“So much wasted time.” Those were the final words of David Cassidy before he passed away in 2017. The former The Partridge Family star battled alcohol addiction for years, which led to legal troubles and terribly declining health. His daughter, Katie Cassidy, revealed that she once believed she could help him, but she later realized some struggles are beyond a person’s control.
Despite their complicated relationship, Katie shared that she still feels connected to her father in a spiritual way. She said she has learned to forgive him and accept that he was dealing with demons he couldn’t defeat. Looking back, she understands that addiction and personal battles can affect generations, and sometimes, love alone is not enough to save someone.
David Cassidy publicly struggled with alcohol addiction
David Cassidy’s battle with alcohol was no secret. Over the years, he faced multiple DUI arrests, leading to court-ordered rehab. His struggles played out in the public eye, with one of his most notable moments coming in 2017 when he appeared on Dr. Phil to discuss his drinking problem. The once-beloved actor admitted to years of binge drinking.
Katie revealed that she tried to maintain contact with her father despite his struggles. However, she eventually had to accept reality. “My dad had his own struggles and demons that he tried at times to get a hold of and couldn’t,” she said. While Katie held onto hope for a long time, she understood that some battles are personal, and no matter how much she wanted to help, she couldn’t control his choices.
David Cassidy experienced a severe decline before he passed away
By 2017, David’s health had taken a serious turn. He announced that he had been diagnosed with dementia. Unfortunately, that was not the end; just months later, he was hospitalized with liver and kidney failure. His years of alcohol abuse had taken their toll, and his body could no longer keep up.
Katie said that watching her father decline was difficult, but she eventually had to let go of the hope that their relationship could be different. “I couldn’t [save him], and after all, you just have to let it go and understand that people make choices, and you can’t control them,” she shared.