http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/david-cassidy-partridge-family-star-dead-67-article-1.3649633

May he Rest In Peace

David Cassidy, the ’70s heartthrob and star of the hit sitcom “The Partridge Family,” died Tuesday of complications from dementia and multiple organ failure.

He was 67.

"On behalf of the entire Cassidy family, it is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, our uncle, and our dear brother, David Cassidy. David died surrounded by those he loved, with joy in his heart and free from the pain that had gripped him for so long," the family said in a statement to the Daily News. "Thank you for the abundance and support you have shown him these many years."

Cassidy was surrounded by family at the Florida hospital where he was admitted earlier in the week. He was in critical condition as his kidneys and liver were failing and he was in need of a kidney transplant.

He was placed into a medically induced coma to manage his pain when he entered the hospital on Wednesday and his condition deteriorated and he was moved to the ICU on Sunday morning where he eventually died.

The actor was best known for his role as Keith Partridge in ABC’s “The Partridge Family,” which aired from 1970-1974.

During his stint on the show, Cassidy and the fictional Partridges released a number of hit songs like "I Think I Love You," which reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts, and "Come on Get Happy!"

Thanks to his boyish good looks, Cassidy amassed a fan base that rivaled that of Elvis Presley and the Beatles.

As his star continued to rise — and his female fans continued in their manic devotion — Cassidy launched a bubblegum pop solo career that he balanced alongside his “Partridge” duties.

His success as a teen idol was so massive it was dubbed “Cassidymania,” and the floppy-haired singer sold out stadiums across the globe.

He released seven albums during his teen idol peak in the ‘70s, including “Cherish” and “Rock Me Baby.”

Cassidy was also famously featured on the cover of "Rolling Stone" magazine in 1972, scantily clad and carefully cropped for an article in which he spoke frankly about his drug use.

In the prime years of his singing career, Cassidy had 24 gold and platinum recordings and four consecutive multi-platinum LPs.

By the mid ‘70s, Cassidy grew tired of his image as the wholesome teen idol and, following an incident in which a fan was killed in a crush at one of his London concerts, he quit “The Partridge Family” in 1974 and retired from touring.

He enjoyed a short-lived television career, but spent much of the 1980s broke and trying to recapture the magic of his youth.

“I was one of the wealthiest young male entertainers in the world then, but 10 years later, I had nothing to show for it. By the 1980s I was broke and had to rebuild my life,” he told the Telegraph.

Cassidy relaunched his music career in the ‘90s, and had a Top 40 hit with “Lyin’ to Myself” in 1990.

In 1996, he moved to Las Vegas to star in the live show "EFX" at the MGM Grand and within four months, it was voted the "Best Production Show" in the city.

Throughout his career, Cassidy struggled with alcohol abuse issues that resulted in DWIs in 2010, 2013 and 2014 and a stint in rehab. He filed for bankruptcy in 2015.

Earlier this year, Cassidy stumbled off a stage while slurring his words at a California concert and later attributed the fall to dementia — a disease which also afflicted his mother and grandfather.

“A part of me always knew this was coming,” Cassidy told People.

He then decided that he was done with touring and wanted to focus instead on the time that he had left.

"I want to focus on what I am ... I want to love," he told the magazine. "I want to enjoy life."

Cassidy was born in New York City to actress Evelyn Ward and his father Jack Cassidy, who later went on to marry David’s on-screen mother, Shirley Jones.

Throughout the ups and down of his personal life and career, Cassidy tried to remain upbeat and attributed his resilience to his father, who died in 1976 after a lit cigarette set his Hollywood apartment aflame.

"I'm an optimist. I mean, you have to be with my career," Cassidy said in a biography on his website. "I have always stayed true to myself by using the work ethic my father instilled in me… He taught me to be fearless."

He is survived by his 26-year-old son Beau, 30-year-old daughter Katie and three brothers: Shaun, 59, Ryan, 51, and Patrick, 55. Cassidy also has three ex-wives — Beau's mother, Sue Shifrin, Meryl Tanz and Kay Lenz.

"My uncle David Cassidy has sadly passed away tonight... & in the process of mourning I can't help but thank God for the joy that he brought to countless millions of people!" Jack Cassidy tweeted Tuesday night. 'I don't think I'm alone in saying that we will all miss him. God Speed!"

Ahh!! So sad!!! I'm broken hearted!!:( I knew this was inevitable but I was hoping that somehow a miracle would happen and he would be able to get an organ transplant!

My first crush and a wonderful musical /singing talent and a genuinely nice sweet guy! :heart:

My condolences to his Family and friends!

RIP David! Your spirit will live on and we will all think of you fondly and watch the Partridge family and relive happy times and memories !! ;)

We all knew this was coming. What can I say. He was a big part pf my childhood. He was such a great talent, I had a Partridge Family record case and I still have my David Cassidy school binder that I got in 3rd grade. At least David isn't in pain anymore. R.I.P. David. You'll never be forgotten. :(

May he RIP. Thoughts and prayers to his family.:crying:

In the greatest sense it happened so suddenly. I last heard he was recording an album but then weeks later he was suddenly in critical condition and there was no hope.
What happened?
He must have had an illness progressing at a rapid rate all this time.

I feel badly that he had such a rocky life- especially in his later years. Hope he's at peace now.

We all knew this was coming. What can I say. He was a big part pf my childhood. He was such a great talent, I had a Partridge Family record case and I still have my David Cassidy school binder that I got in 3rd grade. At least David isn't in pain anymore. R.I.P. David. You'll never be forgotten. :(

Yep!! I was 8 when I first saw David as Keith on the Partridge Family! ;) I decided right than and there that he was to be my future Husband! :D Friday nights became even cooler! Besides no school the next day and the Brady Bunch, now there was the Partridge family with this very cute guy, Keith! :heart:

I had their 45's and albums and cut David's pics out of 16 mag. and Tiger beat and had them on my wall!:) Around the same time my Sister was into Bobby Sherman! So we always had the who's cuter/who's cooler David or Bobby debate ! :D I still vote David! :heart:

To this day I SWEAR Keith/David sang/dedicated "Cherish" to me!! ;) :heart: :D He sang that song BEAUTIFULLY! :) ;)

RIP :(

Very sad how his health deteriorated near the end. At least he is now at peace and his family has some finality. Prayers to them all. :(

This is very sweet and sentimental!:) WARNING! Have some kleenex near by , you will be tearing up!!! Cherish /1971 ! :heart:

RIP David!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwXZE0CveEA

Was hoping that he would get that liver transplant so he would stay alive.

Yep!! I was 8 when I first saw David as Keith on the Partridge Family! ;) I decided right than and there that he was to be my future Husband! :D Friday nights became even cooler! Besides no school the next day and the Brady Bunch, now there was the Partridge family with this very cute guy, Keith! :heart:

I had their 45's and albums and cut David's pics out of 16 mag. and Tiger beat and had them on my wall!:) Around the same time my Sister was into Bobby Sherman! So we always had the who's cuter/who's cooler David or Bobby debate ! :D I still vote David! :heart:

To this day I SWEAR Keith/David sang/dedicated "Cherish" to me!! ;) :heart: :D He sang that song BEAUTIFULLY! :) ;)
I was a little bit younger and so Danny was my favorite Partridge. :lol: But I always remember thinking that David was so cool. I would have loved to have him for a big brother. I just looked and I still have that Partridge Family record cabinet too. I don't have very many memorabilia from my childhood but it's funny the 2 that I do have are from the Partridge Family. :)

https://twitter.com/TheDoochMan?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

From Danny Bonaduce . :(

I have known, loved, and admired David Cassidy for 48 out of my 58 years. He has been as kind to me as any real brother could ever be. We’ve been through a lot together and he was always there for me. This loss is huge. RIP my dear friend.

