Former 'Partridge Family' Star David Cassidy Says He's Battling Dementia
February 28, 2017
Former 'Partridge Family' Star David Cassidy Is Fighting Dementia
It's impossible to forget former 'Partridge Family' star David Cassidy. But in addition to his 70's teen heartthrob status, plenty of folks also remember David's many struggles with alcoholism. Some odd behavior at a recent concert had fans worried he'd fallen off the wagon. The singer dispelled those rumors, but with equally disheartening news: former 'Partridge Family' star David Cassidy is now battling dementia. And he needs our prayers!
David's confession came after some disturbing footage from a recent concert hit the Internet. It showed the singer slurring his words, forgetting lyrics to songs he's been singing for nearly 50 years, and even falling over onstage.
"I was concerned people would mistake my alcoholism with my diagnosis," David says. "It's a tricky business."
RELATED: Man with Alzheimer's makes a heartbreaking plea
Former 'Partridge Family' star David Cassidy is still clean and sober, praise the Lord. But unfortunately, he now faces another major battle in his life.
Past Struggles
David Cassidy's rise to fame seemingly happened overnight. He landed the role as guitar-strumming Keith Partridge in the '70s musical sitcom, "The Partridge Family," which became an instant success.
Credit: Inside Edition"It was fascinating how quickly it evolved, just by fate," he says. "It was obviously God's intent. I feel very, very fortunate to have had all of the stars align to do that. Because I was able to not only become very successful, but to touch people's lives and bring light into their lives."
Even after the popularity of the show ran its course, David has been blessed with a long career of touring and performing. But along with success has come battles with substance abuse and reckless behavior, including a stint in rehab in 2014.
So, the speculation around the footage from his concert prompted David to set the record straight. His behavior had nothing to do with alcohol, but everything to due with a disease he's unfortunately all too familiar with.
Family History
The dementia diagnosis was shocking to the star, but not entirely unexpected. He's witnessed the terrible disease firsthand in his grandfather and then his mother.
“I was in denial, but a part of me always knew this was coming," the 66-year-old told People.
David's late mom, actress Evelyn Ward, battled the devastating disease for roughly a decade before passing away in 2012. It was heartbreaking for David to watch his mother essentially "disappear" before his eyes.
"In the end, the only way I knew (my mother) recognized me is with one single tear that would drop from her eye every time I walked into the room," he recalled. "I feared I would end up that way."
RELATED: Devoted son finds a clever way to help his dad battle Alzheimer's
Now that former 'Partridge Family' star David Cassidy has come to grips with his condition, he made the difficult decision to stop touring as a musician.
“I want to focus on what I am, who I am and how I’ve been without any distractions,” he says.
David assured fans he won't "vanish or disappear forever." But it's time to make his health the priority.
“I want to love. I want to enjoy life.”
A Wave Of Support
Since making the announcement, David has been inundated with words of encouragement. That includes his former 'Partridge Family' co-star, Danny Bonaduce.
"Over the years, David Cassidy has been extraordinarily kind to me, especially when times have been rough," Danny said. "Now I am there for David 100%. In interviews over the years, much is made of the fact that, at one point, David Cassidy had a bigger fan club than Elvis and the Beatles combined. So, to all of you 20 million or so David Cassidy fans out there, please let him know how much you care. My best to David and his family."
David is deeply touched by the massive amount of support.
As David faces this battle, unsure of what the future holds, let's do our part in lifting him up in prayer!
"Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:19-20
h/t: Today
Actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley opens up about her mother's dementia.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Dealing with Family Rejection This Holiday Season - Your Daily Prayer - December 5
One of the best times of the year can also be one of the most difficult. Harvest décor leads into Christmas bells and lights. We fill the calendar slots with parties and events. This can create a low-level hum of anxiety if the upcoming family get-togethers feel like a risky walk through a minefield.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer for Dealing with Family Rejection This Holiday Season - Your Daily Prayer - December 5
One of the best times of the year can also be one of the most difficult. Harvest décor leads into Christmas bells and lights. We fill the calendar slots with parties and events. This can create a low-level hum of anxiety if the upcoming family get-togethers feel like a risky walk through a minefield.
