By ANTHONY MCCARTNEY

The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Casey Kasem, the internationally famous radio host with the cheerful manner and gentle voice who became the king of the top 40 countdown with a syndicated show that ran for decades, died Sunday. He was 82.

Danny Deraney, publicist for Kasem’s daughter, Kerri, says Kasem died Sunday morning. A statement issued by the family says he died at 3:23 a.m. on Father’s Day morning surrounded by family and friends at a Washington state hospital.

“Even though we know he is in a better place and no longer suffering, we are heartbroken,” wrote his daughter Kerri Kasem on Twitter and Facebook from the family. “The world will miss Casey Kasem, an incredible talent and humanitarian; we will miss our dad.”

Kasem’s “American Top 40” began on July 4, 1970, in Los Angeles. The No. 1 song on his list then was “Mama Told Me Not to Come,” by Three Dog Night.

Stage and screen legend Ruby Dee, who personified grace, grit and progress at a time when African-American women were given little space in movies and on stage, died Wednesday in New Rochelle, N.Y. She was 91.

The death was confirmed Thursday by a family member, who declined to answer any questions pending the release of a statement.

“She died late (Wednesday) with her whole family around her,” family friend Latifah Salahudin told the Daily News. “All three kids and seven grandkids were there, surrounding her with so much love. She went peacefully from natural causes. We should all be so lucky.”

“She was so full of life and so strong. Such a powerful woman. We’re all going to miss her,” Salahudin added.