Casey Kasem Ex-Wife: Who Is Linda Myers Kasem? Kemal Amin “Casey” Kasem, better known as Casey Kasem, a late American actor, DJ, and radio host, was married to Linda Myers Kasem. She made a cameo role in the 1980 comedy Up The Academy as Butch Officer 2 in addition to her marriage to Kasem, who achieved enormous success for his American Top 40 and as Shaggy in the 1960s animated series Scooby-Doo.
Her seven-year marriage to the radio personality gave birth to three kids: Kerri, Michael, and Julie.
Who Is Linda Myers Kasem? Bio Detail
Linda Myers Kasem was born Linda Myers Naylor in the United States. While details regarding her early life and family background have been kept away from the media, her marriage and divorce with legendary DJ and radio personality Casey Kasem put her under the spotlight.
She married Kasem in 1972 and became the mother of his first three children; daughters Kerri Kasem, and Julie Kasem, and son, Michael “Mike” Kasem. After seven years of marriage as indicated, Linda and Kasem divorced in 1979. She cited his temper as the primary reason for the split.
Casey Kasem’s ex-wife moved on with her life after the divorce and appeared in the 1980s comedy film Up The Academy as Botch Officer 2. Since then, she has maintained a quiet life until a drama unfolded in the wake of Casey Kasem’s death.
Casey Kasem Ex-Wife: Who Is Linda Myers Kasem?
In the celebrity world, there are some truly dysfunctional families. However, one of the families who arguably has had the most drama in recent times is the Kasem family. Of course, the most famous member of this particular family is radio legend Casey Kasem, who is sadly no longer with us. What makes his story even more tragic is that his family has failed to pull together in light of his untimely passing. Of course, Casey Kasem is best known for having hosted the American Top 40, officially being the most famous individual in the US to make a living from counting backward. However, Kasem will also be remembered for lending his voice to the iconic character Shaggy from the Scooby-Doo animated series.
Is She Telling The Truth?
It has been over four years since radio legend Casey Kasem passed away. In doing so, the man behind the voice of Shaggy from Scooby-Doo left behind a huge estate worth between 80 million and 100 million dollars.
While you’d expect that Kasem’s death would bring his family together, it seems that it ended up doing the exact opposite. Now, his widow wife Jean has finally revealed her side of the story that escalated into one of the craziest family feuds in showbiz.
Why Was She Acting So Strange?
When it first became public knowledge that all wasn’t well in the Kasem household, no one actually understood what the problem was – not even the family’s distant relatives.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with her,” Casey’s brother Mouner Kasem said. “She’s got everything she could want. Why she has to be this way, I don’t understand that. We’ve been family.” Soon enough though, it would become clear why there were so many rising tensions…
Life-Changing Moment
The defining moment that truly tipped the family scales was when Casey Kasem was diagnosed with Lew body dementia, a condition similar to Parkinson’s disease.
The man who was once remembered for his iconic voice had now lost it as a result of his condition. However, instead of his loved ones pulling together at this terrible time, it only made matters worse between them. Although everyone was trying to help Casey, each person involved was actually tearing the family apart.
Battle For His Estate
It seems like Casey Kasem’s huge estate, which is thought to be worth between $80-100 million, was overshadowing what was important – his health and wellbeing.
At the heart of this bizarre family feud, each party was accusing the other of losing sight of the important matters and being motivated by a greedy hunger for Kasem’s money. According to Jean Kasem, this is one of the main reasons why Casey had cut his children out of his life…
Kids Only Wanted His Money?
Jean Kasem claims that Kerri, Julie, and Michael Kasem, who all came from Casey’s first marriage, were only hungry for his money, even before he had been diagnosed with Lew body dementia.
“It was always all about the money,” she said. “We became the bank of Kasem – we were the personal ATM machine.” According to her, Casey had finally had enough and cut his kids off financially for good. And it’s not just Jean who can vouch for this…
The Power Of Attorney
One person who was obviously quick to defend Jean was her attorney Joel Paget. In an interview with NBC News, he had some fascinating things to say about his client.
“She does have a story to tell and document,” said Paget. “The only thing I will say now is that if I were as old as he was and in the condition he was, I would hope to have the care that his wife has been giving him.”
War Of Words
After she heard what Jean had said about Casey’s kids using him for his money, Kerri Kasem was quick to fire back at what she believed were wild accusations.
“The only thing she ever wanted from my dad is money, that’s it,” said Kerri. In fact, Kerri said something that Casey had shared with her about Jean. “Dad once told me, don’t ever go up against Jean. You don’t know what she’s capable of.” Who was telling the truth?
Protecting My Husband
In an interview with Peter Van Sant, Jean discussed the time that she moved her ill husband out of a rehabilitation center in Santa Monica, California.
She didn’t believe it was the right place for him to be, and instead, moved him to her friend’s home. It was here that Casey spent a lot of time leading up to his passing. According to Jean, she did this to “protect her husband.” However, Jean ended up demonstrating bizarre behavior, but against who?
