David Cassidy in critical condition with organ failure
November 19, 2017
By Nicole Bitette, Larry McShane
New York Daily News
Troubled ex-teen idol David Cassidy was fighting for his life Saturday as liver and kidney failure left “The Partridge Family” star in critical condition.
Cassidy, 67, was in desperate need of a liver transplant in a Florida hospital where he was conscious, and “surrounded by family,” according to a rep for the singer/actor.
He was initially placed into a medically induced coma after arriving at the hospital in pain Wednesday, the rep told the Daily News.
Sources close to the family said they were told to expect “the worst” as Cassidy’s condition continued to deteriorate.
During his decades in the spotlight, Cassidy has struggled with a drinking problem — including DWIs in 2010, 2013 and 2014, and at least one trip to rehab. He also filed for bankruptcy in 2015.
Cassidy’s health has been failing for more than two months, sources close to the family told TMZ, the first outlet to report his hospitalization.
Cassidy is best-known for his role as eldest son Keith Partridge on the venerable sitcom “The Partridge Family,” which aired from 1970 to 1974.
In 1972, during the height of his popularity, Cassidy famously appeared in a carefully cropped nude shot on the cover of “Rolling Stone” magazine.
Cassidy at the time had a fan club larger than those once boasted by Elvis Presley and the Beatles.
The extent of his health issues became clear earlier this year, when Cassidy tumbled off a Southern California stage after slurring his words during a live show.
This Aug. 8, 2009 file photo shows actor-singer David Cassidy, best known for his role as Keith Partridge on "The Partridge Family," arrives at the ABC Disney Summer press tour party in Pasadena, Calif. The seventies …
After the disastrous February appearance, Cassidy announced that he was suffering from dementia — a disease that also struck his mother and grandfather.
“A part of me always knew this was coming,” the former Teen Beat cover boy told People magazine. Cassidy declared that he was done with touring and intended to focus on whatever time he had left.
“I want to focus on what I am ... I want to love,” he said. “I want to enjoy life.”
Cassidy, born in New York City, was the son of actor Jack Cassidy and actress Evelyn Ward. He divorced and later remarried actress/singer Shirley Jones, who played David’s sitcom mom.
With weekly promotion on their television show, the fictional Partridges — with David Cassidy on lead vocals — scored a number of hits including “I Think I Love You” and “I Woke Up in Love This Morning.”
He later went on to some success performing in Las Vegas, but was not as lucky in love: Cassidy was married and divorced three times, including a six-year stint with actress Kay Lenz.
