I had the honor of having Ted Cassidy as a friend . I first met him when he was the program director for Wfaa channel 8 in Dallas texas . We kept in touch and I was at a loss when he died.
I few years ago I learned about his reporting Kennedy's assassination. I always wondered what it might like to hear his "elder g*d" type voice coming from the radio saying something like, "The President has been shot!" It was fascinating to finally hear a snippet of his voice during that tragedy in this video. I will admit I almost didn't realize that was Ted because his voice was surprisingly "soft", not as deep and resonant. Oh, I'm well aware the voice he used for roles like Lurch, Ruk and the Gorn were greatly exaggerated, but it sounded rather higher pitched than even his "normal" speaking tone like that early 70s interview.
How cool to have these memories of your beloved friend live on through television and radio. If only that could be the case for us all who have lost somebody so special to us. I have a question about the rumor about his health. I have a connective tissue disorder (a "cousin" shall we say, to Marfan's Syndrome, which it's clear to anyone who knows about this condition he didn't have the correct lanky frame and so on). I have also seen it debunked that he had Acromegly. I also find that hard to believe, unless he was getting early treatment to slow the production of growth hormone in his pituitary gland. Can you please give us the truth about whether he was ill with Acromegly? I just feel like there is so much misinformation about Ted Cassidy due to his role as Lurch. I am sorry to learn (if it's true) that this role caused him torment related to past childhood bullying. Plus being typecast is unfortunate for any actor typically. My childhood friend Naomi Grossman was Pepper in American Horror Story for 2 seasons (3?) of American Horror Story. She stated she found it hard to find roles after that because she was too recognizable as Pepper. Now that's also hear-say because I can't remember where I read that or if it came directly from her so I may be wrong (I'm not trying to put any misinformation out about her). Like I said, we were friends on the bus and at school in grade school through high school. I was just wondering, if you and Ted were friends, you would know if he had Acromegly. It doesn't fit unless you put him in monster make up and make him speak like his voice could wake the dead. Otherwise he seemed like a pretty "normal" guy (I put that in quotes bc I have a genetic mutation that caused my connective tissue disorder and I think I'm somewhat normal lol).
Lurch was a very comforting character. He’s like that huge dog that scares strangers but will lay down his life for those he loves. I hadn’t realized that Ted Cassidy was in so many shows and movies that I grew up with. Truly an amazing individual.
Met him in 1977 at his only convention appearance here in Dallas. Remember him being very kind...He signed a STAR TREK pic and one of himself as Big foot. He also did a risqué song about The Bionic Woman. Sweet guy. RIP
As a Pittsburgh native, we were always proud of Ted Cassidy, I remember him more for Star Trek than The Addams Family! God I keep forgetting how long he's been gone... 😞 This was a good tribute, thank you 👍
He made the Incredible Hulk TV series sound like more than a TV series. His voice / growls for the Hulk were such an important part of that show and once it was gone the show never was the same for this kid back in the 70's. He will never be forgotten. Rip big guy.
He was a awesome actor. I can relate to him in school i was teased to for being so dam tall in school. Thank god i stop growing at 6 foot 5 in high school in the late 70's. My heart goes out to this guy.
Wait your that tall and was not proud to be tall? That is odd, most females like taller men, you had that going for you at least, I'm only 6 , but you are no freak for sure, I bet you could arm wrestle as well
@@wildman1111 check out Devon larratt arm wrestle, he is 6'6" and its about how to use levers, he is a character to watch as well. Congratulations on your marriage, I was not as lucky, I been married twice both divorced just under a decade each. Take care
Oh my goodness... I wish he knew how nobody saw Lurch as a monster. He was like the sweetest thing ever. That's very sad that he felt uncomfortable with a role that was done so perfectly.
that was a great and enlightening tribute! I hate to say it, but I'm actually really surprised at how human and even worldly Mr Cassidy was in his real life! He was cool as heck and accomplished on and off the screen!
I'm a huge fan of Ellen Corby (Grandma on the Waltons) and love the episode where she shows up as Lurch's overwhelming mother. Its hysterical because she is TINY along side him but he's terrified of her.
This was a great look back at a truly lovable character, I didn't know much about Ted Cassidy but I always thought there was much more to him that what was revealed in the show. Thanks for posting this.
My fav AF episode is "Lurch Learns to Dance." When the dance instructor grabs Lurch and says: "OK, Buster" and starts dancing, Lurch collapses, spinning to the floor. As he does, the video was shaken and the audio is of a tree being felled -- one of the funniest moments in television.
Here's one you probably didn't know about that the video didn't mention. Ted worked on the ten commandments as " The voice of God" coming from the burning Bush
Apart from his other roles, he was the voice of the alter-ego of Balok, Commander of the Flagship Fesarius of the First Federation. He was an outstanding actor.
THANK YOU. I started picking that up when I was in middle school, about 40 years ago. I never knew who possessed the voice, but I ALWAYS knew it was the same person...
He was uncredited for his v.o. work on Star Trek's The Corbamite Maneuver and Arena. About 10+ years ago, I wrote to IMDB.com (twice) and got him credited for The Corbamite Manuever. Sometime thereafter, he was also credited for Arena. I didn't even realize was in that one even though in hind listen, it was very obvious. I'm used to hearing him with all that resonant bass but in Arena he was providing the voice for the Gorn, a lizard like character so he was hissing and EQed very brightly with no low frequency at all. But if you listen carefully, you can still hear his character in his voice.
We were very proud of him here in West Virginia too! I know of his TV exploits very much, but hearing TH-cam excerpts of his reporting of the JFK assassination on WFAA radio in Dallas was phenomenal with his informative intelligence!
