David Cassidy, the ’70s teen heartthrob and lead singer on “The Partridge Family,” has died. He was 67. Cassidy had recently been admitted to the intensive care unit of a Fort Lauderdale, Florida, area hospital and was in critical condition and suffering from organ failure.
His publicist Jo-Ann Geffen said, “David died surrounded by those he loved, with joy in his heart and free from the pain that had gripped him for so long. Thank you for the abundance and support you have shown him these many years.”
“His father was famed actor and singer Jack Cassidy, and his mother was actress Evelyn Ward. After his parents split in 1956, the elder Cassidy married actress and singer Shirley Jones the same year. Cassidy moved in with his father, Jones and his three half-brothers after getting his high school diploma in 1968. His father helped him launch his career as an actor and musician. His early work included appearances on “Ironside,” “Marcus Welby, M.D.,” “Adam-12” and “Bonanza.”
In 1970, Cassidy began playing the role of Keith Partridge on the musical sitcom “The Partridge Family.” His stepmother, Jones, portrayed his mother, a widow with five children. The popular ABC series ran for four years and also had a successful run in syndication. The show also spurred several pop hits.
The single “I Think I Love You,” featuring Cassidy on lead vocals, hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts in 1970 and sold more than 5 million copies. The songs “Doesn’t Somebody Want To Be Wanted” and “I’ll Meet You Halfway” also cracked the top 10 the next year.”
But Cassidy also had a solo career, worked in television after “The Partridge Family” ended, performing in Las Vegas, and stared on the stage as well.
He ended up in rehab in 2014 after his third arrest for driving under the influence and in 2017, announced that he was in the early stages of dementia, the same disease his mother and grandfather suffered from.
Yesterday, the Twitterverse was full of those in the entertainment world who had worked with him, sharing their memories and condolences. However, it was perhaps best summed up by Larry King who said, “Like his father Jack he had great talent and a complicated life. Condolences to his wonderful family.”