It was alcoholism. He was arrested for a number of DUIs over the past few years, and he had become estranged from his brothers, with whom he used to be close. Shirley Jones gave an interview to Closer magazine a couple of years ago where she said that no one in the family had had a relationship with him for several years and that they were sick over it, and worried that they’d read about him being found dead not the floor somewhere. His third wife, Sue, divorced him after many years of marriage, and it sounded like she was fed up with the drinking.

But apparently they reconciled with him over the past few weeks as his health deteriorated, so that’s something anyway. And Sue was there, too.

It was alcoholism. He was arrested for a number of DUIs over the past few years, and he had become estranged from his brothers, with whom he used to be close. Shirley Jones gave an interview to Closer magazine a couple of years ago where she said that no one in the family had had a relationship with him for several years and that they were sick over it, and worried that they’d read about him being found dead not the floor somewhere. His third wife, Sue, divorced him after many years of marriage, and it sounded like she was fed up with the drinking.

But apparently they reconciled with him over the past few weeks as his health deteriorated, so that’s something anyway. And Sue was there, too.

I wonder if that much younger woman who he termed his 'fiancee' when they were caught in that DUI while he was still legally wed to Sue was anywhere around or did she vamoose long before the final curtain?
Well, in spite of what he'd put his family and friends through these last few years and all the torture of dementia and substance abuse issues, I REALLY hope he found his peace at the end and is no longer suffering.

RIP. I forget how good looking he was. Such a cutie! No wonder he was such a big teen idol.

Very sad about this, this one hits pretty hard because I was a fan of his during the earlier years of his career, the later years not as much. I was hoping he'd survive but it sounds like by the time he got to the hospital he was already in such bad shape and the doctors weren't able to do much for him.

Age 67 isn't that old, if only he'd taken better care of himself and laid off of the booze, he likely would have lived longer.

He's in God's kingdom now, at peace and no longer battling his demons.

He died on the 47th anniversary of "I Think I Love You" hitting #1 on the Billboard Charts. It was actually in it's second week at the top, but still #1 nonetheless.

https://youtu.be/2r9UtIhOI8M

I just found a photo of that Partridge Family record cabinet I still have. I still remember the day we bought it.

Is there a statement from Shirley Jones yet?

I just found a photo of that Partridge Family record cabinet I still have. I still remember the day we bought it.

That's neat! And cool you still have it. Quite a few things I bought in my youth I wish I had hung on to.

Is there a statement from Shirley Jones yet?
I've been looking. I haven't seen any.

That's neat! And cool you still have it. Quite a few things I bought in my youth I wish I had hung on to.
Yea I don't have very many things from that time. Wish I kept them now. I think the only reason the cabinet survived was because it was easy to store things in it.

I was a little bit younger and so Danny was my favorite Partridge. :lol: But I always remember thinking that David was so cool. I would have loved to have him for a big brother. I just looked and I still have that Partridge Family record cabinet too. I don't have very many memorabilia from my childhood but it's funny the 2 that I do have are from the Partridge Family. :)

We seem to have had similar memories of the Partridge Family.

And like you, Sonny, I really thought Cassidy was the epitome of cool. Good looking, popular with the girls, great singer, fashionable, quick witted...

The relationship between he and Danny really put me in mind of the one I had with my own brother (or maybe, the one I kind of wished I'd had). They were always bickering and one upping the other, but they loved each other. Their little schemes always cracked me up!

The Partridge Family came at a time when everything was good for me; all my family was here, I was young and idealistic (and carefree). Life was one big afternoon in the park playing ball and horsing around with friends. TV was good, too; I've never looked forward to a lineup like I did the ABC Friday night lineup in the early 70's.

That tweet from Danny is just heartbreaking. He loved David so much. My own brother died, of alcoholism, eleven years ago. He was born one year after David was. Like David, his life was tormented in many ways.

This all hits me very hard. I feel like the 70's, my childhood years, are really dying.

Thanks, David, for all the great music and great TV. Heaven has to sound just a bit more beautiful now.

:rip:

Well, in spite of what he'd put his family and friends through these last few years and all the torture of dementia and substance abuse issues, I REALLY hope he found his peace at the end and is no longer suffering.

You do realize that alcoholism is a disease, right? That there's physical and medical evidence that your brain changes and is programmed to need the drug? And that's it's often hereditary?

Sorry, but I'm sure you wouldn't say that a patient who died of cancer "put his family through" something. You'd say he was sick.

Just like David.

This is a memorial thread for David; I don't mean to hijack it. But I think staying on topic means honoring the man and celebrating his life.

We seem to have had similar memories of the Partridge Family.

And like you, Sonny, I really thought Cassidy was the epitome of cool. Good looking, popular with the girls, great singer, fashionable, quick witted...

The relationship between he and Danny really put me in mind of the one I had with my own brother (or maybe, the one I kind of wished I'd had). They were always bickering and one upping the other, but they loved each other. Their little schemes always cracked me up!

The Partridge Family came at a time when everything was good for me; all my family was here, I was young and idealistic (and carefree). Life was one big afternoon in the park playing ball and horsing around with friends. TV was good, too; I've never looked forward to a lineup like I did the ABC Friday night lineup in the early 70's.

That tweet from Danny is just heartbreaking. He loved David so much. My own brother died, of alcoholism, eleven years ago. He was born one year after David was. Like David, his life was tormented in many ways.

This all hits me very hard. I feel like the 70's, my childhood years, are really dying.

Thanks, David, for all the great music and great TV. Heaven has to sound just a bit more beautiful now.

:rip:
I'm so sorry about your brother Michael. :( I was an only child when the Partridge Family aired. I always dreamed of having a brother. My Mom had a miscarriage in 1971 I believe. That was a hard time. My sister wasn't born until 1977 and I was 12 by then and even though I loved her and my younger one they didn't grow up with me. TV was really my extended family. And like you I have great memories of that time because my whole family was there.
Network schedules back then were magical. There was no VCR or DVR and you mainly watched one show after another. ABC's Friday lineup and later CBS's Saturday and ABC's Tuesday lineup. And being a kid I went more with Danny because he was closer to my age and he was the funny one. But Keith he was just so cool. Loved how he and Danny interacted. And I loved the songs too. :)

This week has been tough with so many deaths and right around the Holidays too. :(

I'm so sorry about your brother Michael. :( I was an only child when the Partridge Family aired. I always dreamed of having a brother. My Mom had a miscarriage in 1971 I believe. That was a hard time. My sister wasn't born until 1977 and I was 12 by then and even though I loved her and my younger one they didn't grow up with me. TV was really my extended family. And like you I have great memories of that time because my whole family was there.
Network schedules back then were magical. There was no VCR or DVR and you mainly watched one show after another. ABC's Friday lineup and later CBS's Saturday and ABC's Tuesday lineup. And being a kid I went more with Danny because he was closer to my age and he was the funny one. But Keith he was just so cool. Loved how he and Danny interacted. And I loved the songs too. :)

This week has been tough with so many deaths and right around the Holidays too. :(

Thanks, Sonny.

Yeah, I always thought of myself as much more "Danny" than "Keith", lol. But again, Keith was the one I looked up to.

I grew up pretty much an only child since my brother graduated high school the May before I started kindergarten. He was married and on his own by the time I was seven. But we saw him very often as he lived in the same small town and he and his wife were over quite a bit.

I loved the Bradys, but the Partridges always felt more "real" to me. They were more scrappy and more snappy with their dialogue. You had Danny clashing with Keith, Keith clashing with Laurie, Laurie clashing with Danny, and Danny clashing with Reuben. And poor Shirley trying to hold it all together, LOL.

And yes, Fridays in the early 70s was a magical time for a TV watching kid. After the Bradys, Partridges, Room 222 and Love American Style, the news came on then there was usually some kind of monster movie after that. Then the next morning...cartoons! :happyface And, as you mentioned, the CBS Saturday lineup in those days was really incredible, too. I just can't imagine looking forward to TV like that again, sadly. Maybe it's just age, or maybe we were REALLY lucky to have been that age at that time!

