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Does Shirley Jones Have Dementia

Was It Dementia Or Something Else

Shirley Jones “I Whistle A Happy Tune” on The Ed Sullivan Show

During the taping of an A& E docuseries, “David Cassidy: The Last Session, the “Partridge Family” star admitted to A& E producers months before his death that he was hiding his battle with alcoholism and claimed he did not have dementia.

“I have liver disease,” Cassidy told A& E producer Saralena Weinfield. “There is no sign of me having dementia at this stage of my life. It was complete alcohol poisoning.”

Cassidy is best known for his role as Keith Partridge, the son of Shirley Partridge, in the 1970s musical sitcom, The Partridge Family.

The 66-year-old star told People Magazine in a February 20, 2017 story, that he is fighting memory loss from dementia. Cassidy’s representative, Jo-Ann Geffen, told USA TODAY that had been diagnosed with dementia.

All this was coming off a performance where Cassidy seemed intoxicated at the concert outside L.A. He was falling off the stage, forgetting words and unsteady on his feet. Sources had told TMZ that he was not drinking before the show. Cassidy had a family history of memory issues as his mom and grandfather struggled with the disease.

“Partridge Family” co-star Danny Bonaduce told People he was not surprised Cassidy was still drinking before his death.

“Part of alcoholism is lying,” Bonaduce said. “When you’re an addict, you know you can’t be honest with people. You say what you want them to hear. I can’t be mad at David for that, but it’s still a tragedy.”

Was Ron Howard On The Partridge Family Show

Having starred in The Partridge Family for four seasons, Shirley Jones knows something about child actors, and as she puts it, Ron Howard is probably the best child actor Ive ever worked with. In Partridge Family, Danny Bonaduce was wonderful but crazy. We had another boy. He was a nightmare.

Who is Shaun Cassidys mom? In 2020, Cassidy returned to the stage with his one-man show The Magic of a Midnight Sky. Cassidy is the eldest son of Academy Award-winning actress Shirley Jones and Tony Award-winning actor Jack Cassidy.

What caused the fire that Jack Cassidy died in?

In the early morning of December 12, 1976, Cassidy lit a cigarette and fell asleep on his Naugahyde couch. Asleep, he dropped the cigarette, igniting the couch. The flames spread throughout the apartment and building.

What happened Keith Partridge? US teen idol David Cassidy, best known as Keith Partridge on the hit 1970s series The Partridge Family, has died at the age of 67 from organ failure. His death was confirmed by publicist Jo-Ann Geffen, who shared a statement from his family.

David Cassidy Was Surrounded By His Family In The Hospital

David Cassidy and Sue Shifrin were married from 1991 to 2014.

As Cassidys health deteriorated, he was surrounded by his family in the hospital. He was in an induced coma but he is currently conscious and surrounded by family, his rep told UK Express. David Cassidys health has been troubled for some time. In early 2017, Cassidy revealed that he had been diagnosed with dementia. David Cassidys tragic family history of dementia has always haunted him and now its here. The former star of TVs The Partridge Family said Monday he is battling the memory-destroying brain disorder,USA Today reported at that time.

According to USA Today, the former teen idol of the 1970s said he decided to stop touring as a musician to concentrate on his health and happiness. The newspaper quoted him as saying, I want to focus on what I am, who I am and how Ive been without any distractions, he says. I want to love. I want to enjoy life.

25th May 1974: Hordes of screaming girls are separated from their idol David Cassidy by a pane of glass at the Thames television studio in London.

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Is Laurel Lance A Metahuman

But before Black Siren could do too much damage, she was defeated and imprisoned in STAR Labs. If this new Laurel is, in fact, Black Siren, it would set up a really great nod to the comic book version of Laurel. In the comics, Laurel was an Earth-2 metahuman who moved to Earth-1, which is where she met the Green Arrow.

Coming To Terms With Teen Idol Status

Partridge Family Actors: Where Are They Now

He became one of the biggest draws, regularly playing in front of tens of thousands of people around the world. His shows even had riots, with one 14-year-old girl passing away in the hospital after a pre-existing heart condition got triggered during a gate stampede in London. Clearly shaken to the core, an upset David addressed the press to express his difficulty making sense of the incident. He didnt attend the funeral as to not draw the media, but spoke with her parents and sent flowers.

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He Had A Complicated Relationship With His Daughter

Although today’s generation may not have grown up on The Partridge Family, they might have known Cassidy through his daughter, Katie Cassidy, an up-and-coming actress who’s appeared on popular TV shows Gossip Girl and Arrow.

As Katie rose to fame, the father-daughter duo appeared to have an amicable relationship, as evident by this joint interview from People in 2009. However, by February 2017, David had completely changed his tune, alleging to People that he “never had a relationship” with his only daughter. “I wasn’t her father. I was her biological father but I didn’t raise her,” he said. Katie grew up with Cassidy’s ex-girlfriend, Sherry Williams, and stepfather. “She has a completely different life.”