I have a special memory of Ted. Before he was lovable Lurch, he was Big Frank, who drove an Oscar Mayer Wiener car while making promotional appearances at grocery stores. My father, my 8 year-old twin sister and I happened to be at one of the stores where he appeared. He handed out those great little Oscar Mayer Wiener whistles to the kids. Then afterwords, he actually lifted me about 4 feet off the floor with my 2 hands holding on to his huge BABY FINGER 🤙🏻 !!! What a thrill, and what a sweet man!
Lurch was always my favorite character on the show. He had a great voice for radio and voiceovers. He seemed to be very popular with the ladies too. Ladies Love Lurch !
What people don't realize that out of the Lurch makeup. Ted Cassidy was a babe. The role that was closest to his personality was an orchid gardener on a episode of The Beverly Hillbillies.
Though his typecasting for the role of Lurch on The Addams Family was very unfortunate, I’m so glad he did. No one else would have pulled out such a great performance on the show.
I didn't know he starred in that episode but it's one of my favorites. Also look up the Damon Knight penned short story. It's interesting how close some of the TZ episodes stayed to their source material.
@@patrickradcliffe3837 Remember the Scooby Doo when he and Shaggy open the door and the "camera" goes up? Da Da dad dad da dad. ZOINKS!!! And they're running so fast they couldn't get any traction? That would be me.
Fred Gwynne who played, "Herman Munster" suffered from the same condition and type casting even tho he was an actor of many rolls as well as an artist and author. Like Ted Cassidy, he was very loving and nice in person. RIP to both!
@@zsigzsag I would take what you read with a grain of salt. I have read quite a bit about Fred and the other cast members from "The Munsters" and I don't recall ever seeing or hearing anything about Fred having acromegaly. Still, that does not make my argument fact. So...I am puzzled. You may be correct. I will have to look into it in further detail.
I liked Ted as Ruk the android from Star Trek. He wasn't evil, just very protective. And he finally realized that self I preservation must cancel out programming.
Ted worked for Gene Roddenberry again in the early 70's when he played "Isaiah", a "White Comanche Warrior" working for PAX in his two pilot movies, "Genesis ll" and "Planet Earth".
Mr. Cassidy was typecast for something FANTASTIC. He will be remembered FOREVER for playing Lurch. Period. Fans who weren’t even born yet when Addams Family was on TV know who he is. It is a shame that a “working actor” can be typecast into both frustration and unemployment for being brilliant in a popular role. It is also a crying shame that we lost the wonderful, talented actors who played Morticia and Lurch FAR TOO SOON. Carolyn Jones was only 53 when she died of colon cancer.
Very well done. I had no idea Ted did all those other things except I do recall him from the Butch Cassidy film. I remember him from the Adams Family that I watched as a kid growing up. He was great! We had a lot of great shows back then...Batman, Man From UNCLE, Get Smart, etc. Those were the days. RIP Ted.
I never realized all the great voice over work he did. Just amazing. Loved that both him and Andre got to play Bigfoot in the 6 million dollar man. I'll never look at the incredible hulks screams in the same way. Thx Ted
I remember Ted was in the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. I always wondered if he was related to Butch... they had the same last name... Have you seen that movie? Its pretty amusing when he gets into a fight with Paul Newman! I met Richard Kiel before he passed away. He was a kid from Michigan like me. I told him he scared me in that Twilight Zone episode. He said it scared him too! Haha! I told him my oldest son Jesse is 6'9" and he gave me his condolences. Then I told him my second son Jake is 6'7"...
Not only is that picture there, but it is depicting her in sexy lingerie. I don't remember ever seeing her dressed that way. I wonder where they found that photo?
Ted was also a well regarded harpsichordist. Yes, he could play the harpsichord and organ but AFM (American Federation of Musicians) wouldn't let him play on the show
My late best friend was a DJ, singer, and done commercials on the Gulf Coast. Served in Vietnam and other things mentioned his friend Cassidy. Said those days were good memories and thought highly of Ted. He did the "You rang" once and had me laughing. I said Ted would be proud and annoyed if he heard that..lol.. Miss my best friend...Now both are hanging out together doing Shakespeare in deep voices...imagine that, lol...🤣😁❤🐻
Even though it wasn't Ted himself playing the harpsichord, he did a masterful job in faking it. It really looked real. I think I remember him playing Goliath in a David and Goliath movie. That was the first and only thing I saw him in after TAF. I was pleasantly surprised to hear that it was his voice that was used with the Hulk transformation!
It's not uncommon for an actor/actress to not want be typed cast by a role,even if it made them famous.They want to have a diverse and flexible acting career
@@assassinlexx1993 He knew that he didn't want to be known for playing one character cause that limits an actor/actress too much.Look what happened with Paul Rubian and his Peewee Herman persona
I have Cerebral Gigantism, a condition that is often confused with Acromegaly. I understand why he would dislike play Lurch. But I am glad he did play that part ..I was a very tall kid of the 70s and Lurch helped me feel better about being "weird." Mr Cassidy is a hero in my memory.
I may have missed it as I was on a conference call when I saw this. Ted had a roles on both Planet Earth and Genesis II in which he played the role of Isiah. Both projects were about a dystopian future on Earth in which he played a spiritual and very enigmatic character.
Ted also appeared in an episode of Emergency! He played a butcher whose wife's wedding ring was stuck on the hand of a young man's hand. Who was scared to death and described him to Johnny and Roy as "just off the boat from Transylvania!
Some of the roles mentioned in the video I was genuinely surprised to hear (the voice of Tarzan being a BIG surprise!). But one role NOT mentioned (even though it looked like there were one or two stills of Ted Cassidy in this role) was in *MacKenna's Gold* -- Hachita, the very menacing Apache warrior and part of outlaw Colorado's gang. Which put him on the big screen right alongside Gregory Peck (the titular Marshal), Omar Sharif (the aforementioned Colorado), and Julie Newmar (another Apache, also in Colorado's gang).
