SPILL FEATURE: A LIFE IN THE SHADOWS OF STARDOM, ILLUMINATED BY FAMILY, ART, AND ONE AFTERNOON WITH JAMES CAGNEY – A CONVERSATION WITH RYAN CASSIDY

A LIFE IN THE SHADOWS OF STARDOM, ILLUMINATED BY FAMILY, ART, AND ONE AFTERNOON WITH JAMES CAGNEY

A CONVERSATION WITH RYAN CASSIDY

By the time Ryan Cassidy was old enough to understand the world around him, he was already immersed in the glow of Hollywood. The youngest son of Shirley Jones and Jack Cassidy, he grew up surrounded by charisma, talent, and the quiet hum of studio sets. But unlike the spotlight that followed his brothers, David, Shaun, and Patrick Cassidy, his journey unfolded in quieter corners, shaped by moments of magic, memory, and design.

Cassidy’s true passion lies in design. “I don’t call myself a designer, but I work in decorating,” he explains. “I have an old soul. I love the 1930s Art Deco, warmth, character. Your home is your sanctuary.” He’s been working as a set designer for TV and film for nearly three decades. “It’s fun but challenging. You’re constantly creating looks under tight deadlines, then tearing them all down and starting again. It’s like decorating a Christmas tree and taking it down two days later.”

Cassidy’s most personal project, however, is his children’s book James Cagney Was My Babysitter. The book tells the story of an afternoon he spent with James Cagney. “I never imagined writing a book about it,” he says. “I just knew it was a special story.” After meeting author Johnny Ray Miller, who had written When We’re Singin’ about the 70s TV Show The Partridge Family, Cassidy pitched the idea. Miller loved it and introduced him to Goodnight Books, a boutique publisher. “They said, ‘We love it. Let’s make a book.’ And that’s how it happened.”

The book was a cathartic experience. “Cagney was humble, a great listener. He made me feel like I mattered. He didn’t talk about himself; he talked about me. That’s something I never forgot.”

Cassidy hopes readers, especially young ones, take away a simple message: “No matter your age, everyone has something to offer. Don’t shut the door.”

One of his earliest and most cherished memories is of visiting his father, actor Jack Cassidy, on the set of Columbo at Universal Studios. “He was great with me,” Cassidy recalls. “He couldn’t wait to share tricks he was learning for the role of a magician. He even introduced me to the magician they hired to coach him.” That day wasn’t just about watching his dad act; it was about being invited into his world.

Cassidy’s admiration for his father extended beyond the screen. His father was known for his impeccable style, often wearing his own custom-made suits on set. “His wardrobe was immaculate,” Cassidy says. “He looked like he belonged on the cover of GQ magazine.” That tailoring elegance left a lasting impression. “I like getting dressed up. That all comes from my dad.” He still owns three of his father’s suits, tailored by Harry Cherry of Beverly Hills, a name Cassidy says is hard to forget.

The Partridge Family set offered another window into his upbringing. Cassidy remembers the quiet hum of production, the absence of a live audience, and the warmth of his mother’s stand-in, Betty Cantu, who felt like a grandmother to him. “I was enamoured with the Partridge Family bus,” he laughs. “I’d sneak off to play in it whenever I could.”

His mother, actor and singer Shirley Jones, was already a movie star when she took on the role of Shirley Partridge. “She treated everyone like she’d known them forever,” Cassidy says. “She remembered names, made people feel at ease. That created a happy, collaborative environment.” Her character wasn’t far from who she was in real life: fair, reasonable, and quietly in charge. “She was offered the role of Mrs. Brady but turned it down. She didn’t want to be seen taking a pot roast out of the oven,” Cassidy jokes. “She liked the idea of a singing family. It was a better fit.”

Now in her 90s, Shirley Jones remains sharp, still singing, and adored by her children. Cassidy visits her when he can, meeting halfway along the coast for lunch. “She has someone who lives with her now,” he says. “A caretaker and friend who manages her schedule and makes sure she’s comfortable. I’m just grateful we still have her.”

Cassidy’s own brush with fame came through the 80s TV show The Facts of Life, where he played Kevin Metcalf, a recurring role across two seasons. “Mindy Cohn and I were friends before I got the part,” he says. “She invited me to an NBC affiliates dinner as her date. I hadn’t even auditioned yet.” Later, he landed the role and was placed under contract with NBC. “Some episodes revolved entirely around my character,” he recalls. “One introduced my on-screen father, played by Dick O’Neill.”

Though his time on the show was brief, it left a lasting impression. “George Clooney came on after me. They wanted to rotate different male characters instead of sticking with one love interest.” Cassidy also bonded with McKenzie Astin, son of actor Patty Duke, during their time on the show.

One of his favourite projects was Ruby & the Rockits, a show created by his brother Shaun and starring David and Patrick, for which he was the set designer. “It was probably the best experience I’ve had in the business,” he says. “I got to go to work and see my whole family every day. My mom even guest-starred in a couple of episodes.” The show also featured a young Austin Butler (Elvis). “It was just a blast.”

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