Bizarre Behavior
In an isolated incident, Jean demonstrated truly bizarre behavior when she was recorded on film walking out of her house and throwing a pound of raw hamburger meat at Kerri Kassem.
That wasn’t all though. As she did the grotesque act, she chanted what sounded like religious quotes. “In the honor of King David, go ahead and take me,” she yelled. “I throw this piece of meat to you. To the dogs! To the dogs!” But why did she do something so bizarre?
Perfect Couple?
During this uncertain time in Jean’s life, she spoke up about the nature of her relationship with Casey, reassuring outsiders that everything she was doing was with the right intentions.
“I am not going to allow anybody to shred my family on unfounded facts and malicious accusations,” she said. “People in Hollywood come to us and ask us for marriage advice. We consider ourselves a Hollywood love story. We’re a good people…charitable people. We’re clean people and this has got to stop.”
Family Beef Goes Way Back
Jean’s unsettling feud with Casey Kasem’s children from his previous marriage goes back a long way. Despite buying a 2.4-acre estate with seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms, Jean never let Casey’s kids stay with them.
“She’s the one that poisoned everybody,” Mary Kasem said. “She keeps talking about all these toxic relationships but she’s the one that made it that way. She’s very, very possessive. It’s not just the kids he can’t see – it’s his brother, his cousins, his friends of 40 years.”
The Man Who Had It All
In order to understand Casey Kasem’s complicated family life, we need to understand Casey Kasem. Outside of his personal life, the man famous for hosting the American Top 40 was one of the most iconic voices in the country.
Also lending his voice to the character Shaggy on the Scooby-Doo animated series, Kasem appealed to people of all ages. Also, Casey Kasem already had quite an eventful personal life before he had even met Jean…
First Marriage
At the peak of his powers in the world of showbiz, Casey Kasem was married to Linda Myers. It was with her that he had three children – Mike, Julie, and Kerri Kasem.
These were the same three children who would grow up to have such a toxic relationship with his second wife, Jean. However, things did not work out so well between Casey and Linda, and in 1979, the couple filed for divorce. Shortly after that, Casey met Jean…
Second Time’s A Charm
When Casey met Jean, she had failed to take off in the world of journalism and instead, decided to pursue a career in acting. She was also recently divorced.
After just a year of dating, the couple decided to tie the knot. Her acting career never truly took off; her most famous roles coming in Ghostbusters and as a trophy wife in Cheers. The latter role was nothing short of ironic, seeing that she had married one of the most successful men in showbiz.
Casey The Peacekeeper
Mary Kasem firmly believes that Casey simply wanted to make the most of a bad situation and keep the peace within his family. She claimed that Jean wouldn’t let him spend time with his own family and friends.
After mentioning how possessive Jean is and how she wouldn’t let him see any of his family, she also mentioned how it affected Casey. “It stressed him out…But he would always say he’s not going through another divorce. He’d say, ‘She’s getting better. She’s just so insecure.’”
Kerri Took Dad To Hospital
It turns out that the reason that Jean had thrown a pound of raw meat at Kerri was that the young lady had arrived to take her dad Casey to the hospital.
Kerri had received a court order, allowing her partial control over her dad’s medical care. This made the moment even more bizarre. Despite being informed about Kerri’s imminent arrival, Jean decided to behave in such an unexpected way. After taking her dad to the hospital, he was reportedly in a stable condition…
Are His Kids The Problem?
Although the signs point towards Jean’s bizarre behavior, a court statement had the following to say about Casey Kasem’s kids from his previous marriage.
“These children falsely claim that their stepmother is wicked…they no longer have access to him through no fault of their own,” it said. “For reasons they know all too well, their presence at this stage would be toxic and extremely distressing for Casey, Jean, and their daughter, Liberty, who have had enough of their cruelty.”
Diagnosis Wasn’t Good
Although Casey Kasem was in a stable condition at the hospital, Kerri would be shocked by the diagnosis he ended up receiving from the doctor.
According to hospital records, Casey not only suffered shock and respiratory failure, but he also had a stage three ulcer in his back, forcing him to staing in bed for a long time. Julie Kasem was particularly distressed by what the doctors had told her. “He was…extremely thin,” she said. “His face was sunken in.”
Tragic Loss
On June 15, 2014, at 82 years old, Casey Kasem passed away. “I ran back in the room and I picked him up in my arms and I held him so tight,” Jean said.
“And I said, ‘I have never loved anybody like I have loved you.’” Ultimately, it was Casey who signed a directive, stating that he no longer wanted to be kept alive if it “would result in a mere biological existence, devoid of cognitive function, with no reasonable hope for normal functioning.”
Fighting For Dad
Kerri’s feelings about her dad’s relationship with Jean are so strong that they deeply influenced her core values.
