Man Behind Classic Chevy Commercials, Casey Kasem, Dies at Age 82

Images: Associat Press via SFGate

Most people remember Casey Kasem as the voice behind the famous American Top 40 radio show broadcast nationwide on weekends for nearly four decades, but the longest-running hit music weekend countdown show wasn’t the only thing that Kasem lent his voice too, as AutoNews recently pointed out. Along with his radio show, Kasem also did voice-over work for cartoons and even classic car commercials starting in the 1970s. Check out one of the commercials he contributed to above.

The country lost a great man on Sunday, June 15th when the legendary Kasem died in a Gig Harbor, Washington hospital after suffering from many health issues, including presumed Parkinson’s Disease and a form of dementia called Lewy Body Disease, over the last few years.

Kasem died Sunday of complications (sepsis) from a bad bed sore he acquired early last year after his wife, actress Jean Kasem, moved him from a Los Angeles hospital to a friend’s house in Washington state, giving Jean the full-time role as Kasem’s caretaker.

Kasem with his three children at the 2003 Radio Music Awards. Image: KMAZUR/WireImage via People.com

Kasem, who retired from radio five years ago, was unfortunately subjected to battles between his three adult children and wife over his healthcare over the last few years of his life, but remained known for the hit-music icon he had become over many, many years of radio hosting.

In addition to his radio work, Kasem lent his voice to thousands of commercials, including ones produced by Chevy and Ford. He is also remembered for being the voice of Shaggy in the TV cartoon Scooby-Doo, as well as the voice of Robin in Batman and various Sesame Street alphabet sketches, according to SFGate.

Kasem will truly be missed by hit music, pop culture, cartoon and classic car enthusiasts alike for years to come.

Here’s to wishing his family and friends comfort and peace in their time of mourning.  

About the author

Lindsey Fisher

Lindsey is a freelance writer and lover of anything with a rumble. Hot rods, muscle cars, motorcycles - she's owned and driven it all. When she's not busy writing about them, she's out in her garage wrenching away. Who doesn't love a tech-savy gal that knows her way around a garage?
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