as Big Foot. He was able to convey the characters emotions through that heavy makeup and costume. His Lurch is second to none. It's truly heartbreaking on how he passed. Thank you for bringing back such great memories and facts about one of my favorite actors I didn't know
@The Elder Any chance you know the name of the episode of Trek that Mr Cassidy was on - or possibly the story line so I could find it? I would watch it if I find out. Thanks
He was a Volusia County lifeguard for a season or two in the 1950s. I can just imagine drowning, seeing him come to save me, and then me doing the Gilligan's Island double speed swimming away. And I'm 6'6".
"What are Little Girls Made Of" is one of the very best Star Trek episodes, and it would not have been anywhere near as good if it didn't have Ted Cassidy.
Dave, another excellent story. I never knew how Ted Cassidy died. I met his son when I worked in Westwood. The minute I saw him, I saw the resemblance to his father.
Kenny Huskisson, when I first saw him, his facial features were just like his father. I asked him, excuse me sir, but you bare a strong resemblance to Ted Cassidy. He smiled and replied, He was my father.
im 6'5" which doesnt seem like anything unusual these days, but when i was a kid growing up in the 70s and 80s i was always the tallest person in the room and the skinniest. i always really liked Ted, even though i was taunted endlessly in my youth being called Lurch. but the thing i always really remember him for is his amazing voice not his height. what a fabulous deep baritone voice he had, i wish i had such an awesome voice.
He did go against type, in “The Beverly Hillbillies”. He played a professional gardener, named Mr. Ted. The only time he sank into type, was when Granny shot him, with rock salt. All he did, was defend himself. Also, you saw the only time, a character bigger, than Jed and Jethro.
I shared in the livestream that Lurch was my favorite character after Spock! I also loved Bill Bixby as the Hulk, and also in “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father!” Ted Cassidy was great as the alien in the one hour episode of The Twilight Zone’s “To Serve Man.” He looked similar to that alien when playing in the Star Trek episode as the alien android...
@Charles Edwards Yes, and it was also Richard who played Jaws. He was more imposing than Ted because Ted was a more-with-less style actor, which worked for him I thought better than Brando, who's style I didn't like that much.
Charles Edwards 😏😳😲🥺🤯wow! This old gray mare sure ain’t what she used to be! Thank you for initially blowing my mind, yet correcting a memory I thought was true! Thank you for correcting my erroneous statement! The confusion between Ted Cassidy and Richard Keil lives on-in the minds of many! I pray that others will learn about this! It needs to be spread far and wide, hither and yon!
Before Ted got into acting he worked as a reporter for a radio station in Dallas and was part of the group that reported on the Kennedy assassination. Also,Ted was a very talented musician.
Ted did a recurring character on my all-time favorite cartoon, Tarzan Lord of the Jungle. Ted played Phoebeg, a warrior/guard in Zandor, the city of gold. I'm the only person I know that remembers this show. It informed a great deal of my childhood and prompted me to learn the Tarzan call, much to my parents irritation. As a kid my version of the call was cracky and kind of squeaky but I had the yodel down and by the time I was a teen, the call had morphed into a smooth, rich baritone. When I was a lifeguard at a lake beach, I would use the bullhorn, hit my heroic pose and do Tarzan's call then listen to it echo over the lake. It had the incredibly satisfying effect of making all the animals quiet for a minute or two. Your Ted Cassidy video was the trigger for this fantastic old memory. Thank You!
@@jdsundstrom YES! That one! One of the most faithful iterations of Tarzan. They were like mini morality plays. Loved that show! Ted was in 2 or 3 episodes but was a definitely a heroic presence all his own.
I know that this is about Ted Cassidy who I grew up watching and enjoying but I just gotta' say that John Astin is the coolest looking guy when he's just barely smiling. The look on his face is so crazy wild, cool, and intriguing. I saw him here in his hometown of Baltimore one Christmas about 15 years ago playing Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. He was superb. Such a great actor and he made you feel as though he was playing just to you. Whatta' guy!
I got confused between actors Ted Cassidy and Richard Kiel. It was Kiel that was in The Wild Wild West. He not only played Dr. Loveless's assistant he also played a deformed son of the Buckley family.
The Addams Family ran as reruns here in an annual cycle until at least the early 70s. Ted Cassidy spotting (star spotting in general) was a bit of an obsession with my older brother as I was growing up. It always came across to me that Ted was a" Big Man" in the industry.🤭 I'll show myself out.🤐
Another amazing video! Thank you Dave for this one. I was always very entertained as a child with Ted's performances and he very much deserves to be remembered.