His voice and look is so iconic. I just found out recently that he voiced the the Hulk in the old series. Then I heard one of the reasons the canceled is because he passed. He will always will be the one and only Lurch to me.
While Ted was involved with the series, (he did the opening voice over, and some of the Hulk Roars), I doubt he had anything to do with the series ending. Ted died in 1979. The Incredible Hulk ended in 1982. Bill Bixby had a 6 year old son who died unexpectedly in 1981. If I remember correctly, that was the stated reason why he didn't want to act any more, depression over the loss of his son.
Underrated and often unnoticed, he did a great deal of work. A very short-lived Saturday morning show, "New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" was partly live action and partly animated (1968-1969), he was Injun Joe, a villain again.
My grandad knew Ted Cassidy when he was working with him as a director for I believe was programming for WFAA channel 8 in Texas. Bless him. He was probably the best friend everyone dreamed for (as I’ve been told- smart yet cool)!! Amazing voice actor. RIP
I never knew about the toons and incredible hulk yells, but that awful bigfoot is classic. His early days or the songs and dance, he really capitalized on the lurch character so it's an actors curse to be typecast in special roles
He had so many credits that you have to pick and choose what to mention. I'll mention, The Man From Atlantis, The Last Remake Of Beau Geste and the Donny and Marie film Going Coconuts.
I remember most of his roles....but one you left out that scared me the most as a kid was him playing Injun Joe in the 1968 TV show the new adventures of Huckleberry Fin.
Do you know that before he died he was planning to marry actress Sandra Ego? They were going to be married in May 1979. He would call her his "little savage."
Magnificent actor, but badly typecasted by Hollywood! In addition to his size, Ted Cassidy's most valuable asset was his voice, which is why Hanna-Barbera Productions in the 60s used his voice for their cartoons. first heard as the announcer of "ATOM ANT" in 1965, Ted Cassidy would later do voice work on CBS's "FRANKENSTEIN JR AND THE IMPOSSIBLES" in Fall 1966, while voicing "SPACE GHOST"s villain, "Metalus" in numerous episodes. but one voiceover that Ted Cassidy performed, was the voice of The Martian in Ib Melchior's "THE ANGRY RED PLANET" (1959) that American International Pictures released. In Fall 1967, Ted Cassidy worked at both Hanna-Barbera and DePatie-Freleng. he played the voice of "Galactus" in Hanna-Barbera's animated "FANTASTIC FOUR" cartoon series for ABC, ten years before voicing Fantastic Four's "Ben Grimm/Thing" in NBC's 1978 version-the same year he was doing the vocal effects for CBS"s "THE INCREDIBLE HULK". In Fall 1967, Ted Cassidy voiced "Spy Shadow", a segment of NBC"s "SUPER PRESIDENT" cartoon series that DePatie-Freleng produced in association with Mirisch-Rich Productions and released thru United Artists. but his next TV series was another amazing accomplishment, which was NBC's "THE NEW ADVENTURES OF HUCK FINN", Hanna-Barbera's first half-live and half-animated Primetime TV series for Fall 1968, playing both the likeness and the voice of "Injun Joe". and, his work on NBC's "STAR TREK" was also impressive, first, playing the Android "Ruk" in "What Are Little Girls Made Of?", and also doing the uncredited voices of "Balock" from "The Corbomite Maneuver", and as "The Gorn" in "Arena". Gene Roddenberry used Ted Cassidy as the character, "Isiah", for his two Warner Brothers TV pilots, "GENESIS II" and "PLANET EARTH" in 1973 and 1974. After returning to Hanna-Barbera to do a few more cartoon voices, Ted Cassidy was once considered for the role of "Dragos" in Filmation Associates' live-action "JASON OF STAR COMMAND" in 1978, but the role went to Sid Haig. he voiced characters in both "TARZAN" and "SPACE SENTINELS", but Ted Cassidy's last work before he died in early 1979, was as "Thunn, The Lionman of Mongo" in Filmation and King Features Syndicate' "FLASH GORDON-THE GREATEST ADVENTURE OF THEM ALL", that aired on NBC in late August 1982. In 1977, he was in Hawaii filming the Donny and Marie Osmond movie, "GOIN COCONUTS", and also guest-starred on an episode of NBC's "THE MAN FROM ATLANTIS", also, in 1977. again, a truly magnificent actor!
Hanna Barbara buz and his robot Frankenstein and the intro of the incredible hulk and his roar and justice league 70,s alot of my child hood heros .Ted Cassidy was the voice to them all. Rest in peace big man. Your my favorite
Andre was the first to play the "Bionic Bigfoot". I can't recall the circumstances, whether it was scheduling conflicts or if Andre didn't wish to do it anymore, but then Ted was hired to fill the suit, well, I assume a different suit.
Add him to the list of those who doctors killed. The operation was a success, but the patient died. The Harrad Experiment was a successful film. Hope he did well from it as screenwriter.
It was sad that he died so young, and never got the parts he really wanted. I saw nothing wrong with his appearance, I thought he was very handsome and loved his deep voice. I enjoyed him as Lurch and in his other roles.
The thing I remember most about Ted Cassidy, was how intelligent he was. He was jumped multiple grades. He started High school when he was 11, and graduated when he was 14-15. Much of his issues that are commonly detailed regarding his difficult formative years were greatly exacerbated by being so large, yes. But also because he was much smarter than those around him while being years younger. The fact that he was bigger than kids 3-5 years older than him made for a difficult situation. He was also very gifted physically (as you can see when he did any dance routine). He played on his high school basketball and football teams as an 11 year old, as well. Acromegly, is a bizarre affliction. It will eventually kill you if left unchecked. Yet, in its early stages give those it affects great size and strength. Many of those who had it years ago died giants but broken physically by their early to mid 40's.
Ted voiced the Lionman named Thun, in FILMation's "Flash Gordon: The Greatest Adventure of All." He was fantastic in the role, but couldn't reprise the role in the TV cartoon series, because he passed away.
