David Cassidy facts: Songs, TV roles, marriages and tragic death of the Partridge Family icon

10 March 2026, 11:35

David Cassidy went from a teen idol in The Partridge Family to a serious musician in his own right.

Going from a "TV show musician" to a proper pop star is a path that a fair few artists have trodden.

The Monkees, The Brady Bunch, and even Josie and the Pussycats went from the TV screens to the charts, and another great example is The Partridge Family, featuring David Cassidy.

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Keith Partridge – aka David Cassidy – was a key part of the ABC musical sitcom, which ran for 96 episodes over four seasons from 1970 to 1974.

And his voice was a crucial ingredient on their whopping eight studio albums over that time period, before he went on to establish himself on his own.

After that, he had ups and downs, but his legacy has endured as one of the memorable stars of his era. Below, we take a closer look at his life and work.

When was David Cassidy born and where did he grow up?

David Cassidy was born into showbiz at Flower Fifth Avenue Hospital in New York City on April 12, 1950 to singer/actor dad Jack Cassidy and actress Evelyn Ward.

Mum and dad were often out on tour, so the young David spent much of his time being raised by his mum's parents Frederick and Ethel in West Orange, New Jersey.

He was so distant from his actual parents that apparently he didn't know they had divorced until a couple of years later, when some other children in the neighbourhood told him.

It was in 1956 when his dad remarried, to another singer/actor – Shirley Jones (remember the name).

David moved in with his dad and Shirley (and their thee sons) in Irvington, New York as he finished up at high school and then started working part time at a textile firm in the mailroom, while he tried to follow in his family's footsteps and get into acting and singing.

How did David Cassidy get into music?

I Think I Love You - Partridge Family

It wasn't just Cassidy's parents who were in the biz. The talent went back at least a generation.

"My grandmother led the senior church choir and I was the lead vocalist for the juniors," Cassidy once told The Guardian.

"My grandparents gave me a really strong, positive, loving foundation."

And things started to happen before the 1960s were out. Cassidy made his bow on Broadway in the musical The Fig Leaves Are Falling.

It wasn't a hit, closing after less than a handful of performances, but he made enough of an impression to grab the eye of a casting director, who gave him a screen test.

He signed to Universal Studios and moved to Los Angeles, picking up roles on shows like Ironside, Medical Center and Bonanza.

How did David Cassidy break through in The Partridge Family?

It was in 1970 that Cassidy got the role that made him a superstar, being cast as Keith Partridge in The Partridge Family.

And who was cast as his mum Shirley Partridge? None other than his real-life stepmother Shirley Jones.

Not only were David and Shirley key members of the on-screen Partridge team, they were the only two members of the cast who were actually allowed to sing on their records, which were produced by a studio team featuring members and associates of the world famous Wrecking Crew.

The Partridge Family - Doesn't Somebody Want to Be Wanted (Audio)

Keith Partridge made David Cassidy a star, though he soon came to feel suffocated by the teen idol label and sought to establish himself away from the character.

As soon as The Partridge Family hit the charts, Cassidy had his eye on his next move and concurrently ran a solo career.

He released his first two albums – Cherish and Rock Me Baby - in just nine months during 1972 (the same year The Partridge Family released their Shopping Bag and The Partridge Family Notebook albums.

The 96th and final episode of The Partridge Family aired on March 23, 1974. Their last studio album – Bulletin Board – came out the previous October.

What were David Cassidy's biggest songs – with and without The Partridge Family?

David Cassidy - How Can I Be Sure? • TopPop

The biggest Partridge Family songs include:

• I Think I Love You
• Doesn't Somebody Want to Be Wanted
• I'll Meet You Halfway
• I Woke Up in Love This Morning
• It's One of Those Nights (Yes Love)
• Am I Losing You
• Breaking Up Is Hard to Do
• Looking Through the Eyes of Love
• Friend and a Lover
• Walking in the Rain
• Looking for a Good Time

David Cassidy's biggest solo songs from his 17 studio albums include:

• Cherish
• Could It Be Forever
• How Can I Be Sure
• Rock Me Baby
• I Am A Clown
• Daydream
• Daydreamer
• The Puppy Song
• If I Didn't Care
• Please Please Me
• Get It Up For Love
• I Write The Songs
• Darlin'
• Tomorrow
• Gettin' It In The Street
• The Last Kiss
• Romance (Let Your Heart Go)
• Someone
• Lyin' To Myself
• No Bridge I Wouldn't Cross

What were David Cassidy's biggest acting roles?

The Partridge Family 1970 - 1974 Opening and Closing Theme

The Partridge Family was David Cassidy's biggest role, but it was far from his last.

He turned a guest spot on Police Story as Officer Dan Shay into ten-episode spinoff David Cassidy: Man Undercover, before popping up in countless major TV shows in the years that followed.

Cassidy appeared in The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Tales of the Unexpected and Alfred Hitchcock Presents, before appearing in his first feature film Instant Karma in 1990.

Later roles included spots in The Flash, Malcolm in the Middle, Kim Possible and CSI.

How many times was David Cassidy married and did he have any children?

David Cassidy was married (and divorced) three times.

He first wed fellow actor Kay Lenz in 1977, who had a brief role in American Graffiti before winning a Golden Globe nod for Breezy, and later appeared in House, Midnight Caller, and Reasonable Doubts.

They divorced in 1983, and a year lated Cassidy married horse breeder Meryl Tanz. In 1986, David had a daughter, Katie Cassidy, born to fashion model mum Sherry Williams after David's affair.

David and Katie – an actress with major roles in Gossip Girl, Arrow and much more – had their ups and downs, but after a period of estrangement they appeared to reconcile before his death

Meryl and David divorced in 1988, and David married for a third and final time to singer-songwriter Sue Shifrin in 1991. They had a child, Beau, the same year. The couple split in 2013, and their divorce was finalised in 2016.

When did David Cassidy die and how old was he?

David Cassidy revealed in 2008 that he had issues with alcoholism for several years.

And in February 2017 after a disastrous live performance in California, he also announced that he had been diagnosed with dementia - a condition his mother and grandfather had also experienced at the end of their own lives.

Back in 2011, Cassidy had recorded a PSA for Alzheimer's disease research and prevention and continued to campaign throughout the rest of his life.

Cassidy retired from touring due to his ill health, saying: "I was in denial, but a part of me always knew this was coming."

David Cassidy Public Service Announcement

But it later emerged that it wasn't quite the true story.

"I have a liver disease,” Cassidy revealed in a conversation recorded before he died but not

to A&E producer Saralena Weinfield in a recorded conversation with the producers of David Cassidy: the Last Session, taped before he died but not publicised until after his passing.

"There is no sign of me having dementia at this stage of my life. It was complete alcohol poisoning.

He added: “The fact is that I lied about my drinking. I did this to myself to cover up the sadness and the emptiness."

David Cassidy: The Last Session | A&E

Just a few months later on November 18, 2017, Cassidy was hospitalised with liver and kidney failure.

Cassidy was put in a medically induced coma for two days and although he came out of the coma, he died of liver failure on November 21, 2017. He was just 67.

"Words can’t express the solace our family’s received from all the love & support during this trying time," his daughter Katie said

“My father’s last words were ‘So much wasted time.’ This will be a daily reminder for me to share my gratitude with those I love as to never waste another minute… Thank you.”