In honor of her father, she founded both Kasem Cares and the Kasem Coalition, two charities that aim to raise awareness of elder abuse. And it’s not just Kerri who feels this way about Jean’s treatment of their father; so does her sister, Julie Kasem. “What she did to my dad was elder abuse,” Julie said. “Straight and simple.”
Playing The Blame Game
While no one directly killed Casey Kasem, the family members involved were quick to point the finger, blaming each other for the loss of the family patriarch.
As far as Jean was concerned, Kerri and the others kids were responsible for the death of her husband. “They killed my husband,” Jean Kasem said in an interview with Peter Van Sant. “They killed their father…” However, there are always two sides to every story and Kerri has her own thoughts on the matter…
Kerri Blames Jean
After everything they have been through and all of the drama that had transpired even before Casey’s worsening condition, Kerri Kasem firmly believes that Jean’s actions led to Casey’s untimely passing.
“Jean killed my father,” she said. “What she did led to his death.” Now, it seems that the family is well and truly on the verge of battling this debate out, once and for all. But who is going to win this war? More importantly, is this a war worth winning?
The Neverending Family Feud
With lawsuits going back and forth in this family regarding who was to blame for Casey Kasem’s untimely passing, it is believed that a judge will make a final verdict in the foreseeable future, maybe even as soon as Spring 2019.
Whoever wins the case will end up inheriting Casey Kasem’s estate. Whatever happens, not only will it never bring back their beloved husband/father, but this is a family feud that doesn’t seem likely to end anytime soon.
Here Are Unknown Facts About Linda Myers Kasem
1. Her Children Are Pursuing Careers In Showbiz
Out of Linda’s three children, two have stepped into their’s shoes in the world of showbiz.
Her oldest daughter, Kerri Kasem (50) born on July 12, 1972, is a multimedia personality, producer, and writer who has been anchoring music, talk, and entertainment programs for radio and TV for 26 years. Additionally, she has worked with radio and TV stations such as Premiere Radio Networks, ABAC, and 97.1FM TALK, and also hosted several shows for MTV USA and Asia, National Lampoon, and Sprint. Beyond TV and radio, she is the founder of the non-profit organization, Kasem Cares Foundation. It was founded in April 2014 to prevent elder abuse.
Linda’s son, Michael “Mike” Kasem,49, born on August 24, 1973, is a TV presenter, actor, and DJ. He has worked with Gold 905FM in Singapore and made his first movie appearance in 2014 in Afterimages and1965 in 2015. Mike is married to Singaporean TV personality and former golfer Su Ann Heng and shares a daughter, Casey Patrick Kasem.
While her youngest daughter, Julie Kasem maintains a low profile like her.
2. Linda’s Ex-Husband Married Married Jean Thompson Kasem A Year After Their Split
As mentioned Linda Myers Kasem and Casey Kasem divorced in 1979 after seven years of marriage. In an interview, she said she loves him, but she opted for divorce because of his temper.
The following year, her ex-husband moved on and married 68-year-old former American actress, Jean Thompson Kasem. They remained married until his passing in 2014 at the age of 82. He died from sepsis caused by ulcerated bedsore.
3. Her Ex-Husband’s Wife Prevented Her Children From Being In Their Father’s House While He Was Alive
From the beginning, there were reports that Jean Kasem didn’t want to be involved with her three stepchildren and would rather have them stay away from their father’s mansion even when it was spacious enough to accommodate them.
The drama took a different dimension in 2013 when Casey Kasem’s aliment worsened. Jean prevented any form of contact between Linda’s three children and their father. On the first of October of the same year, Kerri, Mike, Julie, Kasem’s brother Mounir, and other family members, friends, and colleagues protested outside Kasem’s home.
4. Linda Myers Norlan’s Children Were Involved In Legal Battles With Their Stepmom
The drama in the family did not stop in demonstrations but went as far as reaching the court. Linda Kasem’s children sued Jean Kasem to have conservatorship over their father.
After his death, Kerri got an impermanent restraining order to stop Jean from cremating her father’s body to give a room for an autopsy but was informed Jean had already moved her late husband’s body and laid him to rest about six months later.
6. What Was The Possible Cause Of The Feud?
Casey Kasem is said to be worth $80-$100 million and this may likely explain the bickering in the family. His widow has accused his children and brothers of trying to put their hands on his wealth. This brings to mind the meat incident when she threw it at Kerri and uttered obscene things.
His children and brothers on the other hand have claimed she married him for his money and made sure she estranged everyone from him.
7. Who Is To Be Blamed For Her Ex-Husband’s Death?
The disagreement of the family continued as Kasem’s older children and brother sued Jean for wrongful death and for causing them emotional distress when their father and brother took ill. However, the case had no backing since it was claimed the late Kasem had proper medical care, and there was no indication he was murdered.
In December 2019, Linda’s children settled the wrongful death case against their stepmother, Jean Kasem. The settlement brought an end to years of the feud between the two parties.
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