David Cassidy Dead at 67

[BigManMike]

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertain...icle-1.3649633

May he Rest In Peace

[Zoneboy]

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!"

[Bonniegirl]

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!

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 !!

[Mr. Television]

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.

[Rawr]

May he RIP. Thoughts and prayers to his family.

[um]

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.

[OH Nuts!]

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

[Bonniegirl]

Originally Posted by Mr. Television

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! 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!

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 ! I still vote David!

To this day I SWEAR Keith/David sang/dedicated "Cherish" to me!! He sang that song BEAUTIFULLY!

[PhoenixAcres]

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.

[Bonniegirl]

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

RIP David!


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

[MA]

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

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

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! 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!

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 ! I still vote David!

To this day I SWEAR Keith/David sang/dedicated "Cherish" to me!! He sang that song BEAUTIFULLY!

I was a little bit younger and so Danny was my favorite Partridge. 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.

[Mr. Television]

https://twitter.com/TheDoochMan?ref_...Ctwgr%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.

[TV Guy]

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.

[PracTz]

Originally Posted by TV Guy

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.