"I never want to grow sick or old."

Be careful what you wish for.  Jack was an award winning Broadway, television and film actor through most of his life. He made his stage debut in Something For the Boys.  At the time of his death, he was better known as being the ex husband of Shirley Jones, and father of pedophile's dream boys David and Shaun. I know him best as smarmy villain on Bewitched and several Columbo episodes, plus a couple of guest appearances on The Partridge Family.  His death however, was hot.

Jack apparently owned the building he lived in, in West Hollywood, well known as having a huge gay population.  The neighborhood, not the building.  Or...  His place took up the entire top row of balconies in this rather lovely place.

On December 12, 1976, after a hard night of partying - a Christmas party and bar hopping (with Nanette Fabray no less) - he returned home, probably fairly intoxicated.  Not wanting the night to end, my guess is that he made himself a mega cocktail, sat down on the couch in front of the fireplace and continued his little soirée all on his own.  Around 5am, he dozed off with a fag in his hand, while laying on the couch.  Next thing you know, Jack went up in flames.  God knows there was enough fuel.

The entire top floor was on fire, and the building had to be evacuated.  Neighbors were milling around the street like zombies.  Five Fire Department vehicles showed up to put out the blaze.  One woman had a heart attack in front of the place, and one firefighter had suffered smoke inhalation and was taken to the hospital.

The charred remains of one person was discovered just inside the door of the apartment.   I heard one story that specified that it was only his feet and jewelry.  Having seen cremated remains, I doubt that its true, there is usually plenty of discernable bonage (heh) to shovel through.

Jack's car was missing, so it was thought that he was possibly out of town and one of his "male friends" was staying in the place, but dental records and an apparent signet ring and religious bracelet positively identified him as Jack.

He was 49 years old.

Update February 2009

There was talk recently on the message board, that the fire was caused by a smoldering ash from earlier in the day.  This prompted me to acquire the official autopsy report of Mr. Cassidy, and clear this up.
Information from Deputy Gleason:

At approximately 0600 hrs. 12 - 12 - 76, a private citizen called fire department that the 4th floor of building 1221 N. Kings Road, West Los Angeles, was on fire.

After the fire was controlled, decedent (Jack Cassidy) was discovered lying on the floor in the living room near the porch. Fire Dept. personnel pronounced death at 0615 hours. Decedent was charred.

It was surmised that fire was possibly caused by cigarette which started from the sofa in said living room. The whole unit was burned.

A co-tenant state to LASO investigator that he heard music coming from the scene at 0510 hours.

The scene is occupied by one Jack Cassidy, an actor and president of Richmond Hill Productions.

LASO Dep. Gleason will attempt to get dental chart of Mr. Cassidy.

Not known if decedent was drinking liquor but there is a liquor bar in said living room at scene.

His body was taken to the Coroner as John Doe 257

Toxicology puts his blood alcohol level at 0.12%

More details you probably wish you never read:  

The body is that of a completely charred male that weighs 131 pounds and measures approximately 69 inches in height.  The age of the body is difficult to assess but it appears to be muscular and appears to be about the stated age of 49 years old.  The bony structures of the head are those of a Caucasian male.  The scalp is completely burned.  The external plate of the skull is charred.  The ears are completely charred.  The eyes are also charred.  The nose is also charred.  The mouth is charred and some of the skin is noted.  The teeth show multiple post-line caps in front teeth.  THe upper teeth show a few caps on the premolar and molar teeth.  The chest shows complete charring of the skin but the ribs are well-preserved.  There is no traumatic injuries to the ribs or spine.  The upper extremities and the lower extremities show complete charring of the skin and muscles.  The abdominal wall shows complete charring with exposure of some of the small intestines which are also burned.

I thought I would check the digestive system to see if we could find out Jack's last meal.  Nope.

"The mouth and pharynx shows a small amount of black soot.  The esophagus is clear.  The stomach contains approximately 5 cc. of light brown fluid.  The small intestine shows grossly normal architecture except for the hilum which is exposed through the burned surface of the abdomen.

The scalp is completely charred.  The external plate of the skull is charred and the internal plate remains.

"The comparison of the postmortem dental x-rays of John Doe 257 with the antimortem dental x-rays of Jack Cassidy supplied by Frank Greenbaum, D.D.S. confirms the positive match.  Therefore John Doe 257 is Jack Cassidy.

Since the carbon monoxide in his blood was less than 10% - not anywhere close to lethal, we can surmise that he was alive when the fire broke out.  He did breathe in smoke - but not a lethal amount.  He died very quickly from thermal burns and lack of oxygen.

Official cause of Death - Extensive Thermal Burns of Body"

One of the issues that possibly plagued Jack was the success of his sons. I don't know this for a fact, but I understand he was very jealous of them.  Plus the fact that he turned down the role of Ted Baxter in The Mary Tyler Moore Show was something that was a big whoops.  He didn't want to be a regular on a female led show.  He later made a couple of guest appearances as Ted's brother.  Salt?  So the combination of these things, probably made him really miserable to be around.

I spoke to Cloris Leachman recently, and asked about Jack. She had a vague recollection about Jack refusing the role of Ted Baxter. When I asked about Jack's disposition being possible bitter, she was aghast. She had nothing but praise for Jack, and I think she'd have been pretty honest, if this weren't the case.

I was in the building that Jack died recently.  I couldn't help but notice, they are certainly ready for a fire now.  It was almost funny.  Almost.  Starting with the elevator, up to the 4th floor, where a hose placed in front of Jack's front door.  Structurally, the building is the same, and this picture of the charred ruins of Jack's place, and the same room now, is completely recognizable.  Of course, you know I couldn't let the evening pass without doing what is expected of me.

The body of Jack Cassidy was taken to the Chapel of the Pines Crematory, and was scattered at sea.

400 people attended Jack's funeral at Westwood Memorial Park, including Nanette Fabray, Milton Berle and Eileen Brennan.  Jack's two former wives attended as well as his children.  At the funeral Shurl spoke, "He was an extraordinary man with an uncanny sense of humor and a gifted talent. He was one of a kind and the world suffers a great loss that he was taken from it so soon."

He left behind about $150,000, noting specifically that ex wife Shirley and son David receive nothing, and a large portion going to the Motion Picture Country Home.

He gets a star on the Walk of Fame soon, the website devoted to this cause is here.

There is talk that Jack haunts his former home.  He has made an appearance or two, and always in a non threatening way.  A psychic was consulted, with regards to contacting Jack, and that person recommended leaving him be.  Things are fine now, you might get crazy bitter Jack making an appearance - and the residents may never get a good nights sleep.

Trivia:  Actress Leigh Taylor Young lived in the condo until early 1999.  She probably slept quite well.

Update April 2010 - Darren Boakes recently saw a Shirley show in London.  Darren reports, "Shirley Jones did a week's cabaret in the glittering West End unfortunately it only lasted for a few days due to her sore throat.  Rumour is that ticket sales were poor. Her voice did suck but not as much as her son Patrick Cassidy who did his own mini one man show in the middle. He talked how hard it was growing up being a Cassidy, and no one believing that he was straight.  We didn't buy it.  The highlight was when he did a duet with his brother David, but the David he was singing to, was a cut out picture on a stick.  Yes.  On the piano were few mementos, one being a picture of Jack Cassidy. Shirley talked about him briefly when telling stories of her life but she didn't mention the fire or the reading of the will.

Thanks C.

www.findadeath.com