I was really sad and sorry to read about David's passing and I hope he is at peace now.

I first saw The Partridge Show when it aired on Nick at Nite. I saw "Waiting for Bolero" and I fell in love with David Cassidy and the show. He had such great timing when it came to punchlines and the sweetest voice.

https://www.vox.com/culture/2017/11/22/16690124/david-cassidy-partridge-family-teen-idol-dead-at-67

The Partridge Family star, who died last night at age 67 (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/david-cassidy-dead-partridge-family-star-pop-singer-was-67-1059782), “was an anomaly in his day, a rare fresh-faced teen idol breaking out in a cultural moment when generational disaffection and cultural anxieties were producing very different rock icons,” says Aja Romano. “When people think of ’70s singers, they tend to gravitate first to rougher rock icons like Mick Jagger or Sid and Nancy. Yet Cassidy (https://www.thewrap.com/david-cassidys-death-mourned-by-hollywood-i-wanted-to-be-him/), on the pop side of the ’70s, was one of the biggest artists of the decade.”

ALSO:

Shaun Cassidy: “I tried to catch him of course. I always tried to catch him. But I never could. Now, I will carry him…” (https://twitter.com/shaunpcassidy)
Danny Bonaduce: "I have known, loved, and admired David Cassidy for 48 out of my 58 years. He has been as kind to me as any real brother could ever be.” (https://hellogiggles.com/celebrity/celebrity-reactions-david-cassidys-death/)
Cassidy had a “star-power that burned so bright (https://www.thedailybeast.com/david-cassidys-timeless-teen-idol-beauty-and-the-high-cost-of-fame), so fast that, despite maintaining a lifelong career in show business, it always seemed as if he was playing catch-up to that peak, chasing a comeback that could never be achieved," writes Kevin Fallon.

http://www.etonline.com/shirley-jones-pays-tribute-sweet-stepson-david-cassidy-91588

Shirley Jones Pays Tribute to 'Sweet' Stepson David Cassidy
By Jennifer Drysdale* 2:51 PM PST, November 22, 2017

The 83-year-old actress played Cassidy's mom on The Partridge Family, but in real life, she was married to his dad, Jack Cassidy. In a touching statement to ET, Jones pays tribute to her "sweet" stepson.

"Long before he played my son on The Partridge Family, David Cassidy was my stepson in real life. As a little boy, his sweet sensitivity and wicked sense of humor were already on display, and I will treasure the years we spent working and growing together," she says. "I will also find solace knowing that David is now with his dad."

"My heart is with David’s daughter, Katie, his son, Beau, and with Shaun, Patrick, and Ryan, whom I know are deeply missing their brother today," Jones continues. "Thank you for the enormous outpouring of affection you have offered our family at this difficult time."

Cassidy died on Tuesday after being rushed to the hospital last Wednesday for organ failure. He was 67.

"On behalf of the entire Cassidy family, it is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, our uncle, and our dear brother, David Cassidy. David died surrounded by those he loved, with joy in his heart and free from the pain that had gripped him for so long," Cassidy's rep told ET in a statement from the family. "Thank you for the abundance and support you have shown him these many years."

Cassidy's rep tells ET that the former teen idol will be cremated, and a private memorial is being scheduled for close family and friends in Los Angeles. A public memorial for a later time is being considered.

You do realize that alcoholism is a disease, right? That there's physical and medical evidence that your brain changes and is programmed to need the drug? And that's it's often hereditary?

Sorry, but I'm sure you wouldn't say that a patient who died of cancer "put his family through" something. You'd say he was sick.

Just like David.

This is a memorial thread for David; I don't mean to hijack it. But I think staying on topic means honoring the man and celebrating his life.



Oh wow!! Sorry about your Brother! :(

I just found a photo of that Partridge Family record cabinet I still have. I still remember the day we bought it.


That is really cool!!:) ;)

K_H8OOZbxX0

In tribute to David, I'd like to see an official DVD release of his short lived TV show David Cassidy Man Undercover. I do have the episodes, recordings from TV but the picture quality could be a little better, so of course I'd welcome a DVD set from the studio. I think many of David's fans would also want the series issued on DVD, especially now since he has passed away. So here's my request to Shout Factory and other studios for David Cassidy Man Undercover complete series DVD, including the Police Story episode A Chance To Live which served as the pilot for the series. The DVD set would be incomplete without the pilot.

In tribute to David, I'd like to see an official DVD release of his short lived TV show David Cassidy Man Undercover. I do have the episodes, recordings from TV but the picture quality could be a little better, so of course I'd welcome a DVD set from the studio. I think many of David's fans would also want the series issued on DVD, especially now since he has passed away. So here's my request to Shout Factory and other studios for David Cassidy Man Undercover complete series DVD, including the Police Story episode A Chance To Live which served as the pilot for the series. The DVD set would be incomplete without the pilot.

That would be cool! ;)

I also remember a show not that long ago that he played the Father of a teenage girl. He had been a Rock star back in the day! I saw this a couple times but I don't recall the name? It was a cute show from what I saw! :)

And I'm thinking Antenna will have a Partridge family marathon for him soon! ;) :wave:

That would be cool! ;)

I also remember a show not that long ago that he played the Father of a teenage girl. He had been a Rock star back in the day! I saw this a couple times but I don't recall the name? It was a cute show from what I saw! :)

And I'm thinking Antenna will have a Partridge family marathon for him soon! ;) :wave:

Ruby And The Rockits is the show you're thinking of. I don't care for that one, but the Man Undercover show is interesting as David was trying to break away from the Keith Partridge image and take on a more serious role. The first episode of the series, Running The Hill, is very good. Cage Of Steel is pretty good too.

It's possible Antenna TV might have a Partridge Family marathon soon. Probably fairly likely they will have one.

Ruby And The Rockits is the show you're thinking of. I don't care for that one, but the Man Undercover show is interesting as David was trying to break away from the Keith Partridge image and take on a more serious role. The first episode of the series, Running The Hill, is very good. Cage Of Steel is pretty good too.

It's possible Antenna TV might have a Partridge Family marathon soon. Probably fairly likely they will have one.

:rip:

:rip:

Such a cute picture of him! He had the nicest smile and really pretty eyes, a unique hazel color! ;) :heart:

How cute is this? Him and Susan Day ! :)


https://i.pinimg.com/736x/f1/c9/b5/f1c9b5088b7ff229de62dc330b41da42--david-cassidy-filing-cabinet.jpg

RIP to Keith Partidge..:(

David Cassidy proved he could really act on The Partridge Family, making him the biggest star in the world for two years (https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/david-cassidy-was-the-biggest-star-in-the-world--for-about-two-years/2017/11/22/f9ce605e-cf92-11e7-81bc-c55a220c8cbe_story.html)
“A lot of what we credit as good acting is just charisma. But here’s how you know Cassidy could act: Watch him sing,” says Amy Argetsinger. “The songs on The Partridge Family were so lame (I’m sorry, it’s true), but Cassidy owned them. He’d be fake-performing with his TV siblings — a whole passel of younger, cuter faces on the stage with him — but while they stood there basically inert with their unplugged instruments, big brother Keith Partridge was totally rocking out.” She adds, however, that Cassidy's teen heartthrob status didn't last that long, and he would have to travel the path teen idols usually follow who try to sustain their popularity.

You do realize that alcoholism is a disease, right? That there's physical and medical evidence that your brain changes and is programmed to need the drug? And that's it's often hereditary?

Sorry, but I'm sure you wouldn't say that a patient who died of cancer "put his family through" something. You'd say he was sick.

Just like David.

This is a memorial thread for David; I don't mean to hijack it. But I think staying on topic means honoring the man and celebrating his life.


