Actor and singer David Cassidy has died at the age of 67, his family have announced.
The US star, who shot to fame on the American sitcom ‘The Partridge Family’ was admitted to hospital in Florida last week with multiple organ failure.
In a statement, his family said: “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. Thank you for the abundance and support you have shown him these many years.”
After finding fame on TV, David went on to become a teen pop idol in the 1970s, thanks to his boyish good looks and a catalogue of catchy hits.
‘The Partridge Family’, about a mother and her five children who form a band, released eight studio albums, with David on lead vocals, along with his real life stepmother, Shirley Jones, who played his mother on the show.
The show spawned several hit songs, including ‘I Think I Love You’ and made David a household name.
He quit the show in 1974, and enjoyed a string of solo hit singles, selling over 30 million records worldwide and earning a Grammy nomination in the process.
At the peak of his fame in the 1970s, his fan club had a bigger membership than The Beatles and Elvis Presley.
In 2008, the singer opened up about his struggles with alcohol. Between 2010 and 2014, he was arrested three times for drink driving, and was ordered to rehab as part of his sentence in 2014.
In February this year, he revealed that he was living with non-Alzheimer’s dementia, after falling down during a concert. His mother had suffered from the same condition.
Musicians and actors including Gloria Gaynor and Harry Connick Jr took to Twitter to pay their respects…
so sad to hear of the passing of david cassidy… he was always so kind to me – such a pleasure to have had him on my show… sending love and prayers to his family… R.I.P. friend ❤️ pic.twitter.com/tsFkNiJzFc
November 22, 2017
I’m very sad to hear about David Cassidy. There were times in the mid-1970s when he would come over to my house and we even started writing a song together. He was a very talented and nice person. Love & Mercy to David and his family.
November 22, 2017
My thoughts and prayers are with the family and loved ones of David Cassidy … part of a musical legacy via his role as “Keith Partridge” that brought music and laughter into the homes of millions … ???️ pic.twitter.com/tgj1IXkUBt
November 22, 2017
I grew up in an era before even cable TV, when The Partridge Family was already in reruns. David Cassidy’s Keith was one of my favorite TV characters. He was legit funny AND he could sing. The man entertained me during my childhood and even years later: https://t.co/678DU7qTxh
November 22, 2017
He is survived by his children, Katie and Beau, his stepmother Shirley Jones, and his half-brothers Shaun, Ryan and Patrick.