Ah, yes, the perfect voice for that leonine character! There's a "quiet" moment in that movie when Flash and Thun settle for the night within Prince Baron's palace. Making "small talk", Thun claims Flash has not "loved until you have loved a lion woman, with fur so soft..." A cute line at the time, today, thanks to internet culture, it can be perceived on a whole different level! Cracks me up every time!
You should have mentioned the strangeness after his death. He was cremated and his ashes were buried in the backyard of his home. The urn was left behind when his family sold the home, where a later owner found it. The new owner finally discovered whose cremains they were but the trail goes cold as to where they went. It is unknown whether he got a member of Ted's family to reclaim them. Too bad we have no place to go to pay our respects to this man.
![[Sub Thai] APT. - ROSÉ & Bruno Mars](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/bYjhzP8x_uc/mqdefault.jpg)
What do you remember about Ted Cassidy? 🤔
He was the same age as Andre the Giant at his passing
I member Ted on Star Trek original, What are little girls made of.
Being the enforcer for the old ones.
Ted Cassidy has no gravestone but was cremated after death. Sadly, Cassidy's remains were lost by his then widow while moving from their old home.
He was also "Thing". Well most of the time. Writer Jack Voglin filled in as the right hand "hand" when the two characters were on screen together.
I also remember hearing him as the voice of Officer Big Mac on the McDonaldland commercials from ‘71.
I had the honor of having Ted Cassidy as a friend . I first met him when he was the program director for Wfaa channel 8 in Dallas texas . We kept in touch and I was at a loss when he died.
I few years ago I learned about his reporting Kennedy's assassination. I always wondered what it might like to hear his "elder g*d" type voice coming from the radio saying something like, "The President has been shot!" It was fascinating to finally hear a snippet of his voice during that tragedy in this video. I will admit I almost didn't realize that was Ted because his voice was surprisingly "soft", not as deep and resonant. Oh, I'm well aware the voice he used for roles like Lurch, Ruk and the Gorn were greatly exaggerated, but it sounded rather higher pitched than even his "normal" speaking tone like that early 70s interview.
Your a lucky person amen.Im still a fan i once met one of his grandson's.RIP TED CASSIDY.
i bet everytime u called him he answered with YOU RANG
How cool to have these memories of your beloved friend live on through television and radio. If only that could be the case for us all who have lost somebody so special to us.
I have a question about the rumor about his health. I have a connective tissue disorder (a "cousin" shall we say, to Marfan's Syndrome, which it's clear to anyone who knows about this condition he didn't have the correct lanky frame and so on). I have also seen it debunked that he had Acromegly. I also find that hard to believe, unless he was getting early treatment to slow the production of growth hormone in his pituitary gland.
Can you please give us the truth about whether he was ill with Acromegly? I just feel like there is so much misinformation about Ted Cassidy due to his role as Lurch. I am sorry to learn (if it's true) that this role caused him torment related to past childhood bullying. Plus being typecast is unfortunate for any actor typically. My childhood friend Naomi Grossman was Pepper in American Horror Story for 2 seasons (3?) of American Horror Story. She stated she found it hard to find roles after that because she was too recognizable as Pepper. Now that's also hear-say because I can't remember where I read that or if it came directly from her so I may be wrong (I'm not trying to put any misinformation out about her). Like I said, we were friends on the bus and at school in grade school through high school.
I was just wondering, if you and Ted were friends, you would know if he had Acromegly. It doesn't fit unless you put him in monster make up and make him speak like his voice could wake the dead. Otherwise he seemed like a pretty "normal" guy (I put that in quotes bc I have a genetic mutation that caused my connective tissue disorder and I think I'm somewhat normal lol).
I love this so much❤
He may not wanted to be remembered as Lurch, but he is remembered. And fondly so.
Too his millions of fans, (I was a kid watching him as Lurch) he was NEVER a monster. He was a fantastic actor.
I loved him too! Great show!
And so handsome...
I agree! I never saw him that way! I thought he was fantastic!
We watched The Addams Family just to see Lurch!
The same was said of Boris Karloff. He loved meeting children, showing them he was a kind man.
Lurch was a very comforting character. He’s like that huge dog that scares strangers but will lay down his life for those he loves.
I hadn’t realized that Ted Cassidy was in so many shows and movies that I grew up with. Truly an amazing individual.
From The Addams Family to Stae Trek to Butch Cassady & The Sundance Kid... Ted, in my book you were alright! Rest In Peace.
Met him in 1977 at his only convention appearance here in Dallas. Remember him being very kind...He signed a STAR TREK pic and one of himself as Big foot. He also did a risqué song about The Bionic Woman. Sweet guy. RIP
Ted's dancing with Wednesday was precious.
Funny as
Ted's dancing with little Wednesday was EPIC I laugh everytime I see that scene because Lurch gets down!
@@kimbelsimpson7535 I can't stoppppp in Lurchs voice.
@@dougcampbell8531 That's what happens when you get a taste of the FUNK you just can't stop!
Wednesday is the one who taught Lurch how to dance. That little kid could boogie down.
As a Pittsburgh native, we were always proud of Ted Cassidy, I remember him more for Star Trek than The Addams Family! God I keep forgetting how long he's been gone... 😞 This was a good tribute, thank you 👍
His Star Trek appearance was eerie.
He made the Incredible Hulk TV series sound like more than a TV series. His voice / growls for the Hulk were such an important part of that show and once it was gone the show never was the same for this kid back in the 70's. He will never be forgotten. Rip big guy.
He was a awesome actor. I can relate to him in school i was teased to for being so dam tall in school. Thank god i stop growing at 6 foot 5 in high school in the late 70's. My heart goes out to this guy.
