Shaun Cassidy shares beautiful tribute to his brother David
Shaun Cassidy shared an emotional tribute to his older half-brother, David Cassidy, following his death on Tuesday.
Shaun wrote a message on Twitter talking about the duo’s sibling rivalry and their close relationship in David’s final days.
"When I was a little boy and my big brother would come to visit, the first call of business would be a punishing pillow fight. During the battle, he would regale me with hysterical stories of our father, often culminating in his taking a giant leap off my top bunk," Shaun wrote.
"I tried to catch him of course. I always tried to catch him. But I never could. Now, I will carry him, along with all of the funny/sad/extraordinary days we shared, none more filled with love than these last few at his side."
Shaun and David shared a father, Jack Cassidy. Shaun’s mother Shirley Jones – who was married to Jack – was David’s stepmother and played his mum Shirley Partridge in the 1970s series that shot him to fame.
Shirley also shared a special tribute to her stepson.
"Long before he played my son on The Partridge Family, David Cassidy was my stepson in real life," she said in a statement to Entertainment Tonight.
"As a little boy, his sweet sensitivity and wicked sense of humor were already on display, and I will treasure the years we spent working and growing together.”
"I will also find solace knowing that David is now with his dad," she said in her statement.
"My heart is with David’s daughter, Katie, his son, Beau, and with Shaun, Patrick, and Ryan, whom I know are deeply missing their brother today," she continued.
"Thank you for the enormous outpouring of affection you have offered our family at this difficult time."
Just like his brother, Shaun was also a singer and actor before going on to produce TV series and movies including American Gothic.
In the 1990s, the brothers starred together in the Broadway play Blood Brothers.
David died at the age of 67 after being diagnosed with dementia.
"David died surrounded by those he loved, with joy in his heart and free from the pain that had gripped him for so long," read a family statement released by publicist JoAnn Geffen.
"Thank you for the abundance and support you have shown him these many years."