David Cassidy Genealogy
(aka, David Bruce Cassidy)Are You Related?
Born April 12, 1950, in New York City, New York, David Bruce Cassidy is an American actor, singer, songwriter, and musician. His parents are actors Jack Cassidy and actress Evelyn Ward, who were divorced when he was young. His father remarried actress Shirley Jones, with whom he had three more children: Shaun, Patrick, and Ryan. Cassidy made his professional debut in the Broadway musical The Fig Leaves Are Falling in 1969. He guest starred on TV series Ironside, Bonanza, and Adam-12, amongst others, before being cast as Keith Partridge in The Partridge Family alongside stepmother Jones. The show would launch Cassidy to fame, particularly with the release of his song "I Think I Love You." Separate from the show, he released his own single, "Cherish," which reached #9 in the U.S., #2 in the UK, and #1 in Australia and New Zealand. He became a teen idol sensation, which he resented, as he wanted to be a rock star along the lines of Mick Jagger or Alice Cooper. Despite this, he became a sellout concert success around the world, where he was so popular the media termed the ensuing hysteria from teenage girls as "Cassidymania." In fact, one concert got so out of hand that a teenage girl was killed and several hundred more were injured. He continues to perform today in theater, on television, and in concert performances. He has been married three times--to Kay Lenz, Meryl Tanz, and Sue Shifrin--and has two children: Katie and Beau.
David Cassidy's last name, "Cassidy," is an Irish name from the Gaelic name O Caiside. It was first found in Northern Ireland in Fermanagh. Other spellings include "Cassady," "Cassiday," "Cassedy," and "Cassedey." The first Cassidy to settle in the United States was Pat Cassidy in New York in 1803.
