David Cassidy on the Web
TV Family Acting Dynasties
July 24, 2009
By Amy Harrington
www.foxnews.com
Take a look at the greatest family dynasties to grace the entertainment world
"Ruby & the Rockits," starring David and Patrick Cassidy with "Spy Kids'" Alexa Vega, premiered this week on ABC Family. If you missed it, be sure to check it out. It's funny. Really. The Cassidy family production features the two half-brothers as past-their-prime teen idols (sound familiar?) who discover one has a teenage daughter (also based on a true family story). Shaun Cassidy serves as executive producer and writer, and youngest brother Ryan is the show's set dresser. Family matriarch Shirley Jones is scheduled to make a guest appearance, and even Ryan may even poke his head out from behind the scenes. Could Shaun be far behind?
It's literally a family affair. And what a family it is. The Cassidys have played a huge role in TV history. Father Jack started it all with his '60s show, "He & She," and numerous guest appearances on such series as "Bewitched," "Love, American Style," "Columbo," and "McCloud." Shaun, Patrick, and Ryan's mom, musical legend Shirley Jones, may have made the biggest splash alongside stepson David on '70s sitcom "The Partridge Family" and on her own "Shirley" in '79. She's been acting steadily on TV ever since, including recent stints on "Days of Our Lives" and "The Cleaner."
After his teen-idol turn as Keith Partridge, David enjoyed a more adult role in the late-'70s drama, "David Cassidy - Man Undercover." He went on to numerous guest spots on such series as "Malcolm in the Middle" and "The John Larroquette Show." Patrick made a name for himself in the 1981 made-for-TV movie "Angel Dusted" and 1986's Emmy-nominated "Dress Gray," then went on to star in the TV version of "Dirty Dancing." He also had recurring roles on "Lois & Clark" and "Smallville." Youngest brother Ryan tried his hand at acting, most notably on a few episodes of "The Facts of Life," before turning to behind-the-scenes work as a set dresser. But it's Shaun who may have made the biggest TV mark, first in front of the camera on "The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries" and "Breaking Away," and more recently as a producer, writer, and creator of "Invasion" and "American Gothic."
But the Cassidys aren't the only showbiz family to dominate the small screen. Some aren't lucky enough to work on the same shows together, but throughout the years there have been many TV dynasties to grace our sets.
