The Pop Singer, Actor And Former Teen Idol Was 81

Bobby Sherman, the singer and actor who was a teen idol in the late 1960s and early 1970s and a paramedic in later years, died Tuesday morning at the age of 81.

“It is with the heaviest heart that I share the passing of my beloved husband, Bobby Sherman,” wrote actor John Stamos on Instagram on behalf of Brigitte Poublon, Sherman’s wife. “Bobby left this world holding my hand—just as he held up our life with love, courage, and unwavering grace through all 29 beautiful years of marriage.”

“I was his Cinderella, and he was my prince charming. Even in his final days, he stayed strong for me. That’s who Bobby was – brave, gentle, and full of light,” read the statement. “As he rested, I read him fan letters from all over the world – words of love and gratitude that lifted his spirits and reminded him of how deeply he was cherished. He soaked up every word with that familiar sparkle in his eye. And yes, he still found time to crack well-timed jokes – Bobby had a wonderful, wicked sense of humor. It never left him. He could light up a room with a look, a quip, or one of his classic, one-liners.”

Born Robert Cabot Sherman Jr. on July 22, 1943, Sherman was discovered at a Hollywood birthday party when he was 20 and got a big break when he was signed as a regular vocalist for the ABC musical variety show Shindig! in 1964. He remained with the program through its demise in January 1966.

Sherman released 107 songs, 23 singles and 10 albums between 1962 and 1976; seven of his songs were Top 10 hits. And he toured extensively around the country performing his music. At the same time, Sherman began building his acting resume, which included early guest appearances in the series Honey West, The Monkees and The F.B.I.

In 1968, Sherman began his two-season stint as Jeremy Bolt in the action dramedy-themed western Here Comes the Brides, which was loosely based on the 1954 musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

Sherman was also a frequent guest on the music staple American Bandstand, and starred in his second series, musical sitcom Getting Together, in 1971. Getting Together, a spinoff from The Partridge Family, was canceled after just 14 episodes.

Following a roster of other guest roles (including on series Emergency!, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island and Blacke’s Magic), Sherman was cast as Frankie Rondell in the USA Network comedy Sanchez of Bel Air in 1986. It lasted 13 episodes.

His final acting role was in an episode of Frasier opposite Kelsey Grammer in 1997.

After leaving the public spotlight, Sherman volunteered with the Los Angeles Police Department working with paramedics and giving CPR and first aid classes. He became a technical Reserve Police Officer with the Los Angeles Police Department in the 1990s, which he held until 2017, instructing thousands of police officers in first aid and CPR. He was named LAPD’s Reserve Officer of the Year in 1999.

Sherman also became a reserve deputy sheriff in 1999 with the San Bernadino County Sheriff’s Department. And he co-founded the Brigitte & Bobby Sherman Children’s (BBSC) Foundation, which provided students in Ghana with an education and music program.

In addition to wife Brigitte, Sherman is survived by two sons, Christopher and Tyler.