Sorry, Retro, but no. I do not 'realize' that alcoholism 'is a disease' because having seen enough friends and family have that self-induced condition, I've come to believe that the 'it's a disease' is a spin put out by those who choose to booze and their enablers to guilt trip as many folks possible to throw them a pity party instead of holding them accountable for the choices they themselves have made to do something they know is destructive and causes harm to those they are supposed to love. Every single time Mr. Cassidy took a sip of alcohol, he had the choice to either not drink at all or try to get help to keep from drinking- or at the very least seek out help instead of getting drunk yet again and, especially, in getting behind the wheel of a vehicle putting untold numbers of folks in the folks in the road at risk from injury and death rather than call a cab or someone else to drive him in that state.

Cancer is an ailment(and one I've seen family members go through, too). Alcoholism is a self-induced condition. Now, one may argue that towards the end his dementia may have effected his ability to make the choice to booze .On the other hand, since he was only 67 while his poor late mother Evelyn was 89 when she departed this world, it's possible his longterm consistent choices in boozing might very well have accelerated his the speed in which his body and dementia overwhelmed him.

Sorry but the family HAS suffered and WAS put through things needlessly by his choices not just the substances he consumed and IMO that needs to be acknowledged and yes, I AM sorry he himself had to suffer and DO hope he is finally at peace. However; I'm not going to pretend he was a pure victim or total object of pity just because of his sad end.

Have we seen anything from Susan?

RIP David.

Have we seen anything from Susan?

RIP David.
Nothing so far.

http://people.com/tv/david-cassidy-remembered-by-partridge-family-costar-brian-forster/

David Cassidy's Partridge Family Costar Brian Forster: 'He Really Was Like My Older Brother

David Cassidy, who died of organ failure Tuesday at the age of 67, is being remembered by his onscreen brother Brian Forster.

“I was saddened to hear of the passing of my ‘brother’ David Cassidy,” Partridge Family star Forster tells PEOPLE exclusively. “It’s hard to imagine, really.”

The two starred on the beloved musical sitcom, which ran from 1970-74. Starring Cassidy’s real-life stepmother Shirley Jones as a widow, Cassidy played the eldest of her five children, Keith Partridge, as the family embarked on a music career together.

“David was very kind to me and really was like my older brother during The Partridge Family,” says Forster, 57. “One year, he even gave me a Swiss army knife for Christmas, which I still have. He also gave me a singing lesson when I expressed an interest in singing!”

“In spite of his crazy concert schedule on the weekends, he would arrive at the studio prepared and we would have a lot of fun during shooting and between takes,” he continues. “He’d fly back from wherever and arrive at 2 o’clock in the morning and come to the studio. He’d be tired, but he was always really nice and professional.”

“He was a very talented actor and I often admired the emotion he could put into his character,” he adds. “Needless to say, he was also a wonderful singer and his breathy style made many young girls swoon!”

Cassidy had “the full package,” according to Forster.

“I was just reading an editorial about how he fit in with the time and his squeaky clean image, and yet he was sexy on the side, and that was a big part of his charisma,” he says.

Despite Cassidy’s “insane popularity,” Forster says the star always made everyone on set “feel very comfortable and part of the team.”

“It was a really good experience … we would have plenty of laughs and good times,” recalls Forster. “He was always really gracious to me.”

Forster said the two didn’t see each other for “many years” after their lives went separate ways when the show wrapped, but he always enjoyed their reunions.

“In the last 20 years or so, we would be reunited while doing Partridge Family reunion shows,” said Forster. “[It was] always nice to see him again, and I particularly enjoyed time spent with him the night before we were on the Today show in New York around 2009. My thoughts go out to his friends, his fans, and most of all, his family during this difficult time.”

Cassidy publicly admitted his struggle with alcohol abuse in 2008. He also battled substance abuse issues, which involved a stint in rehab in 2014 .

“The poor guy, he was always having to sort of live up to an image that wasn’t really his,” says Forster. “From the beginning he wanted to be a rock star along the lines of Jimmy Hendrix and he lands Partridge Family and has to go a different route, so I know it sort of haunted him the rest of his time. He was touring and on stage, but he spent most of his time doing Partridge Family songs.”

“It’s like if you’re the Beach Boys and everyone wants to hear ‘Surfin’ Safari’ 3,000 times,” adds Foster. “You can play your new stuff, but remember the audience is there to hear what you’re famous for, which in his case is ‘I Think I Love You’ and things like that. But he stuck with it. He could have just withdrawn, but he kept at it and I give him props for that.”

Forster is grateful that through his work, Cassidy will be able to live on “for eternity in some way.”

“Fans will be able to put his albums on and take themselves back to a happier time,” he says. “I hope he took solace in that. I know he struggled with things for a long time, and I hope that in the end his son and daughter maybe provided him with a joy that he really wanted.”

Cassidy’s real-life brother Shaun also remembered the late star in a touching tribute on Tuesday.

“I tried to catch him of course. I always tried to catch him. But I never could,” tweeted Shaun alongside an old photo of the two as kids.

“Now, I will carry him, along with all of the funny/sad/extraordinary days we shared, none more filled with love than these last few at his side,” he said.

Cassidy had been in intensive care since he was hospitalized for liver and kidney failure last week.

“On behalf of the entire Cassidy family, it is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, our uncle, and our dear brother, David Cassidy,” his family said in a statement to PEOPLE on Tuesday. “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.”

R.I.P. Dave aka Keith Partridge

Sorry, Retro, but no. I do not 'realize' that alcoholism 'is a disease' because having seen enough friends and family have that self-induced condition, I've come to believe that the 'it's a disease' is a spin put out by those who choose to booze and their enablers to guilt trip as many folks possible to throw them a pity party instead of holding them accountable for the choices they themselves have made to do something they know is destructive and causes harm to those they are supposed to love. Every single time Mr. Cassidy took a sip of alcohol, he had the choice to either not drink at all or try to get help to keep from drinking- or at the very least seek out help instead of getting drunk yet again and, especially, in getting behind the wheel of a vehicle putting untold numbers of folks in the folks in the road at risk from injury and death rather than call a cab or someone else to drive him in that state.


My feelings exactly. And I hate to say this - I really do - but better it ended this way than with him killing a family driving drunk the wrong way on a highway.

Lets don't turn this into a bash David Cassidy thread.

Sorry, Retro, but no. I do not 'realize' that alcoholism 'is a disease' because having seen enough friends and family have that self-induced condition, I've come to believe that the 'it's a disease' is a spin put out by those who choose to booze and their enablers to guilt trip as many folks possible to throw them a pity party instead of holding them accountable for the choices they themselves have made to do something they know is destructive and causes harm to those they are supposed to love. Every single time Mr. Cassidy took a sip of alcohol, he had the choice to either not drink at all or try to get help to keep from drinking- or at the very least seek out help instead of getting drunk yet again and, especially, in getting behind the wheel of a vehicle putting untold numbers of folks in the folks in the road at risk from injury and death rather than call a cab or someone else to drive him in that state.

Cancer is an ailment(and one I've seen family members go through, too). Alcoholism is a self-induced condition. Now, one may argue that towards the end his dementia may have effected his ability to make the choice to booze .On the other hand, since he was only 67 while his poor late mother Evelyn was 89 when she departed this world, it's possible his longterm consistent choices in boozing might very well have accelerated his the speed in which his body and dementia overwhelmed him.

Sorry but the family HAS suffered and WAS put through things needlessly by his choices not just the substances he consumed and IMO that needs to be acknowledged and yes, I AM sorry he himself had to suffer and DO hope he is finally at peace. However; I'm not going to pretend he was a pure victim or total object of pity just because of his sad end.

I never said he was a pure victim.

You seem very angry. We can debate this forever and never convince the other that we're right. Most doctors I've talked to consider it a disease; perhaps you feel you know better than they, or choose to believe differently.

Whatever the case, his burdens are over and I think to get one last kick at him after he's dead is beyond the purpose of this thread.

No one in this world is perfect. "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone" (assuming you believe alcoholism is a sin, which I do not). Ignoring the disease, refusing treatment...that's a sin. But even that is forgiven, ultimately, or should be.