Katie echoed the sentiment in a 2018 interview with Fox News. Asked if being David’s kid gave her a leg up with her acting career, Katie said, “My dad didn’t help me. I think having the last name, in my opinion, put a lot more pressure on me throughout the process of auditioning because you’re held under a microscope.”

Perhaps the most telling indicator of David and Katie’s relationship came after his death when it was revealed that he specifically stated in his will that he would not “provide any benefits” to Katie or any “descendant” of hers. Oof.

One Of My Close Friends

Indeed, this is made even more strange by statements that Katie Cassidy made after Davids death. While she was raised by her stepfather, after Davids death she said, My biological father and I had a really good relationship at one point. He was one of my close friends and gave me wonderful advice. This is hardly the sort of thing you would expect an estranged daughter to say with the passing of her father, especially considering the fact that he left her nothing. What was going on behind the scenes?

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The Untold Truth Of David Cassidy

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David Cassidy passed away on Nov. 21, 2017 after a brief hospitalization for organ failure. Best known for playing Keith Partridge, the heartthrob lead singer and guitar player for the fictional family band The Partridge Family, Cassidy went on to a colorful entertainment career that included successful runs on Broadway, television, and as a touring musician.

But like many longtime entertainers, Cassidy also battled demons in his life: strained family relationships, failed marriages, substance abuse, and crippling health problems. It was even revealed after his death that he may have fabricated or exaggerated claims about being diagnosed with dementia in order to hide a near-fatal relapse with alcohol.

You already know that Keith Partridge became a real-life teen pop sensation, but this is the story of the man behind the gloriously feathered hair and sequined jumpsuits. It’s the untold truth of David Cassidy.

His Lifelong Battle With Booze

Shirley Jones discusses fans of “The Partridge Family” – EMMYTVLEGENDS.ORG

In the handful of years prior to his dementia claim, David Cassidy made multiple headlines for his ongoing battle with alcohol. According to People, he was arrested for DUI in 2010, then again in 2013 and 2014. Shorly after his third DUI arrested, Cassidy who had been in and out of rehab confessed to being an alcoholic.

“If I take another drink, I’m going to die, physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. I’m dead,” Cassidy told CNN‘s Piers Morgan in March 2014. “You know, they say it’s a slippery slope… It’s not a slippery slope. It’s from 12:00 to 6:00 on the clock and the whole face is ice. One sip, one drink, because there is no such a thing, not to an alcoholic. You have one and you’re you’re done. I’d be done.”

Unfortunately, it seems Cassidy never kicked the habit. In the aforementioned A& E documentary promo, Cassidy admits the dementia lie was all a ruse. “The fact is that I lied about my drinking,” he says in the film. “I did this to myself to cover up the sadness and the emptiness.”

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David Cassidy Was Married Three Times & Some Of His Family Relationships Have Been Conflictual At Times

Sue Shifrin in 1971.

Sue Shifrin was Cassidys third wife . Cassidy was previously married to Kay Lenz from 1977-1983 and Meryl Tanz from 1984-1986. Katie Cassidys mother is Sherry Williams Benedon. Shifrin, who is in her 60s, has worked as an executive national vice president and independent consultant for Arbonne, and sells their health and wellness products. She wrote on her profile that she hopes to eliminate animal testing for human products.

ContactMusic reports that, in 2004, there were tensions in the family that boiled over in court. According to the legal petition filed by her mother, Sherry Benedon, Katie allegedly claims that Cassidy shut her out of his life, and the star, who made millions over the years, has neglected his financial obligations to his daughter, the site reported. Court documents obtained by Celebrity Justice detailed the alleged acrimony.

There was some contact between father and daughter, though. According to UK Daily Mail, Katie was raised by her mother Sherry Williams who was not one of Davids three wives and her husband Richard Benedon. Katie previously revealed to the Daily Mail that her father once told her that if she wanted to be an actress, she must do it on her own. The British news site quoted Katie Cassidy as saying, We didnt really talk about the business, but he did say, Dont take a job for the money. Of course, I did in the beginning because I needed to survive!

You can read more about Sue Shifrin Here:

Movie Actress Of The 1950s And 1960s

Jones impressed Rodgers and Hammerstein with her musically trained voice, and was cast as the female lead in the Oklahoma! film adaptation in 1955. Other film musicals quickly followed, including Carousel , , and The Music Man , in which she was often typecast as a wholesome, kind character. However, she won a 1960 Academy Award for her performance in Elmer Gantry portraying a woman corrupted by the title character played by Burt Lancaster. Her character becomes a prostitute who encounters her seducer years later and reveals his true character. The director, Richard Brooks, had originally fought against her being in the movie, but after seeing her first scene, told her she would win an Oscar for her performance. She was reunited with Ron Howard in The Courtship of Eddie’s Father . Jones landed the role of a lady who fell in love with the professor in Fluffy .

