Is David Cassidy of The Partridge Family still alive

NEW YORK | David Cassidy, the teen and pre-teen idol who starred in the 1970s sitcom “The Partridge Family” and sold millions of records as the musical group’s lead singer, died Tuesday at age 67.

Cassidy, who announced earlier this year that he had been diagnosed with dementia, died surrounded by his family, a family statement released by publicist JoAnn Geffen said.

No further details were immediately available, but Geffen said on Saturday that Cassidy was in a Fort Lauderdale, Florida, hospital suffering from organ failure.

“David died surrounded by those he loved, with joy in his heart and free from the pain that had gripped him for so long,” the statement said. Thank you for the abundance and support you have shown him these many years.”

“The Partridge Family” aired from 1970-74 and was a fictional variation of the ’60s performers the Cowsills, intended at first as a vehicle for Shirley Jones, the Oscar winning actress and Cassidy’s stepmother. Jones played Shirley Partridge, a widow with five children with whom she forms a popular act that travels on a psychedelic bus. The cast also featured Cassidy as eldest son and family heartthrob Keith Partridge; Susan Dey, later of “L.A. Law” fame, as sibling Laurie Partridge and Danny Bonaduce as sibling Danny Partridge.

It was an era for singing families — the Osmonds, the Jacksons.

“The Partridge Family” never cracked the top 10 in TV ratings, but the recordings under their name, mostly featuring Cassidy, Jones and session players, produced real-life musical hits and made Cassidy a real-life musical superstar. The Partridges’ best known song, “I Think I Love You,” spent three weeks on top of the Billboard chart at a time when other hit singles included James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain” and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles’ “The Tears of a Clown.” The group also reached the top 10 with “I’ll Meet You Halfway” and “Doesn’t Somebody Want to be Wanted” and Cassidy had a solo hit with “Cherish.”

“In two years, David Cassidy has swept hurricane-like into the pre-pubescent lives of millions of American girls,” Rolling Stone magazine noted in 1972. “Leaving: six and a half million long-playing albums and singles; 44 television programs; David Cassidy lunch boxes; David Cassidy bubble gum; David Cassidy coloring books and David Cassidy pens; not to mention several millions of teen magazines, wall stickers, love beads, posters and photo albums.”

Cassidy’s appeal faded after the show went off the air, although he continued to tour, record and act over the next 40 years, his albums including “Romance” and the awkwardly titled “Didn’t You Used To Be?” He had a hit with “I Write the Songs” before Barry Manilow’s chart-topping version.

"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," the former teen idol's publicist JoAnn Geffen said in a statement. "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."

Actor David Cassidy accepts his Hippest Fashion Plate, Male award for "The Partridge Family" during the TV Land Awards 2003 at the Hollywood Palladium, March 2, 2003, in Hollywood, Calif.

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Cassidy was hospitalized in Florida last Wednesday in critical condition with organ failure, Geffen confirmed to ABC News last Saturday.

Geffen added that Cassidy was in an induced coma but that he was "currently conscious and surrounded by family."

Danny Bonaduce, Susan Dey, David Cassidy, Suzanne Crough, Jeremy Gelbwaks, Shirley Jones from the episode "Gallery" from the TV sitcom, "The Partridge Family," July 28, 1970.

ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images

Cassidy starred in the 1970s sitcom "The Partridge Family," playing heartthrob Keith Partridge, and sold millions of records as the musical group's lead singer.

"The Partridge Family" aired from 1970-74 and was intended at first as a vehicle for actress Shirley Jones, who was Cassidy's stepmother. Jones played Shirley Partridge, a widow with five children with whom she forms a band that travels on a psychedelic bus.

Singer, actor David Cassidy poses for a portrait in Minneapolis, Minn. on July 1, 1990.

Jim Steinfeldt/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Cassidy, who lived in the Fort Lauderdale area, said earlier this year that he was struggling with memory loss and that he was ending his 50-year career.

He announced that he planned to retire from touring, and later revealed to People magazine that he had dementia. Cassidy, whose grandfather and mother, the late actress Evelyn Ward, also were stricken with the neurological disease, told People of his diagnosis, "I was in denial, but a part of me always knew this was coming."

And while on the "Dr. Phil" show in March, when asked what he wanted to be remembered for, he said, "Spreading love. Bringing light into people’s lives. Giving everything in my heart and soul, because I know I'm a living, caring human being. I don’t mind being remembered for being an alcoholic. I don’t mind being that."

Cassidy had a rocky time in recent years -- he was arrested for driving under the influence in 2010, 2013 and 2014, ultimately spending time in rehab. He filed for bankruptcy in 2015, and was charged in a hit-and-run accident that same year.

David Cassidy attends Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade 2014 Grand Marshal Reception Honors Flo Rida, Dec. 12, 2014 in Hollywood, Fla.

Larry Marano/Getty Images, FILE

Earlier this year, Cassidy made news when fan-recorded video surfaced of him slurring his words and struggling to remember lyrics during a concert in Agoura Hills, California, an apparent sign of his dementia.

Cassidy was married and divorced three times, the first time to actress Kay Lenz. He is survived by his brother -- singer, actor and producer Shaun Cassidy; a half-brother, actor Patrick Cassidy; and three children, including Arrow star Katie Cassidy.

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