We all pass through life and make good and bad choices. I certainly hope when I pass there aren't a ton of people pointing fingers and recounting all of my bad decisions; I hope they remember me for the good I did, and forgive the bad.

I hope this for everyone.

Lets don't turn this into a bash David Cassidy thread.


Yes, I agree !!:) The Man just died, :( lets all show some respect!! And esp. to pass away right at the holidays , very sad for his family ! Let him rest in peace and keep this a nice memorial thread. :)

Retro,

Just so you know, it wasn't the most tactful move to tell another person they 'realize' something that is not as universally accepted as the knowledge of the sun rising in the east. I won't rehash what I said but I'm not taking anything back.

However; I admit I was quite moved by what both Mr. Foster and the younger Mr. Cassidy said re the elder Mr. Cassidy and think it's good to know that, in spite of the turmoil, he DID do positive things to help others. And, I AM glad that his suffering in this world is over!

Well, we can dwell on the positive, and try to forget the negative. Did anyone see the 2010 reunion on the Today Show? That was really great to see--the only sad thing was that Shirley couldn't be there (and she regretted that). Of course, Susan wasn't there, either.

http://www.etonline.com/shirley-jones-pays-tribute-sweet-stepson-david-cassidy-91588

Shirley Jones Pays Tribute to 'Sweet' Stepson David Cassidy
By Jennifer Drysdale* 2:51 PM PST, November 22, 2017

The 83-year-old actress played Cassidy's mom on The Partridge Family, but in real life, she was married to his dad, Jack Cassidy. In a touching statement to ET, Jones pays tribute to her "sweet" stepson.

"Long before he played my son on The Partridge Family, David Cassidy was my stepson in real life. As a little boy, his sweet sensitivity and wicked sense of humor were already on display, and I will treasure the years we spent working and growing together," she says. "I will also find solace knowing that David is now with his dad."

"My heart is with David’s daughter, Katie, his son, Beau, and with Shaun, Patrick, and Ryan, whom I know are deeply missing their brother today," Jones continues. "Thank you for the enormous outpouring of affection you have offered our family at this difficult time."

Cassidy died on Tuesday after being rushed to the hospital last Wednesday for organ failure. He was 67.

"On behalf of the entire Cassidy family, it is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, our uncle, and our dear brother, David Cassidy. David died surrounded by those he loved, with joy in his heart and free from the pain that had gripped him for so long," Cassidy's rep told ET in a statement from the family. "Thank you for the abundance and support you have shown him these many years."

Cassidy's rep tells ET that the former teen idol will be cremated, and a private memorial is being scheduled for close family and friends in Los Angeles. A public memorial for a later time is being considered.

:thumbsup:

My mother always loves to mention that one of her very first (more like her first crush actually) crushes was David Cassidy.

She even got teary eyed when she found out.

Has Katie Cassidy (currently on Arrow) commented on his death?

I heard that David and his children weren't in the best of terms for years.

When news of David Cassidy's death was only about 4 hours old on November 21, I went to sitcomsonline.com and I saw that on the Partridge Family forum there were some 55 viewers on the particular forum and I don't think I ever saw that many viewers at once on any of the discussion threads. Unavoidably since the news came out that he was suffering multiple organ failure and needed a liver and/or kidney transplant but that doctors still thought it would be futile, there was a death watch.
According to what his family indicated he was free from pain that had been troubling him for a long time . Perhaps it meant that he was given lots of pain killers, or maybe being together with his family was what made him happy even though everyone probably knew that these would be his last few hours.

Multiple organ failure is not inherently a result of dementia. Also, after there wasn't any real news about Mr Cassidy's health for months, (even considering his admission of having dementia) , there was sudden news that he was in critical condition and less than a week after, he died. Something had to have been going on for a while . Im not a medical expert but it seems unlikely that multiple organ failure just happens out of nowhere .
Anyone have an idea?

These are just some thoughts I'm having about the unfortunate incident.

Has Katie Cassidy (currently on Arrow) commented on his death?

I heard that David and his children weren't in the best of terms for years.

http://ew.com/tv/2017/11/24/david-cassidy-katie-vow-twitter/

All I can say is losing David Cassidy hurts. I didn't know him personally so I can only imagine what his family and friends are going through. RIP David.

I too would watch the Partridge family and swoon over David. Had a few of the Partridge family albums. I knew David had a son Beau but didn't know he had a daughter. I wondered if Katie was the child of a wife and he adopted her. As for the song Cherish he sang, I have yet to hear , well know people sing that song and have it sung poorly. Everyone sings it so well. It is great song.

It's Katie's 31st birthday today. Too bad her dad isn't with us anymore to celebrate it. :(

http://ew.com/tv/2017/11/24/david-cassidy-katie-vow-twitter/
:(

My feelings exactly. And I hate to say this - I really do - but better it ended this way than with him killing a family driving drunk the wrong way on a highway.

I read a comment online that it is possible that David might have intended to literally destroy himself with drink than slowly deteriorate due to dementia. Also he might just have been trying to drown his sorrows.

I'm sure that he would not want to hurt anyone by driving under the influence of alcohol. He regretted that a young girl died at one of his concerts decades ago, but it seems he was at a stage in which he was not making good decisions and was beyond being able to help himself.
I do think that that sadly , considering that he could have continued to get behind the wheel while impaired, it is best his life ended before things could get to that point.
But also, since there is some mystery to how he just ended up in a hospital with a breathing tube when a lot of us last heard he was recording an album after announcing retirement from touring, it could be an ironic thing in which he chose to shut down his body before he gets tempted to get in a car again.

Very sad :(

I read a comment online that it is possible that David might have intended to literally destroy himself with drink than slowly deteriorate due to dementia. Also he might just have been trying to drown his sorrows.

I'm sure that he would not want to hurt anyone by driving under the influence of alcohol. He regretted that a young girl died at one of his concerts decades ago, but it seems he was at a stage in which he was not making good decisions and was beyond being able to help himself.
I do think that that sadly , considering that he could have continued to get behind the wheel while impaired, it is best his life ended before things could get to that point.
But also, since there is some mystery to how he just ended up in a hospital with a breathing tube when a lot of us last heard he was recording an album after announcing retirement from touring, it could be an ironic thing in which he chose to shut down his body before he gets tempted to get in a car again.


The damage that was done to David's liver was done over a lifetime of drinking, not the past year. I don't know if he even still drank at the end. Much has been made of the multiple organ failure but that's just the last stage of life and does not happen just from liver failure. I won't go into the gory details. Mickey Mantle was in a similar situation. He did get a successful liver transplant but his body was too far gone and he died months later. The dementia had nothing to so with it. No one wants to kill someone while driving drunk. But the only way to prevent that is not to drive drunk in the first place. Feeling guilty afterwards does nothing. Yes it's sad but it's a lot sadder when innocent people are hurt.

The damage that was done to David's liver was done over a lifetime of drinking, not the past year. I don't know if he even still drank at the end. Much has been made of the multiple organ failure but that's just the last stage of life and does not happen just from liver failure. I won't go into the gory details. Mickey Mantle was in a similar situation. He did get a successful liver transplant but his body was too far gone and he died months later. The dementia had nothing to so with it. No one wants to kill someone while driving drunk. But the only way to prevent that is not to drive drunk in the first place. Feeling guilty afterwards does nothing. Yes it's sad but it's a lot sadder when innocent people are hurt.


Interesting that you mentioned the Micky Mantle incident. David once said that when he was a kid he idolized Micky Mantle.

http://people.com/tv/david-cassidy-remembered-by-partridge-family-costar-brian-forster/

David Cassidy's Partridge Family Costar Brian Forster: 'He Really Was Like My Older Brother

David Cassidy, who died of organ failure Tuesday at the age of 67, is being remembered by his onscreen brother Brian Forster.

“I was saddened to hear of the passing of my ‘brother’ David Cassidy,” Partridge Family star Forster tells PEOPLE exclusively. “It’s hard to imagine, really.”

