Partridge Family legend David Cassidy has died aged 67 from organ failure – after suffering complications while battling dementia.
The musician and actor was hospitalized several days ago in Florida and was surrounded by his family when he passed away.
The 70s icon revealed his dementia diagnosis earlier this year and he last performed at the B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in New York in February and spoke about its effect on him.
David Cassidy is in a coma and is suffering from multiple organ failure, according to reports. He is pictured here in 2016
The star’s publicist JoAnn Geffen confirmed his death. “On behalf of the entire Cassidy family, 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.”
Over the weekend Cassidy’s family revealed he was ‘near the end’ after being placed in an induced coma.
The 67-year-old Partridge Family star and singer was rushed to hospital in Florida three days ago.
A source told TMZ that his condition was ‘grim’ and his doctors were desperately seeking a kidney transplant
Now sources say it’s too late and his family are preparing for the end.
‘There’s really no issue anymore for a transplant. It’s futile,’ the source said.
Doctors have reportedly summoned Cassidy’s son and ex-wife back to the hospital for what could be their final farewells.
Cassidy’s has been in failing health for the last two months.
Cassidy is widely known for his starring role as Keith Partridge on the 1970s series The Partridge Family.
In February, the star revealed he was battling dementia after he fell on stage during a concert in Los Angeles. His mother, actress Evelyn Ward, and his grandfather also had the condition.
The 67-year-old Partridge Family star and singer was rushed to hospital in Florida three days ago and his condition is said to be ‘grim’
Cassidy is widely known for his starring role as Keith Partridge (center, back) on the 1970s series The Partridge Family
The star was rushed to hospital in Florida three days ago. The actor is pictured above as Keith Partridge in the mid-1970s
Fans were concerned for his well-being when he struggled through the gig in February.
He stumbled on stage and forgot some of his words, prompting fears he had started drinking again.
He told People magazine after the gig: ‘I was in denial, but a part of me always knew this was coming.’
His mother the actress Evelyn Ward struggled with dementia until her death at 89 in 2012.
‘In the end, the only way I knew she recognized me is with one single tear that would drop from her eye every time I walked into the room. … I feared I would end up that way,’ Cassidy said.
Fans were concerned for his well-being when he struggled through the gig in February (above)
Fans were concerned for his well-being when he struggled through the gig in February
In February, the actor revealed he was battling dementia. His mother and his grandfather also had the condition. He is pictured during one of his last stage performances in March
Cassidy (top right) is pictured with the rest of the cast of the Partridge Family in 1970
‘I want to focus on what I am, who I am and how I’ve been without any distractions,’ he added. ‘I want to love. I want to enjoy life.’
Video emerged of the one-time teen heartthrob over the that showed him slurring, taking long breaks, telling rambling stories and even falling over at one point.
He told the audience he will no longer be touring.
While he vowed to make the show his last, he struggled to stay on his feet and play the guitar.
Issues in Cassidy’s personal life have been well-documented over the last few years.
He has filed for bankruptcy, divorced from third wife Sue Shifrin, has had multiple arrests, eye surgeries and went through a stint in rehab.
At the end of February, he sat down with Dr. Phil to discuss his diagnosis.
Dr. Phil told the singer that it appeared as though ‘there were times’ that Cassidy was ‘losing’ his place during the concert, to which Cassidy agreed.
‘And then you said at one point ‘I can tell you’re not gonna listen so, I’m just gonna leave,’ and you did slip off the stage at one point,’ Dr. Phil said.
Cassidy replied, ‘Not really slipped. No.’
But Dr. Phil told the singer, ‘well, you slipped on the stage’.
‘If you noticed I’m one of the few people who still have monitors in front,’ Cassidy stated, before Dr. Phil said the monitors are in place of using an ear piece.
The musician added: ‘And when you have spotlight in your eyes and you have five eyes surgeries as I’ve had… And I’ve talked a lot about it. You’ll see me there, I tripped on that.
‘But I certainly wasn’t intoxicated and it has nothing to do with why I’m leaving.
‘…certainly my dementia has a, has contributed to the reason why I don’t want to go out and I don’t want to hear, ‘Well, he looked like he was drunk or he looked like he was’ – I, I wasn’t.’
As a singer, Cassidy (pictured circa 1970) has sold more than 25million albums
Cassidy (pictured in London in 1972) rose to fame on television, but quickly became a worldwide sex symbol
Cassidy shared what he told his son, 26-year-old Beau Cassidy, about not wanting to succumb to the disease as his mother did.
‘I want you to promise me you’ll find a way to let me go and don’t let me live like that,’ the entertainer told Dr. Phil of what he said to Beau.
The singer, who has sold over 25 million albums, also shared the moment he realized he needed to see a doctor due to him experiencing his first symptoms of the brain disease.
When friends of yours or family members begin to say to you, ‘remember I just told you this two days ago’ and there’s no memory of it that’s when I began to be very concerned,’ Cassidy tearfully said.
Dr. Phil then asked if that’s what caused him to go and get checked out by a doctor.
‘Oh my God, yes,’ Cassidy replied. The actor said he was diagnosed about two-and-a-half years ago.
During the interview set to air Wednesday, Cassidy also discusses his current relationship with his family and his fear of being a burden to them.
His mother, the actress Evelyn Ward, struggled with dementia until her death at 89 in 2012.