Partridge Family (1970 – 1974): Personal demons and One Small One
The Partridge Family was another rock band-based sitcom, running from 1970 to 1974. Like The Monkees, the happy endings in the show didn’t always reflect behind-the-scenes reality. David Cassidy, the heartthrob teen idol who played oldest son Keith, posed for a risqué Rolling Stone cover and admitted drug use in the accompanying article. Jeremy Gelbwaks, who played the youngest son Chris, was unruly and the cast found him difficult to work with. He would kick costars under the table. Danny Bonaduce, who played fiery son Danny, called Gelbwaks a “raving lunatic.” Brian Forster replaced Gelbwaks in the second season. Susan Dey, cast as oldest daughter Laurie, battled an eating disorder, at one time eating nothing but carrots, giving her skin an orange tinge. But there were Bonaduce escaped an abusive home life when costar Dave Madden let the boy stay at his house, a time Bonaduce remembers warmly.