Wait your that tall and was not proud to be tall? That is odd, most females like taller men, you had that going for you at least, I'm only 6 , but you are no freak for sure, I bet you could arm wrestle as well
@@secretagentviper8382 Thanks for the kind words. Ii did merry a beautiful women and been married for 30 years this year
@@wildman1111 check out Devon larratt arm wrestle, he is 6'6" and its about how to use levers, he is a character to watch as well. Congratulations on your marriage, I was not as lucky, I been married twice both divorced just under a decade each. Take care
@@secretagentviper8382 You know the funny thing is i did win a arm wrestling trophy in1982 in a tournament. I still have the trophy lol.
Oh my goodness... I wish he knew how nobody saw Lurch as a monster. He was like the sweetest thing ever. That's very sad that he felt uncomfortable with a role that was done so perfectly.
He was amazing! The best episodes of the Adams Family featured him! When his mother came to visit. That was cool.
Ellen Corby - one of my favorite actresses.
What I remember best about Ted Cassidy, is how talented he was, he was such an awesome actor. RIP, Ted!
Even more than his “You rang?”, I loved his moan from the grave sound as he turned to carry out some idiotic order from Gomez!
Me too.
for me it's right up there with Marge Simpson's moan dealing with Homer's crap
@@randallkoch6183 AND me.
That moan was so great! I love it.
that was a great and enlightening tribute! I hate to say it, but I'm actually really surprised at how human and even worldly Mr Cassidy was in his real life! He was cool as heck and accomplished on and off the screen!
I'm a huge fan of Ellen Corby (Grandma on the Waltons) and love the episode where she shows up as Lurch's overwhelming mother. Its hysterical because she is TINY along side him but he's terrified of her.
This was a great look back at a truly lovable character, I didn't know much about Ted Cassidy but I always thought there was much more to him that what was revealed in the show. Thanks for posting this.
My fav AF episode is "Lurch Learns to Dance." When the dance instructor grabs Lurch and says: "OK, Buster" and starts dancing, Lurch collapses, spinning to the floor. As he does, the video was shaken and the audio is of a tree being felled -- one of the funniest moments in television.
Lurch dancing with Wednesday priceless
I wasn't aware of his voice acting, but now it seems so obvious.
His voice is distinct did you not watch and listen to cartoons?
@@hydrolito I did, but recognizing voice actors has never been a strength of mine.
That he did the roars of the Hulk makes SO much sense
Here's one you probably didn't know about that the video didn't mention. Ted worked on the ten commandments as " The voice of God" coming from the burning Bush
@@marksmith4346 Lou's voice isn't nearly as baritone as Ted's. An ear infection lead to that.
Ted rocked! I am not surprised to hear how talented and intelligent he was ♥️
I never knew he played Thing. Mr. Nineg always has the whole story, and tells them with the love they deserve.
In scenes he (as Lurch) was in with Thiung, one of the producers would stand in for thing.
Apart from his other roles, he was the voice of the alter-ego of Balok, Commander of the Flagship Fesarius of the First Federation. He was an outstanding actor.
THANK YOU. I started picking that up when I was in middle school, about 40 years ago. I never knew who possessed the voice, but I ALWAYS knew it was the same person...
That post deserves some tranya.
He was uncredited for his v.o. work on Star Trek's The Corbamite Maneuver and Arena. About 10+ years ago, I wrote to IMDB.com (twice) and got him credited for The Corbamite Manuever. Sometime thereafter, he was also credited for Arena. I didn't even realize was in that one even though in hind listen, it was very obvious. I'm used to hearing him with all that resonant bass but in Arena he was providing the voice for the Gorn, a lizard like character so he was hissing and EQed very brightly with no low frequency at all. But if you listen carefully, you can still hear his character in his voice.
We were very proud of him here in West Virginia too! I know of his TV exploits very much, but hearing TH-cam excerpts of his reporting of the JFK assassination on WFAA radio in Dallas was phenomenal with his informative intelligence!
That's something I didn't know he did. I'm sure if he was there, he knew that it was a government/mob/LBJ hit job on JFK.
I have a special memory of Ted.
Before he was lovable Lurch, he was Big Frank, who drove an Oscar Mayer Wiener car while making promotional appearances at grocery stores. My father, my 8 year-old twin sister and I happened to be at one of the stores where he appeared. He handed out those great little Oscar Mayer Wiener whistles to the kids. Then afterwords, he actually lifted me about 4 feet off the floor with my 2 hands holding on to his huge BABY FINGER 🤙🏻 !!!
What a thrill, and what a sweet man!
Thanks for the story.
Leah S. What a lovely childhood memory.
@@jameswood231
Thank you, James!
Lurch was always my favorite character on the show. He had a great voice for radio and voiceovers. He seemed to be very popular with the ladies too. Ladies Love Lurch !
What people don't realize that out of the Lurch makeup. Ted Cassidy was a babe. The role that was closest to his personality was an orchid gardener on a episode of The Beverly Hillbillies.
Agreed he was very good looking, even the Lurch make up couldn’t totally hide it
Great episode indeed.
bury them with the eyes up
Though his typecasting for the role of Lurch on The Addams Family was very unfortunate, I’m so glad he did. No one else would have pulled out such a great performance on the show.
I remember him it the Twilight Zone episode "To Serve Man" anyone else? One of my favorite episodes of T.Zone the first series.
That was Richard Kiel (Jaws from James Bond)
I didn't know he starred in that episode but it's one of my favorites. Also look up the Damon Knight penned short story. It's interesting how close some of the TZ episodes stayed to their source material.
@@mikeshaffer4912 It is one of my favorites as well. Go to IMDB and you will see, Richard Kiel as the huge alien. Or just google the image.
Yea that’s the one I remember Ted in. Earth people were the Aliens breakfast lunch and dinner.
It's a cookbook!
I always enjoyed Ted's deep resonant voice. I especially like him in TV series The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
I forgot about the "New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn".
