David Cassidy

Originally coming to attention in the role of Keith Partridge in the popular TV series 'The Partridge Family', David Cassidy went on to convert his popularity into full-scale teen idol status as one of the most iconic pop stars of the 1970s. The son of actor Jack Cassidy and actress Evelyn Ward, he made his professional debut in the Broadway musical 'The Figs Are Falling' and although the show soon closed, it led to a screen test in Los Angeles.

After signing to Universal, Cassidy appeared in episodes of various TV series, including 'Ironside', 'Marcus Welby' and 'Bonanza', and in 1970 he won the part of Keith Partridge in 'The Partridge Family', with his step-mother Shirley Jones playing his on-screen mother. When his talents as a singer emerged he became the focal point of the cast recordings, achieving a number one hit in the US with 'I Think I Love You'. It led to a spectacular solo career via the hit single 'Cherish' and Cassidymania broke out all over the world. However, the hysteria created by his live shows also resulted in tragedy when a 14-year-old girl died in the stampede to see him when the gates were opened at a concert at White City Stadium, London.

By the mid-1970s he'd stopped touring to concentrate on recording, with three well-received albums and another major international hit single, 'I Write the Songs', after which he resumed his acting career. Periodically he returned to the recording studio, with George Michael singing backing vocals on his 1985 hit 'The Last Kiss' from the album 'Romance'. Cassidy continued to juggle music with acting and musical shows and in 2000 he wrote and appeared in the Las Vegas show 'At the Copa' with Sheena Easton. He was back in the limelight in 2005 playing the role of Grant in Richard Gabai's 'Popstar'. In his later years, Cassidy continued to tour with regular appearances right up to his death at the age of 67 in 2017.