David Cassidy: Forever the Idol, Always the Man
For millions of fans around the world, David Cassidy will always be the young, feathery-haired heartthrob from The Partridge Family. But behind the scenes, there was a lot more to this man than just his teen idol status. Had he been alive, April 12 would have marked a significant birthday milestone for him. “It’s mind-blowing to think that the little boy I came to know and cherish as my stepson would have turned 70 this year,” says Shirley Jones, speaking to Closer. “I’m so thankful for every beautiful moment we shared.”
David had a deep affection for Shirley, who married his father, actor Jack Cassidy, and played his mom on the beloved TV show. “She taught me so much about handling fame and success,” David once reflected. “Shirley is one of the most incredible people I’ve ever met.” Over time, he also formed close bonds with Shirley’s sons from her marriage to Jack: Shaun, Patrick, and Ryan.
The Complicated Life Behind the Scenes
Despite the seemingly perfect life portrayed on The Partridge Family, David's real-life journey was far from idyllic. His parents, Jack Cassidy and Evelyn Ward, were both traveling actors, leaving David to be raised by his grandparents in West Orange, N.J. According to Chip Deffaa, who coauthored David's memoir C’mon, Get Happy, David learned about his parents' divorce from the neighborhood kids. “This left a deep scar — who could he trust?” Chip recalls.
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Jack Cassidy’s relationship with David was fraught with tension. After David skyrocketed to fame, Jack struggled to come to terms with his son’s success. “I loved and admired him, but I couldn’t find a way for him to be okay with it,” David admitted. This created a rift that would last throughout their lives.
David himself battled the pressures of fame. “I became so famous, so isolated, and so unhappy that I had to do anything I could to escape,” he confessed. After the show ended, David found himself unable to slow down. “There were bad investments and he partied too hard,” says Deffaa. David later admitted, “I was one of the wealthiest young male entertainers in the world, but by the ‘80s, I was broke.”
Romantic Turmoil and Redemption
David’s romantic life was as tumultuous as his career. His first two marriages—to actress Kay Lenz and horse trainer Meryl Tanz—ended in divorce after just a few years each. In 1986, he had a daughter, Katie, with fashion model Sherry Williams. However, David admitted, “I’ve never had a relationship with her. I was her biological father, but I didn’t raise her.”
Things began to change when David married Sue Shifrin in 1991, and they welcomed a son, Beau. “His birth changed my life,” David said. “As a father, I do everything my dad didn’t do.” Deffaa agrees, “When Beau started Little League, David not only made sure he went to every game, but he also became Beau’s coach. Becoming a good father meant more to him than making money or having another hit.”