Great video Dave. Like you I watched The Addam's Family but I also watched The Banana Splits and I saw that Ted had a voice role in one of their cartoon segments but I had no idea that he'd been on Star Trek or voiced the intro to The Ineradicable Hulk. Ya just learn something new every day :).
YES! I kept thinking he voiced a character from the Arabian Knights cartoon but you're right, he was "Injun Joe" in The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. (from Wikipedia) After the show's original run, the series continued to air in reruns as part of The Banana Splits and Friends Show syndication package.
Two things: I'll have you know I have incorporated, "You know, the good stuff" into my regular vernacular. And secondly, Pittsburgh-native Ted Cassidy was 6'9" and--believe it or not--Andre was NOT well over seven feet tall in real life. Because of his "big hair" he did look 7'4", but in reality he was most likely seven feet tall at his apex. In later years, he would have been a lot closer to Ted's height. They BOTH were 46 when they died.
I wasn’t born until after The Adams Family was off the air. I was born in 67. But I remember coming home after school and watching it. And my twin brother and I laughing our butts off. Every time the phone in our house rang or the door bell rang, one of us or one of our other siblings would say You Rang in as deep a voice as we could muster. Then would laugh if the person on the other end got it. Our mom would get annoyed but that was part of the fun of it all.
l know he played Rock on that photo on Star Trek. One of my favorites. "Help me Kirk, Kirk, help me," I believe he was on the one with 'Harry Mudd' s androids, but You floored me revealing that he was the one in the 'Gore' creature's costume on one of my favorite episodes, title named.
i was a fan of mr. cassidy from way back. in the days before the internet i would ride my bike to town, go to the drug store and read gossip magazines just to get caught up on hollywood news. it was one such trip to the drug store in the summer of 1979 when i discovered ted had sadly passed away many months prior. i read about his passing in a rona barrett magazine where i read the sad news. i remember how alone i felt because there wasn't anyone to express my loss to.
Ted was a regular on The Barbary Coast with William Shatner & Doug McClure in 74/75. He was also the Mutant strongman in both Genesis II & Planet Earth. I think he was the only actor that wasn't recast. Lurch came out of the window once to chat with Batman and Robin.
Thank you for another great video. The Addams Family has it's on channel on Pluto TV and I just love binge watching them over and over. The Addams Family was also a big part of my childhood in the 70s, but, were never re run here in the UK. I love the TV shows of the 50s,60, 70s and even the 80s. Much better than most of what is made today and they didn't waste time at the start of each new episode recapping the previous weeks storyline, something I absolutely hate.
For the JFK assassination enthusiasts who might see this...Ted worked at WFAA Radio/TV Dallas in the early 60s. He was watching the motorcade, and actually got the first interview with the Newmans on the radio before Jay Watson dragged them to the TV studio.
Thsnks, Dave. I always wondered what happened to Ted Cassidy. I know he played Frankenstein, Jr. "Ok, Buzz!" He had that distinctive bass voice fitting for Lurch. One of my favorite episodes of the Adams Family was Lurch And His Harpsichord. It showed Lurch's character had a unique hobby and without giving too much away, he almost loses his beloved harpsichord. Not sure if that was really Ted Cassidy playing that 18th century keyboard but I think Lurch's playing it helped promote the instrument. Just a thought. And of course, since I loved the live action Hulk, I loved his narration and the growls he provided for the not so jolly Green giant!
Well Ted was a favorite of mine as a kid, I related in some ways as I was already six feet tall by 7th grade. And I still love the "You Rang" line. That one and "Missed it by that much", lol. Being 63 now and on my second round of cancer, I would so love shows like that again. One can always hope!
I did not know a lot of this. His guest appearances and voice overs. I will be looking for him in a lot of reruns I love to still watch.thank you for another great video
I enjoyed those Scooby Doo episodes in which they met famous people in each episode. I remember them meeting the Addams Family, Don Knots, The Three Stooges, The Harlem Globetrotters, etc. That was awesome!
Actually Dave, It wasn't Ted inside the Gorn costume, (that honor went to 3 other aciors)..but you were right about him supplying that unforgettable voice to Kirk's reptilian foe. Ted also supplied the voice to Balok's puppet in the episode The Corrbomite Maneuver.
Ted was a local hero here in Dallas. He was a disc jockey in the Dallas market and I've even gotten to know some of the old timers that knew him in his radio days!
