Fame and Fortune: Patrick Cassidy
'Bubble fear' and family ties put him on the road again

Patrick Cassidy is doing his part to uphold the family's show-business dynasty.

The son of Shirley Jones and the late Jack Cassidy, brother of Shaun and Ryan, and half-brother of David, Patrick has had some big shoes to fill. He made his Broadway debut in 1981, as the lead in "Pirates of Penzance." He's also done stints with mom, Shirley, in "The Sound of Music" and "42nd Street." Currently, Cassidy is reviving a role he first played in 1999 on Broadway, as the lead in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." The tour will begin Sept. 6, 2005, in Milwaukee, Wis. Cassidy is expanding the family dynasty, too; his wife Melissa Hurley-Cassidy, along with sons Jack and Cole, are all appearing in the touring production.

When he's not on live stage, fans have been able to see Patrick Cassidy on television in "Dress Gray," a TV movie for which he received an Emmy nomination, and on guest appearances on TV series such as "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman," "Smallville, "Without A Trace," " Law & Order: SVU," "Crossing Jordan" and "According to Jim."

His film credentials include playing Howard, the gay actor, in "Longtime Companion," the first feature film that dealt with the AIDS epidemic and a neglectful husband in "Man of Her Dreams," with Lysette Anthony.

Bankrate: You seem to like the gypsy life of touring with a show. You've even sold your home and cars to go on the road. Tell me about that.

Patrick Cassidy: I don't know if "like" is the right word. It was all kind of coincidental. I was planning to sell the house anyway, the children were getting larger, and we were thinking about school districts. Then, they offered me the tour. I said, "Absolutely not!" They came back with a different offer. They included my wife and children in the offer. I thought about the real-estate market in California -- I think the real-estate bubble there will burst. I took the money and invested it. I bought the house nine years ago, so I made a nice profit. The producers were very extravagant with me, they pay all my living expenses, hired my wife and children. I hired a nanny and tutor for them. They will perform from time to time; they're not professionals.

Bankrate: Are you a stage dad?

Patrick Cassidy: The truth is, they're young boys. Neither has aspirations to be in the business; I hope and pray that they don't. I did prepare them before the show, I taught them the whole score. I'm no "Father Rose," though.

Bankrate: You have made the decision with your wife not to allow work to separate your family again. How would that work out if you were asked to film on location and your kids were happy in school?

Patrick Cassidy: We've broken the mold this time. That's one of the biggest problems performers have. We've been married over 12 years. We have a two-week rule; two weeks before one of us hops on a plane. We've broken that rule only recently. It's been closer to three weeks. When the children are ensconced in school, it will be harder.