The Partridge Family Star David Cassidy Dead At 67- Kidney Failure and Live Issues
Cassidy’s condition was only revealed on Saturday; however, he was admitted to a hospital in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday. Geffen informed multiple news outlets over the weekend that Cassidy was suffering multiple organ failures.
David Cassidy, the Partridge Family star, has died at the age of 67. His publicist confirmed that the actor was suffering from kidney failure and liver issues.
Joann 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.’’
Cassidy’s publicist added:
"Thank you for the abundance of love and support you have shown him these many years."
Cassidy’s condition was only revealed on Saturday; however, he was admitted to a hospital in Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday. Geffen informed multiple news outlets over the weekend that Cassidy was suffering multiple organ failures.
David Cassidy is known mostly for his role on ABC's ‘’The Partridge Family.’’ The sitcom revolves around a widow and her five children who come together to form a rock and tour the country. Cassidy’s real-life stepmother, Shirley Jones played the widow.
Cassidy played the character Keith Partridge, the eldest son in the family. He came to prominence worldwide with, ‘’I Think I Love you’’, The Partridge Family’s biggest hit. The song topped Billboard chart, sitting on No.1 for three weeks at a time when James Taylor’s Fire and Rain and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles’ The Tears of a Clown were competing on the charts.
‘’The Partridge Family’’ ended in 1974. Cassidy then focused on songwriting and recording, however, he didn’t quite make it as a solo artist. 'I Write The Songs' and 'The Last Kiss' were some of his minor hits. He made infrequent TV and stage appearances, including his performance on ‘’Police Story’’ that received an Emmy nomination.
Cassidy’s memoir 'Could It Be Forever' included details of his prolific sex life. He wrote of how he rejected Susan Dey’s advances because she didn’t have the ‘’slutty aspect of a female that I always found so attractive.’’
Cassidy who was worried that his character on ‘The Partridge Family’ might be a real letdown struggled with various problems late in his life. Between November 2010 and January 2014, Cassidy was charged with DUI three times. He entered rehab after the third accident and received probation for five years. In February 2014, his wife of 23 years, Sue Shifrin filed for divorce.
Cassidy filed for bankruptcy in February 2015; he listed his debts and assets of close to $10 million. September of the same year, he was reportedly cited for leaving an accident scene in Florida.
Earlier this year, in February, Cassidy had revealed to PEOPLE that he was battling dementia- he couldn’t remember his own song lyrics and fell off at a show he was doing in California. Evelyn War, his mother, and a Broadway actress had died in 2012 after suffering from dementia.
At the same concert in California, Cassidy announced his retirement. He said he was leaving the entertainment industry after 50 years, and touring wasn’t going well with his arthritis.
Cassidy has two children; musician Beau Cassidy and actress Katie Cassidy. He had previously acknowledged to having a distant relationship with his daughter.
"I wasn't her father. I was her biological father but I didn't raise her," Cassidy told PEOPLE earlier this year. He added, "She has a completely different life."
Cassidy was distant with his father, actor Jack Cassidy. David expressed regret about his father being absent from his life. His parents split up when he was only five. He stayed with his mother and moved to LA in the 60s.
