Shaun Cassidy, 66, best known as the son of Academy Award winner Shirley Jones, 91, and the late Tony Award recipient Jack Cassidy, initially gained fame in the 1970s as a pop sensation, following in the footsteps of his half-brother, the late David Cassidy.

Concurrently, Shaun Cassidy achieved acting recognition for his role as joe Hardy in the ABC series, “The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries.”

However, he transitioned away from the spotlight decades ago to concentrate on a behind-the-scenes career as a television writer and producer. Now, Cassidy is set to return to the stage, launching his first arena tour since 1980.

Shaun Cassidy: From teen idol to television producer and back to the stage.

Cassidy Reflects on Fame and Future Tour

“I’ve never enjoyed being a public figure. I don’t like all the attention…I don’t really like being famous.”

Despite his upbringing in a show business family, Cassidy confessed that he never felt at ease in the spotlight during his time as a teen idol.

“I’ve never enjoyed being a public figure. I don’t like all the attention. I’m basically an introvert. I don’t really like being famous,” he told People. “But the only thing more ridiculous than being famous is being formerly famous, because you’re still famous, but a lot of people don’t necessarily know why anymore. And if it were up to me, I’d prefer neither of those things.”

“For years, I was like, I don’t want to [tour] because I’ll just be trying to replicate some version of myself at 20, which I always thought would be embarrassing and why try?” Cassidy said.

“But I discovered, and the audience told me this, that I didn’t need to do that because I had actually all these other cards I could play,” he added. “Now I’m a storyteller.”

Cassidy’s tour will kick off on Sept. 13 at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for TCM)

From Teen Idol to TV Writer

By the mid-1990s, Cassidy had largely transitioned to working behind the camera in Hollywood. Over the last few decades, he has been a television writer and producer, launching shows such as “American Gothic,” “Roar,” and “New Amsterdam.”

Speaking with People, Cassidy acknowledged that his career path has been unconventional.

“It’s a wierd résumé,” he said. “I don’t know anybody else that plays the houston Astrodome for 55,000 people, says, ‘Goodnight and see you soon,’ and then doesn’t show up again for 40 years, but that’s kind of what I did.”

“I think I’m the luckiest person in the world that I can do that,” Cassidy added.