The two starred on the beloved musical sitcom, which ran from 1970-74. Starring Cassidy’s real-life stepmother Shirley Jones as a widow, Cassidy played the eldest of her five children, Keith Partridge, as the family embarked on a music career together.

“David was very kind to me and really was like my older brother during The Partridge Family,” says Forster, 57. “One year, he even gave me a Swiss army knife for Christmas, which I still have. He also gave me a singing lesson when I expressed an interest in singing!”

“In spite of his crazy concert schedule on the weekends, he would arrive at the studio prepared and we would have a lot of fun during shooting and between takes,” he continues. “He’d fly back from wherever and arrive at 2 o’clock in the morning and come to the studio. He’d be tired, but he was always really nice and professional.”

“He was a very talented actor and I often admired the emotion he could put into his character,” he adds. “Needless to say, he was also a wonderful singer and his breathy style made many young girls swoon!”

Cassidy had “the full package,” according to Forster.

“I was just reading an editorial about how he fit in with the time and his squeaky clean image, and yet he was sexy on the side, and that was a big part of his charisma,” he says.

Despite Cassidy’s “insane popularity,” Forster says the star always made everyone on set “feel very comfortable and part of the team.”

“It was a really good experience … we would have plenty of laughs and good times,” recalls Forster. “He was always really gracious to me.”

Forster said the two didn’t see each other for “many years” after their lives went separate ways when the show wrapped, but he always enjoyed their reunions.

“In the last 20 years or so, we would be reunited while doing Partridge Family reunion shows,” said Forster. “[It was] always nice to see him again, and I particularly enjoyed time spent with him the night before we were on the Today show in New York around 2009. My thoughts go out to his friends, his fans, and most of all, his family during this difficult time.”

Cassidy publicly admitted his struggle with alcohol abuse in 2008. He also battled substance abuse issues, which involved a stint in rehab in 2014 .

“The poor guy, he was always having to sort of live up to an image that wasn’t really his,” says Forster. “From the beginning he wanted to be a rock star along the lines of Jimmy Hendrix and he lands Partridge Family and has to go a different route, so I know it sort of haunted him the rest of his time. He was touring and on stage, but he spent most of his time doing Partridge Family songs.”

“It’s like if you’re the Beach Boys and everyone wants to hear ‘Surfin’ Safari’ 3,000 times,” adds Foster. “You can play your new stuff, but remember the audience is there to hear what you’re famous for, which in his case is ‘I Think I Love You’ and things like that. But he stuck with it. He could have just withdrawn, but he kept at it and I give him props for that.”

Forster is grateful that through his work, Cassidy will be able to live on “for eternity in some way.”

“Fans will be able to put his albums on and take themselves back to a happier time,” he says. “I hope he took solace in that. I know he struggled with things for a long time, and I hope that in the end his son and daughter maybe provided him with a joy that he really wanted.”

Cassidy’s real-life brother Shaun also remembered the late star in a touching tribute on Tuesday.

“I tried to catch him of course. I always tried to catch him. But I never could,” tweeted Shaun alongside an old photo of the two as kids.

“Now, I will carry him, along with all of the funny/sad/extraordinary days we shared, none more filled with love than these last few at his side,” he said.

Cassidy had been in intensive care since he was hospitalized for liver and kidney failure last week.

“On behalf of the entire Cassidy family, it is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our father, our uncle, and our dear brother, David Cassidy,” his family said in a statement to PEOPLE on Tuesday. “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.”




It is interesting to hear Brian Forster's words.
There is actually little information about the experience of the two youngest Partridge Family cast. They were so invisible. David Cassidy indicated in his autobiography that the younger cast members were too young to really understand the popularity of the show and when the show went off the air and the younger cast members got older they also could not really look back and personally recall ever being aware of the significance of the show: I think David was referring to Danny Bonaduce as well as Brian Forster and Suzanne Crough.
Still since Danny had most of the shows revolve around his character and also Danny, in real life, came from a home in which there was domestic abuse, and there has been a lot said about how David Cassidy and Danny Bonaduce were actually good friends and could identify with each other's personal lives, Danny is the one of the 3 youngest cast members to have his Partridge-Family years given the most publicity.
Brian and Suzanne and also Jeremy essentially disappeared and whenever there were those TV-series Biography type of broadcasts Danny would be seen reminiscing and explaining things along with people who were there such as producers or writers and behind-the-scenes people, and maybe Shirley would be shown talking about it, maybe David too, but I don't think I have seen one of those "A-Look-Back" shows in which the youngest Partridge cast talking about what it was like.
On reunions Brian and Suzanne did not say anywhere as much as the others. Of course it is only "natural" since the characters "Chris" and "Tracy" were just in the background most of the time.

Unfortunately, Suzanne Crough, though she played the youngest Partridge and also was actually the youngest of the regular cast members, died unexpectedly; It was soon after Dave Madden (Mr Kinkaid) died. So the overall oldest and youngest of the regular cast members passed first.

I recall hearing that Suzanne, as an adult, wanted to live a normal life without anyone recognizing her from The Partridge Family, but after her death I recall reading that she really would have wanted to get back into acting but she was waiting until her children were grown first but by then it was too late in her life to go auditioning and it would be too difficult and futile.
I have not heard about whether Brian Forster wanted to try for other acting roles after being "Chris Partridge" except for a small article I read in Tiger Beat magazine back when TPF was about to be cancelled which quoted Brian as saying that he would like to do another series because he had a great time in this one . But it is fairly well known that Brian just went on to become a race -car driver as an adult.


It is fascinating to hear about how Brian interacted with David behind the scenes and that they actually got along and that David was like an older brother to Brian and even gave him some singing lessons. But still, I have not heard about David continuing to be friends with Brian after TPF went off the air except in certain reunions, and most reunions focused on Shirley, David, Danny and whenever possible , Susan.


David did however keep much more close contact with Danny but it is because David tried to help Danny straighten his life after Danny got into so much trouble with the law. Perhaps he would have done the same for Brian.

On the website "C'mon Get Happy" (which has extremely outdated information) there is a short interview with Brian and he says that Danny Bonaduce sometimes picked fights with him and in the scene of the episode "I Can Get It For Your Retail" where the Partridge Family are performing on top of their bus, all the actors were actually put on top of the bus with no safety harnesses and Danny was threatening to push Brian off the bus. David has been quoted as saying that he did not interact with Suzanne much because there was such an age difference between them which is a bit odd considering a lot of his fans were Suzanne's age, but I have also heard that just like with the youngest of the Brady Bunch cast, Brian Forster and Suzanne Crough were attracted to each other and flirted with each other which I think is better than Suzanne thinking she has a crush on David, but also I heard that Brian sometimes joined Danny in trying to peek at Susan Dey in her dressing room and that Brian did have something of a child's crush on Suzan Dey.


I don't think that Brian or Danny or Suzan were by David's bedside during the final hours, not that they would not have wanted to be, but I guess it was an occasion for family and perhaps bandmates and people who worked much closer with David in recent years.
It would really be interesting to hear what Jeremy Gelbwaks, the first "Chris" would have to tell about his Partridge Family days. Also, Ricky Seagall.

Susan Dey is said to be so reclusive but overall she has talked more about her Partridge Family days than the youngest cast members. Definitely far more than Jeremy Gelbwaks.

I have said in a different post but chronologically the last cast members would be Brian and Jeremy. Danny even reportedly tried to commit suicide on live TV. It seems that Brian and Jeremy ought to get together and write a book about being "Chris Partridge."
Of course, I am sure that Brian Forster's words were so as to be respectful and sympathetic under the circumstances.


But it is very sad about David. I find it appalling that on practically every website that has articles or videos about the news, there are trolls saying the most appalling things. I guess most of us have seen those types of comments.