In her film career, she has worked with some of Hollywood’s icons: Jimmy Stewart, Gene Kelly, , James Cagney, Henry Fonda, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and director John Ford.

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The ‘i Think I Love You’ Singer Passed Away In 2017 At Age 67

Fox News Flash top entertainment and celebrity headlines are here. Check out what clicked this week in entertainment.

David Cassidys half-brother, Shaun Cassidy, is reflecting on his relationship with the late “Partridge Family” star.

The former teen idol passed away in 2017 at age 67 from organ failure after battling alcoholism for several years. He was the only son of Broadway actor Jack Cassidy and actress Evelyn Ward. The patriarch remarried to actress Shirley Jones and they shared three sons: Shaun, Patrick and Ryan.

Cassidys younger sibling admitted it was “terribly hard” watching the “I Think I Love You” singer struggle with alcoholism.

“Ive seen it in every family,” the 63-year-old told Page Six in a recent interview.

Shaun Cassidy, left, and David Cassidy during happier times.

“He had a very different experience with our father than I did,” the performer-turned-writer noted. “He had a different mother he had a different experience career-wise. I loved and adored him and he was as funny a guy as youll ever meet. We did a Broadway show called Blood Brothers together for a year and it was great working with him and very cathartic because we both felt connected to our dad.”

The father of eight told the outlet that his family helped him avoid the pitfalls of fame at a young age.

David Cassidy was a ’70s teen idol.

Shirley Jones David Cassidy

David Cassidy, dementia and his tragic family history

On November 21, 2017, David Cassidy died at the age of 67. The cause of his death was reported as organ failure complicated by early-onset dementia. Jones stated: Long before he played my son on The Partridge Family, he was my stepson in real life.

As a little boy, his sweet sensitivity, and wicked sense of humor were already on display, and I will treasure the years we spent working and growing together. I will also find solace knowing that David is now with his dad.

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Cassidy Posted On His Website

I will always be eternally grateful for the love and support youve shown me. I still love very much to play and perform live. But its much more difficult for me now.

Im not going to vanish or disappear forever. Ill be able to communicate much more through my website and my Facebook page. As you can imagine this has been truthfully THE MOST DIFFICULT DECISION I HAVE EVER MADE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. Im eternally grateful to each and every single one of you. Im going to play live, everywhere around North America, through 2017. I hope you will find a way to come and be part of my celebration!

Perhaps he used dementia as a way to hide the problems with drinking because of his family history. Cassidy watched his grandfather battle memory loss and saw his mother disappear into dementia until she died at age 89. He told PEOPLE of his supposed diagnosis: I was in denial, but a part of me always knew this was coming.

Cassidy remembers his moms battle with memory loss, 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.

He has had numerous personal problems in the decades following his initial success, ranging from substance abuse to bankruptcy. He’s the stepson of actress and fellow “Partridge Family” star Shirley Jones.

Dying From Liver Failure

the fact is I lied about my drinking, Cassidy said before he passed away. I did it to myself, man. I did it to myself to cover the sadness and the emptiness. His family and many close to him assumed he hadnt touched the bottle for a while, yet as fellow Partridge Family member Danny Bonaduce explained: When youre an addict, you know you cant be honest with people. You say what you want them to hear.

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Focusing On The Positivity

We wouldnt know anything about this, naturally, and it could very well be that Katie got nothing from her father. As for her fathers passing, Katie told People magazine, My dad was a wonderful, wonderful person. Sadly, he had some demons. Even if he left her out of his will, it doesnt mean David left Katie with nothing, as she still has a family. Katies remarks after Davids death proved how much positivity David left behind for his family.

Shirley And Other Projects

Shirley Jones & Herschel Bernardi “Shall We Dance” on The Ed Sullivan Show

In 1979, Jones tried her hand at television for the second time, starring in the NBC show Shirley, which, like The Partridge Family, featured a family headed by a widowed mother, but the show failed to win ratings and was cancelled toward the middle of the season. Jones also played the “older woman” girlfriend of Drew Carey’s character in several episodes of The Drew Carey Show, and reprised Shirley Partridge in a cameo in a 2000 episode of That ’70s Show.

She was also in the dramatic project There Were Times, Dear, in which she played a loyal wife whose husband is dying of Alzheimer’s disease she was nominated for an Emmy Award for this work.

In February 1986, Jones unveiled her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Vine Street just around the corner from Hollywood Boulevard. In 1983, she appeared in a rare revival of Noël Coward‘s operetta, Bitter Sweet. In 2004, she returned to Broadway in a revival of 42nd Street, portraying diva Dorothy Brock opposite Patrick Cassidy, the first time a mother and son were known to star together on Broadway. In July 2005, Jones revisited the musical Carousel onstage in Massachusetts, portraying “Cousin Nettie”.

In early 2008, it was announced that Jones would play Colleen Brady on the long-running NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives. Jones guest-starred on ABC Family‘s short-lived show Ruby & The Rockits as David and Patrick’s mother.

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