He had such a amazing voice.
Yesssssss
So awesome that he was the voice of God in the ten commandments
Can you image if he sneaked up behind you and screamed at you? You'd leave your pants behind you, being too heavy to run in.
@@andregraves3825 I think just him behind me rumbling would be enough!!!
@@patrickradcliffe3837 Remember the Scooby Doo when he and Shaggy open the door and the "camera" goes up? Da Da dad dad da dad. ZOINKS!!! And they're running so fast they couldn't get any traction? That would be me.
He was a gentle soul, a great man.
Fred Gwynne who played, "Herman Munster" suffered from the same condition and type casting even tho he was an actor of many rolls as well as an artist and author. Like Ted Cassidy, he was very loving and nice in person. RIP to both!
What do you mean when you say that Fred Gwynne suffered from the same condition that Ted did?
Ted had acromegaly. Fred did not.
What did you mean?
@@yourroyalhighness7662 His name is listed under a couple medical sites as having the same condition, pituitary tumor. You can Google it.
@@zsigzsag I would take what you read with a grain of salt. I have read quite a bit about Fred and the other cast members from "The Munsters" and I don't recall ever seeing or hearing anything about Fred having acromegaly.
Still, that does not make my argument fact. So...I am puzzled.
You may be correct. I will have to look into it in further detail.
Very talented and loved actor, he is missed but still brings me chuckles after all these yrs!! Bless you Mr, Cassidy!!
I liked Ted as Ruk the android from Star Trek. He wasn't evil, just very protective. And he finally realized that self I preservation must cancel out programming.
Ted worked for Gene Roddenberry again in the early 70's when he played "Isaiah", a "White Comanche Warrior" working for PAX in his two pilot movies, "Genesis ll" and "Planet Earth".
Mr. Cassidy was typecast for something FANTASTIC. He will be remembered FOREVER for playing Lurch. Period. Fans who weren’t even born yet when Addams Family was on TV know who he is. It is a shame that a “working actor” can be typecast into both frustration and unemployment for being brilliant in a popular role. It is also a crying shame that we lost the wonderful, talented actors who played Morticia and Lurch FAR TOO SOON. Carolyn Jones was only 53 when she died of colon cancer.
He will always be remembered as Lurch! No one could play that character but Ted Cassidy.
Very well done. I had no idea Ted did all those other things except I do recall him from the Butch Cassidy film. I remember him from the Adams Family that I watched as a kid growing up. He was great! We had a lot of great shows back then...Batman, Man From UNCLE, Get Smart, etc. Those were the days. RIP Ted.
I never realized all the great voice over work he did. Just amazing. Loved that both him and Andre got to play Bigfoot in the 6 million dollar man. I'll never look at the incredible hulks screams in the same way. Thx Ted
Didn't know it was Ted making the growling sounds as the Hulk. Thought it was Lou. Amazing talent.
I remember Ted was in the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. I always wondered if he was related to Butch... they had the same last name... Have you seen that movie? Its pretty amusing when he gets into a fight with Paul Newman!
I met Richard Kiel before he passed away. He was a kid from Michigan like me. I told him he scared me in that Twilight Zone episode. He said it scared him too! Haha! I told him my oldest son Jesse is 6'9" and he gave me his condolences. Then I told him my second son Jake is 6'7"...
Butch Cassidy's real name was Robert LeRoy Parker...
The 7' 2" tall actor Richard Kiel from the movie The Longest Yard would have made a good second choice. He could have passed as Ted Cassidy's brother.
True. Many of us thought they were the same guy at first sight.
@@obbor4
Yes! Myself included. Maybe he was a Hollywood actor double agent type. James Bond was big around that time. You never know...
I never knew his career in acting was that large. Thank you for this post.
I remember him as Isiah from Genisis II. Another Gene Rodinberry project.
Yes,I remember Ted on Star Trek. Always liked him. He will always be remembered for Lurch!❤️❤️❤️
Did not realize Ted was such a good looking guy when he was younger.
I watched ALL of the Tarzan cartoon episodes!!
I can’t believe that’s him!
He had amazing voice for that role
Star Trek What Are Little Girls Made Of ... was my Fave.. but wow the voice acting and dance moves and DJ wow.
I loved his voice overs in old cartoons.
In the thumbnail there’s a photo of Yvonne De Carlo She played Lily on the Munsters. I’m genuinely disturbed by this incident
They do this a lot here. The thumbnails are often inaccurate.
Not only is that picture there, but it is depicting her in sexy lingerie. I don't remember ever seeing her dressed that way. I wonder where they found that photo?
Thanks. I was wondering who it was. I recognised her but couldn’t put a name to her.
@@asarand
It's photoshoped, I've seen the image before it was made for bootleg munster gear years ago. It's often used as click bait.
Click bait.
One of my favorite actors ever
Ted was also a well regarded harpsichordist. Yes, he could play the harpsichord and organ but AFM (American Federation of Musicians) wouldn't let him play on the show
Those bastards.
I thought he did play the harp on the show?
One of the coolest character actors and voice-acting artists ever! His cartoon voices were always larger than life, and commanding.
My late best friend was a DJ, singer, and done commercials on the Gulf Coast. Served in Vietnam and other things mentioned his friend Cassidy. Said those days were good memories and thought highly of Ted. He did the "You rang" once and had me laughing. I said Ted would be proud and annoyed if he heard that..lol..
Miss my best friend...Now both are hanging out together doing Shakespeare in deep voices...imagine that, lol...🤣😁❤🐻
Even though it wasn't Ted himself playing the harpsichord, he did a masterful job in faking it. It really looked real.
I think I remember him playing Goliath in a David and Goliath movie. That was the first and only thing I saw him in after TAF.
I was pleasantly surprised to hear that it was his voice that was used with the Hulk transformation!
And the opening narration!!!