It is true that David spent , at least the last decade having some severe personal problems, and I think except for the very last few moments before he died in which he had his loved ones by his side, he was a very sad and lonely and troubled soul.
I believe that he still carried guilt over what happened at one of his concerts back in the 1970s in which a girl got trampled to death. He probably was sad and tormented by his relationship with his dad and also had bad memories about his father's death. He also was depressed about watching his mother slowly waste away because of dementia.
Also as Brian himself said, David really wanted a different career path than the one he got trapped in.

Forster sounds like a really class act. I'm glad he added his words of sympathy.

It was alcoholism. He was arrested for a number of DUIs over the past few years, and he had become estranged from his brothers, with whom he used to be close. Shirley Jones gave an interview to Closer magazine a couple of years ago where she said that no one in the family had had a relationship with him for several years and that they were sick over it, and worried that they’d read about him being found dead not the floor somewhere. His third wife, Sue, divorced him after many years of marriage, and it sounded like she was fed up with the drinking.

But apparently they reconciled with him over the past few weeks as his health deteriorated, so that’s something anyway. And Sue was there, too.

That is something too.
What I noticed is that when David was still in critical condition, his son Beau posted a message on David's official website saying "Unfortunately David is very sick but he is getting the support he needs, surrounded by the people he loves most."
Beau did not say "My father is very sick." He referred to his dad by his first name.
It may mean nothing or it might be that Beau did not want to refer to David as his dad. Considering the fact that Shirley Jones has said that David was causing his entire family worry and anxiety during his DWI days, there might have been some unavoidable tension even though his family were sad about what was inevitable being at his bedside, but were also glad to be spending time together with him as they had not been able to do for a long time.

That is something too.
What I noticed is that when David was still in critical condition, his son Beau posted a message on David's official website saying "Unfortunately David is very sick but he is getting the support he needs, surrounded by the people he loves most."
Beau did not say "My father is very sick." He referred to his dad by his first name.
It may mean nothing or it might be that Beau did not want to refer to David as his dad. Considering the fact that Shirley Jones has said that David was causing his entire family worry and anxiety during his DWI days, there might have been some unavoidable tension even though his family were sad about what was inevitable being at his bedside, but were also glad to be spending time together with him as they had not been able to do for a long time.


um,

That's rather interesting. I wonder, too, if it may have been that the elder Mr. Cassidy may have insisted on his son calling him by his given name either as some leftover 70's 'friends and equals' parenting deal or in the hope that folks would actually think he was too young-looking to be the father of someone in his early 20's? I guess the younger Mr. Cassidy could tell us but he's under no obligation to do that or, more importantly play out whatever grief or feelings he's had for his father's plight publicly instead of privately! Regardless, I hope Beau Cassidy is able to make his peace with all that has happened before too long.

It now has been a week.
It seems longer in a certain way, and in another way it seems as if it had just happened.

There have been reports that David's last words were "" So much time wasted" at least to his daughter.
Those are words of regret and remorse. It seems to indicate that David was very unhappy even 'till the end.

Another note, David died at 67, only a year older than Davy Jones when Davy died.
Mickey Dolenz of The Monkees seems to have been quoted as saying he could see that David was having problems and would have wanted to help him but saw no way to do it.
Of course Mickey Dolenz and David Cassidy did tour together doing a show soon after Davy Jones' death.

Below are some links though some of you may have already seen these.

One interesting one is an article mentioning a former editor at the teen magazine, Tiger Beat, who said that she saw fame having an impact on David way back when it all was happening.( If you look at that link you will see a photo of the editor sitting and talking with David back in the 70s and from what the photo shows, the editor used to look something like Maureen McCormick. That goes to show how much time has gone by).

A lot of us have seen videos on the internet or elsewhere of David's performances as of the past few years and there has been all kinds of talk about how he used to perform in gigantic stadiums of 40 thousand or more fans but in his 50s and 60s he plays in small arenas and casinos and auditoriums or tents and there are only handfuls of people. It is easy for some people to forget David's heyday which was well beyond what any one performer ever experienced perhaps yet to this day.

A made-for-TV movie was made several years back ""The David Cassidy Story" and it was essentially panned by critics and I myself thought it was not done seriously enough, but I think that a movie on the life of David Cassidy , if handled right and presented right and done with the right motivations, could really be the stuff of good cinematic storytelling just like the movie, The Buddy Holly story.
Here was a young man who just happened to have been a young man
in 1970s America. He had lived very much a regular common life from infancy to his late teen years even considering that he was a boy of the 1950s and his parents divorced, and he was considered the unusual child in the neighborhood just for that as well as the fact that his parents were actors and were often on the road and he was brought up by his grandparents.
He became a teenager in the 1960s and he did a lot of things that most kids did like cutting school, getting into trouble, being into the early 1960s Hippie scene, and he was into the Beatles, and just like thousands of teenagers he formed a garage band and practiced rock and roll not realizing that it would be part of what would catapult him only a few years later when he would make a serious attempt to follow in his father's footsteps and become an actor. He would go on to get stuck playing a teenager in a TV sitcom and then instantly a whirlwind of fame would trap him. Then decades later, he would be in a world in which there is the internet, YouTube, and a very changed music scene. He would go on to be thought of as an insignificant figure in the industry and have a very public downfall and a very sad ending. Perhaps a few more generations must come and go and the very last Baby Boomers, those born at the tail end of the era from about the 1960s to 1964, must be entering our 80s, for a movie to be made about a mostly forgotten time and a mostly forgotten star.

I think it was Laura Ingraham on FOX news when she reported David''s death said "Those of us of a certain age" remember him most for his role in The Partridge Family. She herself does not look like she could have been around in the 1970s. She might be a second generation fan who only saw the show in reruns sometime maybe in the 1990s, and from what I recall of then, Michael Jackson had dominated the 1980s but was essentially past his heyday and had his own downfall from grace.

The very last link below has a rather unfavorable article and though it mentions some unfortunately true things, such as being a teen idol is mainly not a good career path for any performer, it is more of a criticism than critique and that is what I find to be the fault of the writing.

However, it is all what it is. These are just my thoughts at the moment. Hope they were not so boring.


http://annmoses.com/cnn-com-asked-for-my-thoughts-on-david-cassidys-passing/


https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8046343/david-cassidy-micky-dolenz-tiger-beat

http://deadline.com/2017/11/david-cassidy-katie-cassidy-obituary-twitter-final-words-partridge-family-1202214564/


http://www.sacbee.com/entertainment/article185969528.html


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3cO2Uv5XFc


https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/david-cassidy-was-the-biggest-star-in-the-world--for-about-two-years/2017/11/22/f9ce605e-cf92-11e7-81bc-c55a220c8cbe_story.html?utm_term=.287a8f65f80d

Rest in peace David, you will be missed.

OK, I just saw this in "People" magazine.


Mr. Cassidy's son Beau was quoted as saying "I'm so grateful that I was able to hold and love the best friend I'll ever have in his last few moments"

So, perhaps that means that the reason he referred to the elder Mr. Cassidy as 'David' instead of 'Dad,etc.' was because he considered him his best friend despite the turmoil.

Regardless, that's rather poignant.

David Cassidy died with only $150,000... and cut his daughter out of the will (https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/celebrity/david-cassidy-intentionally-cut-estranged-daughter-from-his-will/ar-BBGjvG4?li=BBnb7Kz).

This reminds me of Jerry Lewis who cutted his kids from his will.

David Cassidy died with only $150,000... and cut his daughter out of the will (https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/celebrity/david-cassidy-intentionally-cut-estranged-daughter-from-his-will/ar-BBGjvG4?li=BBnb7Kz).


Probably more than meets the eye here. David probably wrote the will well before he was at his deathbed. Maybe he would have included other family members and his daughter after spending time with them in his last few minutes and feeling closer to them than ever under the circumstances, but then it was too late.

But also it could be out of practicality that he only included his son.

