This ’70s Teen Heartthrob, Who Left His Career at the Peak of Fame, Stunned Fans with His Transformation at 66 — What Happened to Him?

A previous teenage hottie felt the pressure of stardom after being chased by devoted followers nonstop. The celebrity’s ageless appearance still astounds people decades later. View his amazing life story and metamorphosis throughout the years.

A former child star who gained popularity for his part in an ABC adventure series won over fans’ hearts for his singing and acting abilities in the past. But when he was at the top of his career, he made the decision to step back from the spotlight, and many fans have been astounded by his transformation since then.

The singer pictured on January 1, 1970, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images

This is the narrative of the ’70s heartthrob who left stardom at its peak, from a happy childhood in a prosperous household to experiencing personal tragedies, establishing a profession in film, and discovering happiness in family life.

 

The famous person spent part of his early years in New York City and Los Angeles. He signed a record deal with Warner Brothers Records while still a high school student, which led to three multi-platinum albums, many top ten songs, and a string of sold-out performances around the country.

He would roar out his popular classics like “Da Doo Ron Ron” and “That’s Rock ‘n’ Roll,” but after the event, he often found himself besieged by admirers. During the 1977 World Series, they even pursued him out of Dodger Stadium after climbing onto his car and grabbing his hair.

The singer pictured with fans outside WQXI radio studio on June 1, 1977, in Atlanta, Georgia. | Source: Getty Images

The hitmaker solidified his place in the entertainment business at almost the same time that he enthralled viewers on “The Hardy Boys Mysteries.”

 

The well-known persona attributes his ability to stay grounded to his family for helping him avoid the usual traps of teenage celebrity. “Three other members of my family had already achieved enormous success by the time I became successful at the age of 18,” he clarified.

 

The seasoned actor went on, “My mother won an Academy Award at the age of 24, my father was a matinee idol on Broadway, and (his half-brother) David was a very big pop star.” He went on to say that while he had seen stardom in his family, he didn’t associate his identity with the success or duration of his own celebrity.

In an interview, the singer reflected on those times and commented, “I have a weird career.” After my highly explosive debut act, I went into hiding when I was 21. And I’m not sure what motivated that, other than the fact that I don’t think I wanted to pursue a career in performing.”

The singer photographed on January 1, 1979, in Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images

The Hollywood celebrity announced to a crowd of around 55,000 people in the now-closed Houston Astrodome in 1980 that he would “see them soon” before removing his satin pants and microphone and leaving the spotlight behind.

Years later, when he thought back on that choice, he said he was often curious as to how his younger self had survived to reach that degree of notoriety. “I’m still trying to figure it out,” he said. However, I believe that leaving it behind salvaged it for me.

Meanwhile, the story of Shaun Cassidy’s half-sibling, David Cassidy, took a totally different turn, with a life that contrasted strongly with his own experience as a teen idol.

David, who gained popularity for his part in the sitcom “The Partridge Family” in the 1970s, battled alcoholism his entire life. His struggles with substance misuse as an actor and singer played a big role in his narrative.

David Cassidy on the set of "The Partridge Family," 1971 | Source: Getty Images

David publicly admitted his battle with alcoholism in 2008, and he later struggled with drug misuse, which required him to check into a recovery facility in 2014. His younger brother Shaun thought about how hard it was to watch David go through these things.

He said that it was really difficult to watch his brother’s drinking and that many families go through this terrible experience. He acknowledged that handling this kind of scenario is difficult and that there is no set way to address it.

David tragically lost his life in 2017 at the age of 67 due to liver and renal failure, following years of battle with addiction. He was Jack Cassidy and Evelyn Ward’s only child. Shaun, Patrick, and Ryan are Jack’s three sons from his marriage to Shirley Jones, the “Oklahoma” star, which occurred later.

His drunkenness had caused his family problems in the past, but they rallied around him in his last days. Shaun also mentioned how his brother’s upbringing was very dissimilar from his own.

David’s profession and life experiences put him on a different route than Shaun’s because he has a different mother and a different relationship with their father. Shaun said, “I loved and adored him and he was as funny a guy as you’ll ever meet.” He also thought back on their year-long working relationship on the Broadway production of “Blood Brothers.”

David and Shaun Cassidy on the set of "Blood Brothers," 1993 | Source: Getty Images

The celebrity found the experience to be both pleasurable and healing because it allowed them to rekindle their relationship with their father, who had away tragically in an apartment fire in 1976.

Shaun eventually found his own route to happiness by getting married, despite the difficulties posed by grieving and familial issues. He has three marriages under his belt. His first marriage was to Ann Pennington, a former Playboy model, with whom he produced John Cassidy and Caitlin.

Actress Susan Diol, who had roles in the television shows “Star Trek” and “Quantum Leap,” eventually wed the celebrity. Juliet Cassidy, the couple’s daughter, was welcomed.

Shaun is currently happily married to TV producer Tracey Lynne Turner, his third wife, having wed her in August 2004. They have four kids together. Shaun has welcomed his children with his three spouses, making him a father of eight children in all.

The “Hey Deanie” singer recently joked that his career didn’t follow the conventional “Behind the Music” path of financial collapse and addiction when thinking back to his teen idol days. Understanding how short-lived teenage celebrity is, he made the smart decision to change directions and launch a lucrative career as a writer and producer.

He has contributed to several TV series throughout the years, including “American Gothic,” “Roar,” “Cold Case,” and “Emerald City.” In addition, he worked as an executive producer and writer for the five-season medical drama “New Amsterdam” on NBC.

Fans still adore Shaun at the age of 66, and they frequently share their opinions in the comments section of his Instagram profile. One fan said, “You look so handsome,” and another said, “Looking amazing.” Similar thoughts were expressed by a third user.

Shaun Cassidy’s transformation from teenage sensation to prosperous writer and producer demonstrates his capacity to adjust and flourish out of the spotlight. Fans are still enthralled by his timeless charm and talent, demonstrating the adage that some stars get better with age.

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