David Cassidy cause of death news 2017: Former teen idol dies of organ failure

Portrait of David Cassidy from 1974 Wikimedia Commons/Allan Warren

"The Partridge Family" star David Cassidy has died due to multiple organ failures. He was 67.

The actor spent his last days at a hospital in Florida, where he has been confined for dementia, made worse by liver and kidney shutdowns.

His longtime representative Jo-Ann Geffen confirmed his death in an official announcement. "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," the statement said.

Cassidy revealed his struggle with dementia earlier this year, when he also talked about his battle with alcohol and drug addiction.

In a guesting on the "Dr. Phil" show, he shared how he fell on stage and forgot the lyrics to one of his songs during a performance in California.

"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," he had said.

Decades before Cassidy fell into dementia, he was one of the country's biggest teen idols -- thanks to the popularity of the musical series "The Partridge Family," which aired from 1970 to 1974. He played the role of Keith Douglas Partridge alongside his stepmother Shirley Jones, who played Shirley Renfrew Partridge. His biggest break came in the series' debut single, the catchy hit "I Think I Love You," where he sang the lead vocal.

It was followed by a couple of other hit songs from the show, "Doesn't Somebody Want to Be Wanted" in 1971 and "I'll Meet You Halfway" in 1973.

Outside the iconic series, Cassidy's most successful musical project was his debut solo album "Cherish," which was released in 1972 and reached No. 9 on the Billboard chart.

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