No matter your age, you know who Casey Kasem is. With all of the iterations of Scooby-Doo, the original that began in the 1960s featuring Kasem as Shaggy are the ones that everyone knows and that will live on forever. Kasem brought a unique and hilarious voice to a unique and hilarious character. He even returned to reprise the role as recently as 2009, and he played a recurring character named Colton Rogers in the new Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated series.
It was reported (and has been confirmed by his daughter) that the legend has passed away today. In addition to voicing Shaggy, Kasem is known for voicing other characters such as Robin in the Superfriends series, multiple characters in the 1980s Transformers series, and of course almost 45 years as the voice of the radio program “American Top 40” which has been broadcast all around the world.
He made guest appearances everywhere from Captain Planet to Sesame Street to Tiny Toon Adventures, often playing spoofs of himself like Flakey Lakem and Spacey Kasem.
Casey Kasem is one of those actors that we think of as immortal, and in a way he is. Forty-five years later we still watch the original Scooby Doo series, and even in the last five years I can remember hearing his voice on “American Top 40” while on vacation. That voice fills me with joy and happy nostalgia, and countless others feel the same way about a true legend.
There is no tribute great enough for Casey Kasem. What can you say about someone whose name and characters are household names in every sense of the phrase. Ask anyone old enough to speak who Shaggy is, and they’ll tell you. Play Casey Kasem’s voice, and they’re likely to recognize the voice of Shaggy.
A hole has been left in the world with his passing, and it’s a hole that can never be truly filled.
Rest in peace, Mr. Kasem. You were, are, and always will be an integral part of our lives.
Nerdy Minds Magazine 
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