It's not uncommon for an actor/actress to not want be typed cast by a role,even if it made them famous.They want to have a diverse and flexible acting career
Spock comes to mind .
@@assassinlexx1993 You mean Actor Lennerd Nemoy,yeah he had mixed feelings about his key star trek character
@@AR-xd3dp
Well ya
@@assassinlexx1993 He knew that he didn't want to be known for playing one character cause that limits an actor/actress too much.Look what happened with Paul Rubian and his Peewee Herman persona
@@AR-xd3dp pee is a sick person
I have Cerebral Gigantism, a condition that is often confused with Acromegaly. I understand why he would dislike play Lurch. But I am glad he did play that part ..I was a very tall kid of the 70s and Lurch helped me feel better about being "weird." Mr Cassidy is a hero in my memory.
I may have missed it as I was on a conference call when I saw this. Ted had a roles on both Planet Earth and Genesis II in which he played the role of Isiah. Both projects were about a dystopian future on Earth in which he played a spiritual and very enigmatic character.
Ted also appeared in an episode of Emergency! He played a butcher whose wife's wedding ring was stuck on the hand of a young man's hand. Who was scared to death and described him to Johnny and Roy as "just off the boat from Transylvania!
I remember that "Emergency" episode.
Some of the roles mentioned in the video I was genuinely surprised to hear (the voice of Tarzan being a BIG surprise!). But one role NOT mentioned (even though it looked like there were one or two stills of Ted Cassidy in this role) was in *MacKenna's Gold* -- Hachita, the very menacing Apache warrior and part of outlaw Colorado's gang. Which put him on the big screen right alongside Gregory Peck (the titular Marshal), Omar Sharif (the aforementioned Colorado), and Julie Newmar (another Apache, also in Colorado's gang).
Actually I think that was mentioned. There is one shot of him, a facial closeup of him made up as a Native Injun.
His voice and look is so iconic. I just found out recently that he voiced the the Hulk in the old series. Then I heard one of the reasons the canceled is because he passed. He will always will be the one and only Lurch to me.
While Ted was involved with the series, (he did the opening voice over, and some of the Hulk Roars), I doubt he had anything to do with the series ending. Ted died in 1979. The Incredible Hulk ended in 1982. Bill Bixby had a 6 year old son who died unexpectedly in 1981. If I remember correctly, that was the stated reason why he didn't want to act any more, depression over the loss of his son.
@@Robert08010 Oh..gotcha Someone told me it was because of Ted passing away. Thanks for clearing that up for me.
Ted Cassidy was very UNDERRATED... and He was a Fantastic Actor, and Human... 👍♥️🤗
I think you mean "underrated", but I agree.
@@Sirgromulus Thank you, I'll correct my mistake...
Those 3 AM Comments need Proof Reading... 😁😅
Underrated and often unnoticed, he did a great deal of work. A very short-lived Saturday morning show, "New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" was partly live action and partly animated (1968-1969), he was Injun Joe, a villain again.
Loved him, may he rest in peace 🙏, great video thanks 💖😁
My grandad knew Ted Cassidy when he was working with him as a director for I believe was programming for WFAA channel 8 in Texas. Bless him. He was probably the best friend everyone dreamed for (as I’ve been told- smart yet cool)!! Amazing voice actor. RIP
Andre the Giant was the first Bigfoot on the Six Million Dollar Man....I didn't know Ted was the second...
He was! Mr. Cassidy’s “Bigfoot” was supposed to be the same character, but was far more agile and menacing.
This was really interesting. Thank you for sharing.
I never knew about the toons and incredible hulk yells, but that awful bigfoot is classic. His early days or the songs and dance, he really capitalized on the lurch character so it's an actors curse to be typecast in special roles
TY, he deserved so much more than he received but alas, life doesn't always work out that way...
Lovable as heck! We loved Ted - died way too young!
I had no idea he was such a big part of my youth. Holy cow! Rest in peace friend.
I always enjoyed his performances. You failed to mention he also played on an episode of Lost in Space.
He was also in the Gene Roddenberry pilots Genesis II and Planet Earth - this should have been included in this/
He had so many credits that you have to pick and choose what to mention. I'll mention, The Man From Atlantis, The Last Remake Of Beau Geste and the Donny and Marie film Going Coconuts.
I remember most of his roles....but one you left out that scared me the most as a kid was him playing Injun Joe in the 1968 TV show the new adventures of Huckleberry Fin.
Do you know that before he died he was planning to marry actress Sandra Ego? They were going to be married in May 1979. He would call her his "little savage."
I did read that in an interview done with Sandra. I think she really loved him a lot.
yea he was probably cheating on his wife
my mistake. he was in Genisis 2 and planet earth with john saxon.