Katie Cassidy is an established actress and doing well in her career . Comparatively Beau Cassidy is not really as established except as David Cassidy's son, and Beau tried for one of those singing talent shows and essentially got nowhere. His cousin Jack Cassidy (of course not the Jack Cassidy who is the famous actor who fathered David Cassidy as well as Shaun and Patrick and Ryan ) did much better on "The Voice" but eventually did not go on to win the competition. Jack Cassidy (Jr." ? "The Second" ?) Basically established himself as a near winner in a reality show.
But, David just might have felt that his son needs the money most
Of course for the fame that David had in his heyday, $500,000 is not a lot of money and David is essentially considered to have died broke. (I hear that Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson also died broke).

But David s death was mysterious in certain ways, and others not.

I read recently that liver problems takes a long time to manifest and it would not just suddenly develop overnight and have e you on a breathing tube the next day; and it can easily be detected by a blood test. How could David not have felt it coming long ago? Chances are he probably did. It was likely that he had a drinking problem rather than dementia initially. He could have been trying to forget , but it caused a vicious cycle . Some years back there was that incident in which he caused a car accident and the news reports were that he said he was rushing to a doctor's appointment unrelated to the crash.
Could it have been that, back then, doctors told him his blood test shows progressively worsening liver damage? You can look at photos of him in the last few years and he just didn't appear to be merely aging but is becoming more ill. He himself said things in ways that were sometimes direct. In his Dr Phil interview he said he wanted to concentrate on life and is done performing. In his website he said he was working on an album and believes it will be the last one he will ever make

But there are strange new developments even after his death.

I believe someone else probably posted about this, but now a former model claims that David sexually assaulted her back in the mid 80s.

It is getting sadder and stranger.

http://www.nme.com/news/music/samantha-fox-accuses-david-cassidy-sexual-assault-2170455

I did not know that about Samantha Fox.

I did not know that about Samantha Fox.


There is something of a "counter claim"

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/no-groper-david-cassidys-former-11735696

I maybe wrong, but has anyone consider that perhaps David was molested/raped? As I heard in the news he was taken to the hospital I thought of him & his demons that he was fighting along with his DUI. Then I got this feeling overcame me sensing that David was raped or molested somewhere the age of 14 or 15.


Add the icing with the issue regarding his father & the young girl killed in his concert. That is a heavy burden.

I thought Michael Jackson death was tough, but David's is much harder.

RIP David

I maybe wrong, but has anyone consider that perhaps David was molested/raped? As I heard in the news he was taken to the hospital I thought of him & his demons that he was fighting along with his DUI. Then I got this feeling overcame me sensing that David was raped or molested somewhere the age of 14 or 15.


Add the icing with the issue regarding his father & the young girl killed in his concert. That is a heavy burden.

I thought Michael Jackson death was tough, but David's is much harder.

RIP David
I never thought of that.

I maybe wrong, but has anyone consider that perhaps David was molested/raped? As I heard in the news he was taken to the hospital I thought of him & his demons that he was fighting along with his DUI. Then I got this feeling overcame me sensing that David was raped or molested somewhere the age of 14 or 15.


Add the icing with the issue regarding his father & the young girl killed in his concert. That is a heavy burden.

I thought Michael Jackson death was tough, but David's is much harder.

RIP David


Possibly but not necessarily, IMO.

I maybe wrong, but has anyone consider that perhaps David was molested/raped? As I heard in the news he was taken to the hospital I thought of him & his demons that he was fighting along with his DUI. Then I got this feeling overcame me sensing that David was raped or molested somewhere the age of 14 or 15.


Add the icing with the issue regarding his father & the young girl killed in his concert. That is a heavy burden.

I thought Michael Jackson death was tough, but David's is much harder.

RIP David

Possible nevertheless I would say not likely.
David wrote a very frank autobiography. I think he would have said so.
In it though, he did say that he often felt used and objectified in the respect that women who he "dated" were only interested in him because of his celebrity status.

Something of an irony here. For any of you who read David Cassidy's autobiography, he mentioned Barbara the Butter Queen a vary famous groupie to the big stars of the 1970s.
She recently died.


https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2018/01/17/everybody-knew-farewell-butter-queen-dallas-famous-groupie


http://ledzepnews.com/2018/01/15/butter-queen-groupie-barbara-cope-dead-house-fire-dallas-texas/

The Dilemma of David Cassidy (https://comforttv.blogspot.com/2017/11/the-dilemma-of-david-cassidy.html)

Every year around this time, my CD of The Partridge Family Christmas Album makes its way from a bedroom bookshelf into my car, where it will be played dozens of times between now and December 25. That will happen again this year, and while the music will remain joyous and uplifting, the experience will be bittersweet.

The David Cassidy who sang those songs, with his long wavy hair and puka shell necklace, will forever live in the memories of a generation of fans, particularly the young girls that idolized him. He was to the 1970s what Ricky Nelson was to the 1950s and Davy Jones to the 1960s – the preeminent TV teen idol of his day. And like his predecessors, he left us far too soon.

The remnants of that intense adulation are still being felt by women now married with children – and perhaps even grandchildren. None of us ever forget the first celebrity that rocked our childhood world, with a combination of traffic-stopping physical beauty and appealing songs that went straight into our consciousness – a potent cocktail for those too young to drink. It’s why I still adore Olivia Newton-John.

Anyone who read Cassidy’s autobiography, which is not particularly flattering to its subject, would learn that he greatly enjoyed the benefits that came with his fame. And that he never made peace with his bubblegum star reputation.

The shelf life for teen idols is brief. By the time The Partridge Family ended its four-season run both its ratings and record sales had plummeted. Cassidy continued to have solo hits in England for another few years, but in the U.S. he had ceded the cover of Tiger Beat to Willie Aames and John Travolta.

He never stopped trying to come up with a second act, and there were successes along the way in Vegas and on Broadway, but he could never outrun the shadow of Keith Partridge.

And to the rest of us mere mortals who look at people who seem to have everything and wonder why it doesn’t make them happy, we can’t imagine why he would want to distance himself from something so good. The Partridge Family was and is a delightful family situation comedy, and the songs created for its run were superb examples of pop music at the highest level of craftsmanship. And Cassidy’s lead vocals were their strongest component.

But we didn’t live inside his head, with the addiction demons he inherited from his father and the mental fragility he inherited from his mother. Neither of these challenges mix well with fame, and they become even more toxic when that fame dissipates.

He had a Jekyll and Hyde persona through much of his later years. There were shows where he angrily turned on his audience, and venues that banned him from future appearances. There was an infamous Hollywood autograph show where he refused to sign any Partridge Family memorabilia, and stormed out after less than an hour, leaving fans who flew in from as far away as Australia without the moment with their idol they were promised.

But there are also countless stories of fans who met him after concerts or at fan club gatherings or just on the street, who were delighted to find him so kind and approachable and appreciative of their support. His highs were higher and his lows were lower than most of us will experience, and too many years on that kind of rollercoaster is bound to take its toll.

And now it has.

Perhaps the saddest thing of all about David Cassidy’s untimely passing is that he was often unwilling or incapable of sharing in the joy that his talent brought to millions of fans. I hope he’s experiencing it now from a perspective uncomplicated by the anxieties of this world.

Such a cute picture of him! He had the nicest smile and really pretty eyes, a unique hazel color! ;) :heart:

How cute is this? Him and Susan Day ! :)


https://i.pinimg.com/736x/f1/c9/b5/f1c9b5088b7ff229de62dc330b41da42--david-cassidy-filing-cabinet.jpg

He got his hazel eyes from his ancestry (half Irish and part German).

I have a couple records from him.........

He got his hazel eyes from his ancestry (half Irish and part German).

I can't for the life of me understand how the Partridge kids could all be plausibly related to one another. I mean, I could within reason, believe that David Cassidy and Susan Dey were brother and sister since their eye color and hair color looked similar. But how exactly am I supposed to then believe that Danny Bonaduce with his flaming red hair and freckles could be a blood relative to them much less Shirley Jones and her blonde hair?