David Cassidy was born on April 12, 1950, in Manhattan, to Jack Cassidy, a highly accomplished actor and singer, and Evelyn Ward, an actress. His parents' divorce occurred when he was just five years old, and his father went on to marry actress Shirley Jones, who had recently starred in the iconic production of Oklahoma! (1955). David's mother relocated to California from New Jersey when he was around ten years old and later remarried a director, only to experience another divorce.
Throughout his early years, David struggled in school, barely completing one year of college. However, at the age of eighteen, he moved to New York to pursue a career in the performing arts, landing a role in the play "The Fig Leafs are Falling." He also secured various TV spots, which ultimately led to his breakthrough role as Keith Partridge on the popular TV show The Partridge Family (1970). Interestingly, David was unaware that his real-life stepmother, Shirley Jones, would be playing his mother, Shirley, on the show.
The Partridge Family aired from 1970 to 1974, during which time David formed a close bond with his on-screen "sister," Susan Dey, who portrayed Laurie Partridge. Tragedy struck in 1976 when David's father, Jack Cassidy, died in a fire at his apartment. David went on to marry Kay Lenz in the same year, but the union ultimately ended in divorce.
In 1984, David married a horse trainer, but the marriage did not last. He later tied the knot with Sue Shifrin in 1990, with whom he had two children, including his son Beau and actress Katie Cassidy. In 1994, David penned a book about his experiences as Keith Partridge and performed updated songs from the Partridge Family era.
David Cassidy passed away on November 21, 2017, at the age of sixty-seven, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
