Inside the Love Lives of “The Partridge Family” Cast (Including One Couple Who Met at a Starbucks!)

Inside the Love Lives of ‘The Partridge Family’ Cast

It’s been over 55 years since the sitcom “The Partridge Family” first hit the screens on ABC. The show captured the hearts of viewers as it followed the fictional pop music band made up of the Partridge family. Loosely inspired by the real-life musical family, the Cowsills, the series ran for four seasons and almost 100 episodes. Shirley Jones portrayed the family matriarch, Shirley Partridge, alongside her stepson David Cassidy, who played her son Keith Partridge on the show.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2020, Jones reflected on the bond she shared with Cassidy both on and off-screen. Despite portraying a single mother on the show, Jones was previously married to Cassidy’s father, Jack Cassidy, for almost two decades before their split shortly before his tragic death in 1976. Following this, Jones tied the knot with actor Marty Ingels, with whom she remained married for nearly 40 years until his passing in 2015.

Shirley Jones, the actress behind the leading character Shirley, has been married twice. Her first marriage was to fellow actor Jack Cassidy in 1956, with whom she had three sons. After their divorce, Jones found love again with actor Marty Ingels. Jones reminisced about the paths life had taken, mentioning that if her first husband had not met an untimely end, she might not have crossed paths with Ingels.

David Cassidy, who portrayed the singer Keith, had three marriages throughout his lifetime. His first marriage to actress Kay Lenz was short-lived, and he later found solace in Meryl Tanz. Their relationship blossomed after a chance encounter at a party, resulting in a daughter named Katie Cassidy. Cassidy’s third marriage was to songwriter Sue Shifrin, with whom he welcomed a son, Beau Cassidy, before their divorce in 2014. He passed away in 2017 at the age of 67 from organ failure.

Susan Dey, known for her role as Laurie, continued her successful acting career post-“The Partridge Family” and is now happily married to producer Bernard Sofronski since 1988. Prior to Sofronski, Dey was married to Leonard “Lenny” Hirshan and had a daughter. Danny Bonaduce, who portrayed the witty Danny, found love with Amy Railsback, whom he met at a Starbucks in Los Angeles. They got married in Maui in 2010, with Bonaduce praising Railsback for her organisational skills in planning their surprise wedding.

Brian Forster replaced Jeremy Gelbwaks in the role of Chris Partridge after the first season. Forster married Lisa Forster and continued living a life away from the public eye post-series. Suzanne Crough, the actress who played Tracy, married William Condray in 1985 and remained out of the limelight as an adult. Tragically, Crough passed away at the age of 52 in 2015. Condray shared that they were approaching their 30th wedding anniversary and recounted how they first met through mutual acquaintances.

The love lives of “The Partridge Family” cast members provide a glimpse into the personal stories behind the iconic characters we grew to love on the small screen. From enduring marriages to brief romances, their real-life relationships reflect both the joys and challenges faced by individuals navigating love and family amidst the backdrop of fame.