David Cassidy’s contract nightmare
David Cassidy’s rise to fame as a young star came with a tough reality behind the scenes. While his image was raking in cash for companies like Columbia Pictures, David wasn’t seeing much of it.
His contract didn’t include royalties, and he had no say in how his name and image were used, even though fans were paying to be part of his fan club. It wasn’t until his manager realized he’d signed the contract when he was just 19 — not the legal age of 21 — that they could make a change. With this legal loophole, they were able to renegotiate his terms, giving him a piece of the profits and a weekly salary that matched his fame. Before that, he was only earning $600 a week.
Being a teen idol wasn’t all fame and fortune — it came with the downside of being taken advantage of at a young age.
The guardian who helped Susan Sey
At just 18 years old, Susan Dey catapulted to TV stardom as Laurie Partridge on The Partridge Family. From 1970 to 1974, she played the smart and sweet older sibling, but her off-screen life was just as eventful as her on-screen one.
Did you know Susan wasn’t the producers’ first choice to play Laurie? Olivia Newton-John was actually in the running for the role. Fast forward a few years, and in a twist of fate, when Grease was casting, the producers initially wanted Susan for Sandy. But, as we know, Olivia ended up landing the role. The universe sure knows how to throw some curveballs…
According to a 1972 article, it was pure luck that decided it all. Screen Gems producer Paul Witt couldn’t find the right Laurie in Hollywood, so he ventured to New York to search for fresh faces. One look at Susan, a slim, graceful high school junior with wide eyes and an undeniable charm, convinced him she was the one for the part — despite her lack of dramatic training. What she lacked in musical talent, she more than made up for with charm, humor, and a natural presence. After a few high school plays, Susan was ready to shine.
Though Susan modestly claimed, “thousands can do the part,” she landed the role. During the filming of the early episodes, because she wasn’t yet 18, she had to live with a guardian. After interviewing several candidates, 23-year-old Jane Joyce, a college graduate and Laurie’s stand-in, was chosen. Not only did she help Susan with her on-screen duties, but she also assisted her with homework by mail and made sure Susan stayed on track with her education.
Susan Dey’s hidden health battle
Susan Dey’s time on The Partridge Family wasn’t all glitz and glamour, even though she was the down-to-earth, relatable teen idol. While she even appeared in tampon ads aimed at her audience, life behind the scenes had its challenges.
During her time on the show, Susan struggled with an eating disorder, revealing the darker side of rising to fame at such a young age.
But Susan was also incredibly hard on herself when it came to her performance on the show. She referred to herself as “awful” in the first season, never feeling able to fully relax or feel like she was doing herself justice.
“The thing was – I couldn’t let go. All that stiffness came through on the screen,” Susan told The Star Press.
From crush to cold distance
At first, Susan Dey formed strong bonds with several of her castmates. For a while, she even stayed with her co-star Danny Bonaduce. It’s also well-known that Susan had a huge crush on David Cassidy throughout the entire run of The Partridge Family. However, after the show ended, it seems Dey wasn’t eager to stay connected to the series that made her a star.
After the show wrapped in 1974, Susan moved on to other TV roles, including a prominent part in L.A. Law in 1986.
“By then, she and David had grown apart, and nowadays they were completely out of touch, which hurt David tremendously,” Shirley Jones, who played Shirley Partridge on the show, wrote in her memoir.
“I was also hurt that out of everyone on the show, only Susan consistently refused to take part in any TV reunions of The Partridge Family.”
Maybe the answer lies in a 1972 newspaper article, where Susan Dey opened up about her early years on The Partridge Family.
”I wasn’t prepared for the dishonesty and politics involved in making a show. And it’s been hard for me to put my foot down and say no.”
The co-stars Shirley Jones couldn’t stand
Shirley Jones, with her warm personality and versatility as an actress, was no stranger to success. With a career that spanned Broadway, film, and television, she earned an Academy Award in 1960 for her role in Elmer Gantry. However, it was The Partridge Family that solidified her status as an iconic TV mom and beloved figure to audiences everywhere
In her autobiography, Jones shared some candid insights about her time on the show. She revealed that she got along with most of her co-stars, except for Dick Clark and Ray Bolger.