Meet The Lebanese Actor Behind The Voice Of Shaggy in Scooby-Doo

Grace Hovsepian·
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We all used to watch Scooby-Doo when we were children. Full of mysteries and hilarious moments, it’s a cartoon we would gladly watch again.

Did you know, Shaggy’s voice actor was Lebanese?

Born in Detroit to a Lebanese Druze family, Casey Kasem voiced Shaggy from 1969 until 1997, and from 2002 until 2009.

Although his name or face might not be very famous, Casey’s voice is highly recognizable.

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Remembering Casey Kasem today, an award winning radio personality and American icon. If you didn't grow up listening to him on the radio, he really could tell a story. You most likely have heard him voicing shaggy from Scooby Doo (where are you?). But as a vegetarian , he avacated for less animals being harmed in our food and later wanted the character Shaggy to do the same. It's understable that when you speak as a character all the time, you know that their characteristics can influence young people. And with Mr. Kasem's Abrabian decent, he avacated for a bigger balance between heroes and villians when arab people are being depicted on American television. A man known for his amazing voice. At the end of his life, his illness hindered his speech. We hope others will continue to speak up for causes and not fear to go against the norms, even when your opinion and stance isn't a popular one. And as he would often say on the radio "keep your feet on the grown and keep reaching for the stars…" Repost from @jimiweezer – #caseykasem voiced #shaggy ??? in #scoobydoo – #regrann

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Casey Kasem quit his career as a voice actor because of a dispute over a TV ad. According to sources, Casey was a hardcore vegan and a supporter of animal rights.

When he was asked to voice Shaggy in a Burger King commercial, Casey, a hardcore vegan, was not pleased with the idea and quit his job.

In 2002, the producers of Scooby-Doo agreed to make Shaggy a vegetarian. So, Casey jumped on board again.

Casey and countdown shows

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#KemalAmin #CaseyKasem (April 27, 1932 – June 15, 2014) was an American disc jockey, music historian, radio personality, actor and voice actor. He was notable for being the host of several music radio countdown programs, notably #AmericanTop40 from 1970 until his retirement in 2009 and being the first actor to voice Norville #Shaggy Rogers in the #ScoobyDoo franchise from 1969 to 1997, and again from 2002 until 2009. Kasem co-founded the American Top 40 franchise in 1970, hosting it from its inception to 1988, and again from 1998 to 2004. Between January 1989 and early 1998, he was the host of #CaseysTop40, #CaseysHot20 and #CaseysCountdown. From 1998 to 2009, Kasem also hosted two adult contemporary spinoffs of American Top 40: American Top 20 and American Top 10. He helped found the #AmericanVideoAwards in 1983 and continued to co-produce and host it until its final show in 1987. In addition to his radio shows, Kasem provided many commercial voiceovers, performed many voices for children's television (such as #SesameStreet, the #Transformers cartoon series, #SuperFriends, and #BattleOfThePlanets), was "the voice of NBC" and helped with the annual #JerryLewisTelethon.

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Casey co-founded the American Top 40 franchise, and he was the host of Casey’s top 40. 

These are radio shows where Casey featured the best-selling and most-played 40 songs of the week. Casey Kasem passed away in 2014. He was granted a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1981.

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Keep reaching for the stars… #CaseyKasem

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