Sedalia Dave Posted August 25 Share Posted August 25 Found on fb Ted Cassidy, on the role he would most like to be known for playing: "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." Cassidy was an academically gifted individual and attended third grade at age six. During his freshman year of high school, at age 11, Cassidy was on the football and basketball teams. Despite this, he was a frequent target of bullying by his much older peers, having already reached a height of 6'1" by then (he would top out at 6'9"). Cassidy film work included his appearances in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969, below), "Mackenna's Gold" (1969), "Harry and Walter Go to New York" (1976) and "The Last Remake of Beau Geste" (1977). He also co-wrote the screenplay of 1973's "The Harrad Experiment," in which he made a brief appearance. Cassidy's most famous role, however, is Lurch in "The Addams Family." Although the character was originally intended to be mute, Cassidy ad-libbed his signature line, "You rang?" The subtle humor and his deep voice was an immediate hit, and thereafter, it was a recurring phrase that was written into the script. Despite being an accomplished organist, the harpsichord was actually a dead keyboard that Ted pretended to play, and the actual music was dubbed by the show's theme composer, Vic Mizzy. When he wasn't on-screen, Cassidy played "Thing," the disembodied hand who assisted the Addams' household, and a crew member would fill in during Lurch's on-camera scenes. In 1965, Cassidy released a seven-inch vinyl on Capitol Records with two songs; "The Lurch," written by Gary S. Paxton, and "Wesley," written by Cliffie Stone and Scott Turner. "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." (Wikipedia/IMDb) 1 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted August 25 Author Share Posted August 25 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted August 25 Author Share Posted August 25 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Father Kit Cool Gun Garth Posted August 25 Share Posted August 25 As Ben Grimm AKA "The Thing" (1978) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted August 25 Share Posted August 25 Years ago I knew a guy that met Ted Cassidy in public. He said he and some friends encountered him somewhere, I cannot remember where, and one of the girls asked him to “be Lurch”. Mr. Cassidy he rolled his eyes and sighed. The girls started laughing and giggling. My friend said that his friends probably didn’t get that it looked like he rolled his eyes in frustration. I wonder what Ted would think of all the GIFs that are made from his character “Lurch”? I am guessing he wouldn’t like it. Or maybe he would… 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Father Kit Cool Gun Garth Posted August 25 Share Posted August 25 As @Sedalia Dave mentioned. 1 hour ago, Sedalia Dave said: When he wasn't on-screen, Cassidy played "Thing," the disembodied hand who assisted the Addams' household, and a crew member would fill in during Lurch's on-camera scenes. (Wikipedia/IMDb) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-BAR #18287 Posted August 25 Share Posted August 25 "Rules? In a knife fight??" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 Posted August 25 Share Posted August 25 3 minutes ago, J-BAR #18287 said: "Rules? In a knife fight??" Bring a gun. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted August 25 Share Posted August 25 Many of us can relate, having suffered through jobs that we didn't care for or hated. I had it both ways (luckily) but can feel sympathy for someone who was saddled with something he could do nothing about. I always liked the characters he played. RIP Ted. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 Posted August 25 Share Posted August 25 He didn't play dumb as Ruk on Star Trek. He got to throw Shatner around, too. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subdeacon Joe Posted August 25 Share Posted August 25 1 hour ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said: He got to throw Shatner around, too. Who didn't? 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 Posted August 25 Share Posted August 25 2 hours ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said: He didn't play dumb as Ruk on Star Trek. He got to throw Shatner around, too. 1 hour ago, Subdeacon Joe said: Who didn't? True, but Cassidy was able to pick Shatner up off his feet a hold him there before throwing him. I was hoping to find a pic of that for this, but couldn't find exactly what I wanted. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sedalia Dave Posted August 26 Author Share Posted August 26 10 hours ago, Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770 said: True, but Cassidy was able to pick Shatner up off his feet a hold him there before throwing him. I was hoping to find a pic of that for this, but couldn't find exactly what I wanted. Closest I can find. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted August 26 Share Posted August 26 23 hours ago, Sedalia Dave said: In 1965, Cassidy released a seven-inch vinyl on Capitol Records with two songs; "The Lurch," written by Gary S. Paxton, and "Wesley," written by Cliffie Stone and Scott Turner. Whoever wrote this article has probably never heard of a “45”. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Riot Posted August 26 Share Posted August 26 23 hours ago, Sedalia Dave said: That’s just awful. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Kane Posted August 26 Share Posted August 26 Besides playing Ruk in Star Trek TOS "What Little Girls Are Made Of", he also provided the voices for Balok's alter ego effigy in "The Corbomite Maneuver" and the Gorn ("I will be moor-see-fool") in "Arena". Here's a black and white still of Cassidy and Shatner clowning around. I've seen a You Tube video of this in which Cassidy picks up Shatner and carries him off as Shatner is making some sort of wisecrack. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpo Posted August 26 Share Posted August 26 Back to The Addams family. So Ted Cassidy played Thing. Why did he keep switching hands? Sometimes Thing was a right hand and sometimes Thing was a left hand. On the subject of Thing - there was a book about The Addams family. A collection of short stories. The first one was when the Addams moved into the house. Morticia was complaining about the way Gomez was kissing her. She said that he was holding her tightly with one hand, holding his cigar out of the way with his other hand, and patting her on the head with his other hand. She wasn't sure how he managed that, but she wished he would stop because it was quite disconcerting. That's when Gomez realized that there was a disembodied hand living in that house. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forty Rod SASS 3935 Posted August 27 Share Posted August 27 On 8/26/2024 at 4:41 AM, Pat Riot said: Whoever wrote this article has probably never heard of a “45”. I carry one all the time. I gave all the thin round ones to me daughter years ago. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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