A former child star captured hearts on a beloved ’70s sitcom, but his life took a dark turn after fame faded. Struggling with addiction and homelessness, he eventually rebuilt his life — only to face a shocking health crisis that left him unable to walk and in need of brain surgery.
Fame came quickly for this former child star, who became a household name in the early 1970s after landing a role on the hit TV sitcom, “The Partridge Family.”
The former child star circa 1970. | Source: Getty Images
Millions adored his character — a mischievous, redheaded boy who brought humor and charm to every episode. Overnight, he went from being just another kid to one of the most recognizable young actors.
The child star with his “The Partridge Family” cast mates circa 1970. | Source: Getty Images
But while his life on screen looked perfect, things at home were far from ideal. His father, he later revealed, had a temper that frightened the entire household. “Dad was an angry guy,” the actor admitted.
The child actor and his cast mates circa 1970. | Source: Getty Images
“And expressed it in a way that was probably more acceptable in the 1970s. You couldn’t get away with raising your hands to your kids today the way you could back then. So we just lived in constant fear of the guy,” he added.
“The Partridge Family” star and his cast mates circa 1971. | Source: Getty Images
However, while filming, the young star had a safe place. “Almost without exception ‘The Partridge Family’ days were happy,” he said, fondly recalling his time on set.
For this actor, the cast and crew became a second family, offering him a sense of belonging. Unfortunately, that all came crumbling down when the show was canceled after four seasons in 1974, leaving him adrift at just 15 years old.
“The Partridge Family” child star circa 1972. | Source: Getty Images
One morning, he and his mother arrived at the studio as usual, only to be turned away by the security guard. “‘The Partridge Family’ doesn’t live here anymore,” the guard told them.
The former child star circa 1972. | Source: Getty Images
In an instant, the rising star was out of a job and unsure of what to do next. “It was terrible,” he said. “I had nowhere to go and nothing to do. Because I had no money saved, nobody was hiring me, and I had no skills.”
The young actor on the set of “The Partridge Family” in 1972. | Source: Getty Images
Despite still going to auditions, his acting opportunities dried up. He managed to land small guest roles, like a spot on “Fantasy Island,” but his reputation in Hollywood was already shifting.
The young actor and the cast of “The Partridge Family” circa 1973. | Source: Getty Images
Instead of seeing him as a promising young talent, people began to view him as someone whose best days were behind him. Soon, he slipped into a cycle of addiction and self-destruction. Alcohol and drugs became a regular part of his life, and he hit rock bottom.
The actor spotted on April 15, 1982, at Chong Lee Tae Kwon Do Studio in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
By the early 1980s, his situation was bleak. He had no steady work, no home, and no support system. “In 1977, you were one of the most — 50 famous faces in America,” an interviewer once said to him.
“Five years later — 1982 — you’re living in a dumpster. Don’t tell me your life didn’t fall apart.” The actor agreed, saying, “It fell apart almost certainly.”
The former child star circa 1982. | Source: Getty Images
At one point, he lived in his car, parked next to a dumpster outside Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. “Sometimes, I’d get up in the morning and walk around to the front of the theater, where I would pose for pictures and sign autographs […],” he recalled.
The actor photographed in 1992. | Source: Getty Images
“And they have no idea I was about to crawl back to my dumpster after they were done with me,” the former child star added. However, a turning point came when his former co-star David Cassidy stepped in to help.
Gretchen Bonaduce and the actor photographed in 1993. | Source: Getty Images
David, who had also experienced the highs and lows of fame, saw how badly his former cast mate was struggling and decided to intervene. “He said, ‘Alright man, we’re gonna straighten you out,’” the actor shared.
The famous actor at the National Association of Television Program Executives Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, in January 1995. | Source: Getty Images
David laid out strict rules, “We’re gonna get on that bus, and on that bus, there’s gonna be no drinking, no drugs, and no women.” At first, the struggling star resisted. “Why would I ever agree to that kind of situation?” he laughed, recalling his initial response.
The former child star photographed in New York circa 1998. | Source: Getty Images
But David wouldn’t take no for an answer, insisting, “That’s what’s gonna happen, man. We’re gonna get on the bus, we’re gonna go on tour, you’re gonna show up on time, and you’re gonna be ready to go. And — you’re gonna be funny every single time. And by the end of the tour, you’re gonna have a job.’”
The former “The Partridge Family” star circa 1999. | Source: Getty Images
David’s persistence paid off. During one of their tour stops, a radio station manager approached the former child star and offered him a job on the spot. That job marked the start of a new chapter in his life.
Radio proved to be a perfect fit. “I’ll tell you what I love about all of this — […] it’s what I’m best at, you know,” he said. “It’s so weird that I got famous doing something else. You think that’s what he does, and it’s not what I do. It’s what I did, and I was a cute kid, and I grew out of it.”
Over the years, the actor, who has been sober since 2011, continued his radio career and even dabbled in reality TV. He starred in his own series and even took part in boxing matches, including a memorable bout with former baseball player Jose Canseco.
The former child star at VH1’s Big in ’06 Radio Forum event on December 1, 2006, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
His personal life, however, remained turbulent. He married and divorced twice, with his second marriage lasting 16 years and resulting in two children, Isabella and Dante.
Then, in 2007, things took a pleasantly surprising turn when he met Amy, the woman who would become his third wife. They first crossed paths at a Starbucks, where she recognized him.
The actor and his wife Amy Bonaduce at FOX Reality Channel’s Really Awards on September 24, 2008, in Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
They married in 2010, and his life gained stability. “There’s a thing that Amy and I have — and it means the world to me when I get to say it’s good clean fun,” he said. “I just never had any [before], not since the days of the Partridge Family.”
Amy Bonaduce and the former child star at the 4th annual Great Chefs event on June 17, 2009, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. | Source: Getty Images
In 2022, he celebrated his 12th anniversary with Amy by sharing a heartfelt post on social media. “12 years ago today. Grateful every day,” he wrote alongside a photo from their wedding day.
Amy, he said, gave him the strength to turn his life around. “That’s what Amy did for me, and I realized this is worth it,” he explained. Sadly, life threw another curveball in 2022 when a mysterious illness left him unable to walk or balance.
His speech was slurred, and he struggled to complete simple tasks. After spending five days in the hospital and undergoing multiple tests, doctors ruled out a stroke but couldn’t provide a diagnosis.
He wondered if his condition was connected to the wear and tear he endured over the years — including taking guitars to the head and boxing matches. “I was hoping for a diagnosis but did not get one,” he said at the time.
“A bit of news to share — I’m taking a temporary medical leave from my radio show,” he posted in part in late April 2022 on Instagram. “I love my job and talking to you guys, and I’ll be back on the air very soon.”
Months later, he finally learned he had hydrocephalus — a condition caused by fluid buildup in the brain. In June 2023, the former actor underwent brain surgery to relieve the pressure.
The procedure was risky, but his wife kept fans updated, sharing, “It’s been a long day, but I just wanted to let you guys know that Danny’s surgery went according to plan, and he’s doing well.”
This former child star is none other than Danny Bonaduce, 65, known for playing Danny Partridge on “The Partridge Family.” His journey from a beloved child star to a man is one of resilience and redemption.
“You look great,” one person commented on one of his Instagram posts. Another shared the same sentiment, “Seriously, you look great. I’m so happy you’re healthy!”
Despite fame’s harsh lessons, battling addiction, homelessness, and health issues, he found stability through love, sobriety, and a second chance at a fulfilling career.