Past Stories
- Born the Same Year the Titanic Sank, World's Oldest Man Dies at 112
- Family Receives Support From School and Community After Losing House in a Fire
- Soldier Reunites With His Military Dog Yyacob After Years Apart
- Chicago Man Discovers That The Owner Of The Bakery He Loved To Visit Was Actually His Mother
- Husband Pays For 40 Pet Adoptions At Shelter For His Wife's 40th Birthday
- Parents Find Healing After Loss of Son By Donating His Beloved Key Collection To Little Boy
- Mom Dances With Son At His Wedding After Being Placed in Hospice Care 2 Weeks Before
- Grandmother and Young Granddaughter Battling Cancer At the Exact Same Time
- Community Brings Christmas Joy to Virginia Woman With Just Weeks to Live
- Four Friends Recreate A Fun Vacation Photo From 50 Years Ago
- School in Arkansas Mourns the Loss of Their Beloved Emotional Support Dog Abby
- 93-Year-Old Has Made Sure To Attend Every High School Football Game Since 1946
- Texas Mom Doesn't Remember Delivering Triplets After Rare Complication After Birth
- United Airlines Pilot Buys Pizza For 155 Passengers After They Make An Unexpected Stop
- Teenager With Down Syndrome Enjoys Playing Kickball After Parents Organize Neighborhood Game
- Woman in Shock After Finding Winning Lottery Ticket At the Bottom of Her Purse
- Australian Couple Walks Into Their Bedroom To Find the Cutest Koala
- 5 Boys and Their Father Were Saved By Good Samaritan After Explosion
- Daughter of WWII Soldier Finally Learns What Happened To Him, 80 Years Later
- Sisters Scream With Joy Watching Their 4-Year-Old Sister Take Her First Steps
- Her Mom Put a Message in a Bottle As a Child, 26 Years Later Her Classmate Found It
- This Missouri School Was Renamed After Their Much Loved and Dedicated Custodian
- Michael Strahan's Daughter is Now Cancer Free and Has Taught Him All About Perseverance
- These Two Newlyweds Found Love in Their Late 90s, After Meeting At Their Retirement Home
- Sisters Who Were Adopted By Separate Families Nearly 40 Years Ago Reunite After DNA Tests
- Oldest Living Person in the US Passes Away at 115, After a Long and Faithful Life
- At Just 20 and 22 Years Old, These Two Sisters From Minnesota Saved Their Family Farm
- After Over 450 Days in a Shelter, Boone and Rellie Find Their Forever Home, Together
- Sweet Kitten Named Coraline Loses Both Her Eyes, but Inspires Many with Her Spirit
- Donny Osmond Sees the 'End of the Tunnel' Coming After Performing for Over 6 Decades
- An Iguana Hitches a Ride on a Garbage Truck in Tennessee, Now Trying to Find Its Owner
- 6-Year-Old Starts 'Poop Scooping' Business to Help Animals and Adopt One of His Own
- Bride's Dad Drops During Father-Daughter Dance, but Things Lined up Perfectly to Save His Life
- Young North Carolina Father Risked His Life To Save a Couple and Dog From a Sinking Truck
- UPS Driver Jumps into Action As He Spots Elderly Woman on the Ground & Says It Was All God
- Rescuer Braces for the Worst After Spotting Kitten on the Side of the Road, Then Sees a Paw Move
- AJ Griffin Gives Up High-Paying Career with NBA to Follow God
- These Former Conjoined Twins Finally Go Home After Their First Birthday
- Teenager From Iowa Uses His Flying Skills to Help Hurricane Helene Victims
- Son Saves For 9 Months and Surprises Mom By Paying Off Her Mortgage
- Woman's Home is Surrounded By 100 Raccoons, and They Aren't Leaving Anytime Soon
- Dog Saves Her Owner's Life By Sitting in the Middle of the Road
- Widower Shares the Last Thing His Wife Told Their Son Before She Passed Away From Cancer
- A Nurse Saved Her Life 35 Years Ago, Now, She is Surprising Her With a Visit
- These Twin Sisters Have An Important Message To Share On Their 102nd Birthday
- This Brave 5-Year-Old Saved Her Mother's Life By Calling 911
- 79-Year-Old Broke Her Ankle After Scattering Her Mom's Ashes, Then Strangers Save the Day
- Dad Travels Through Mud and Debris to Walk His Daughter Down the Aisle
Top Music Videos
The Statler Brothers 'Til the Storm Passes By' The Statler Brothers Live Performance
Gaither Vocal Band Gaither Vocal Band - Mary, Did You Know? [Live]
Passion Music 'The Lord Will Provide' Passion And Landon Wolfe Live Performance
CCM Magazine 3 Doors Down’s Brad Arnold Shares Message of Faith During Nashville Concert
CCM Magazine Randall Goodgame’s ‘Scripture Hymnal’ | ‘In The Beginning’
Blogs
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.