Magnificent actor, but badly typecasted by Hollywood! In addition to his size, Ted Cassidy's most valuable asset was his voice, which is why Hanna-Barbera Productions in the 60s used his voice for their cartoons. first heard as the announcer of "ATOM ANT" in 1965, Ted Cassidy would later do voice work on CBS's "FRANKENSTEIN JR AND THE IMPOSSIBLES" in Fall 1966, while voicing "SPACE GHOST"s villain, "Metalus" in numerous episodes. but one voiceover that Ted Cassidy performed, was the voice of The Martian in Ib Melchior's "THE ANGRY RED PLANET" (1959) that American International Pictures released. In Fall 1967, Ted Cassidy worked at both Hanna-Barbera and DePatie-Freleng. he played the voice of "Galactus" in Hanna-Barbera's animated "FANTASTIC FOUR" cartoon series for ABC, ten years before voicing Fantastic Four's "Ben Grimm/Thing" in NBC's 1978 version-the same year he was doing the vocal effects for CBS"s "THE INCREDIBLE HULK". In Fall 1967, Ted Cassidy voiced "Spy Shadow", a segment of NBC"s "SUPER PRESIDENT" cartoon series that DePatie-Freleng produced in association with Mirisch-Rich Productions and released thru United Artists. but his next TV series was another amazing accomplishment, which was NBC's "THE NEW ADVENTURES OF HUCK FINN", Hanna-Barbera's first half-live and half-animated Primetime TV series for Fall 1968, playing both the likeness and the voice of "Injun Joe". and, his work on NBC's "STAR TREK" was also impressive, first, playing the Android "Ruk" in "What Are Little Girls Made Of?", and also doing the uncredited voices of "Balock" from "The Corbomite Maneuver", and as "The Gorn" in "Arena". Gene Roddenberry used Ted Cassidy as the character, "Isiah", for his two Warner Brothers TV pilots, "GENESIS II" and "PLANET EARTH" in 1973 and 1974. After returning to Hanna-Barbera to do a few more cartoon voices, Ted Cassidy was once considered for the role of "Dragos" in Filmation Associates' live-action "JASON OF STAR COMMAND" in 1978, but the role went to Sid Haig. he voiced characters in both "TARZAN" and "SPACE SENTINELS", but Ted Cassidy's last work before he died in early 1979, was as "Thunn, The Lionman of Mongo" in Filmation and King Features Syndicate' "FLASH GORDON-THE GREATEST ADVENTURE OF THEM ALL", that aired on NBC in late August 1982. In 1977, he was in Hawaii filming the Donny and Marie Osmond movie, "GOIN COCONUTS", and also guest-starred on an episode of NBC's "THE MAN FROM ATLANTIS", also, in 1977. again, a truly magnificent actor!
I remember Ted played a wicked pirate on an episode of Daniel Boone. He kidnaps Rebecca in that episode.
He also played Goliath which is a role I fondly remember him as well.
What a memorable guy.
Hanna Barbara buz and his robot Frankenstein and the intro of the incredible hulk and his roar and justice league 70,s alot of my child hood heros .Ted Cassidy was the voice to them all. Rest in peace big man. Your my favorite
Very interesting. Coincidentally, Andre the Giant, also mentioned, played Sasquatch on The 6 million dollar man as well.
Andre was the first to play the "Bionic Bigfoot". I can't recall the circumstances, whether it was scheduling conflicts or if Andre didn't wish to do it anymore, but then Ted was hired to fill the suit, well, I assume a different suit.
What Anna AMAZING MAN 🇬🇧👍 so sad about his death at such a young age R.I.P 🇬🇧👍
"LURCH CAN BALL"
THAT ought to be a meme.
Lol, so Lurch did the voice over for Frankenstein Jr. I used to love that cartoon when I was a kid back then.
I loved his his voice and Lurch
he was so funny playing that character one of my favorites 👍
I loved this article I love lurch🤩😂
Don't forget Ted Cassidy in Lost in Space.
Was that the one about the toy maker?
So freaking awesome love lurch
I just loved his voice! All of them!
This never touches on what kind of person he was, which is more important than whether he could act.
Add him to the list of those who doctors killed. The operation was a success, but the patient died. The Harrad Experiment was a successful film. Hope he did well from it as screenwriter.
It was sad that he died so young, and never got the parts he really wanted. I saw nothing wrong with his appearance, I thought he was very handsome and loved his deep voice. I enjoyed him as Lurch and in his other roles.
@@beyondjupiter99 His features were shaped by acromegly. It also effects other body parts, including the heart.
What the...? Wow! Lurch we miss you brother! I can't believe how many other movies that guy was in
ever since i was a kid i loved Lurch. oh how ive always wanted to do the "uuuhhhhhhh" more than "you rang"
The thing I remember most about Ted Cassidy, was how intelligent he was. He was jumped multiple grades. He started High school when he was 11, and graduated when he was 14-15. Much of his issues that are commonly detailed regarding his difficult formative years were greatly exacerbated by being so large, yes. But also because he was much smarter than those around him while being years younger. The fact that he was bigger than kids 3-5 years older than him made for a difficult situation. He was also very gifted physically (as you can see when he did any dance routine). He played on his high school basketball and football teams as an 11 year old, as well.
Acromegly, is a bizarre affliction. It will eventually kill you if left unchecked. Yet, in its early stages give those it affects great size and strength. Many of those who had it years ago died giants but broken physically by their early to mid 40's.
Remember him best as Hachita,the hatchet throwing Indian in Mckenna's Gold. An awesome Gregory Peck western, he looked good in it
Ted voiced the Lionman named Thun, in FILMation's "Flash Gordon: The Greatest Adventure of All." He was fantastic in the role, but couldn't reprise the role in the TV cartoon series, because he passed away.
He was on an episode of The Beverly Hillbillies as a gardener named Mr Ted.
Ah, yes, the perfect voice for that leonine character! There's a "quiet" moment in that movie when Flash and Thun settle for the night within Prince Baron's palace. Making "small talk", Thun claims Flash has not "loved until you have loved a lion woman, with fur so soft..." A cute line at the time, today, thanks to internet culture, it can be perceived on a whole different level! Cracks me up every time!
@@Redfern42 ....Yep, I remember that. I also wondered what it would've been like to lay with Lt.M'Ress on the animated Star Trek if she were real.
Nice video. I knew he’d done much more than the role of Lurch, but I didn’t know what until this video. Nice tribute to a talented man.
You should have mentioned the strangeness after his death. He was cremated and his ashes were buried in the backyard of his home. The urn was left behind when his family sold the home, where a later owner found it. The new owner finally discovered whose cremains they were but the trail goes cold as to where they went. It is unknown whether he got a member of Ted's family to reclaim them. Too bad we have no place to go to pay our respects to this man.
The Twilight Zone episode To Serve Man, the actor in the alien role was Richard Kiel (JAWS) from the James Bond movies, not Ted Cassidy.
A very nice video very tastefully done very respectable