The Untold Story Of David Cassidy And Sherry Williams: 7 Shocking Details About Their 15-Year Secret Relationship

The relationship between 1970s teen idol David Cassidy and former model/actress Sherry Williams is one of the most complex and least understood chapters of the star's tumultuous personal life. While the world focused on his three high-profile marriages, Williams, the mother of his first child, Katie Cassidy, remained largely in the shadows, navigating a decades-long, on-again, off-again connection that was often more enduring than his formal vows. As of late 2024, the legacy of their bond, particularly through their daughter and recent interviews by Williams, continues to shed new light on the private man behind the celebrity.

The narrative of David Cassidy’s life is often framed by his meteoric rise on *The Partridge Family* and his subsequent struggles with fame and addiction. However, the story of his bond with Sherry Williams-Benedon—a relationship that spanned nearly 15 years, produced a daughter, and involved a public child support battle—offers a more intimate and complicated view of the man. This deep dive uncovers the essential, often shocking, details of their shared history.

David Cassidy and Sherry Williams-Benedon: A Profile of Two Complex Lives

The story of David Cassidy and Sherry Williams is inextricably linked to the entertainment industry, beginning with a chance meeting on the set of one of the most iconic television shows of the 1970s.

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David Cassidy (David Bruce Cassidy)

• Born: April 12, 1950, in New York City, New York.
• Died: November 21, 2017, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Age 67).
• Occupation: Actor, singer, songwriter, musician.
• Best Known For: Playing Keith Partridge in the musical sitcom *The Partridge Family* (1970–1974), becoming the biggest teen idol of his era.
• Wives: Kay Lenz (m. 1977; div. 1983), Meryl Tanz (m. 1984; div. 1987), Sue Shifrin-Cassidy (m. 1991; div. 2016).
• Children: Katie Cassidy (daughter, with Sherry Williams) and Beau Cassidy (son, with Sue Shifrin).
• Key Entities: Keith Partridge, Kay Lenz, Meryl Tanz, Sue Shifrin, Beau Cassidy, Broadway, Las Vegas Shows.

Sherry Williams-Benedon (Sherry Williams)

• Occupation: Former high fashion model, actress.
• Connection to David Cassidy: Long-term, on-again, off-again partner; mother of his first child, Katie Cassidy.
• How They Met: She made a guest appearance on the set of *The Partridge Family* in the early 1970s.
• Marital Status: Later married Richard Benedon, who became the stepfather to Katie Cassidy. Her full name is often cited as Sherry Williams-Benedon.
• Current Activities: Has recently provided extensive interviews about her life with David Cassidy for the "My Life with David Cassidy" podcast, offering a fresh perspective on the late star.
• Key Entities: Richard Benedon, Katie Cassidy, High Fashion Model, "My Life with David Cassidy" podcast.

7 Surprising Facts About Their Decades-Long Connection

The relationship between David Cassidy and Sherry Williams was unconventional, marked by long stretches of separation, public conflict, and a profound, lasting impact on their daughter, Katie. The following details reveal the depth and drama of their history.

1. Their Relationship Was Longer Than All His Marriages Combined

While David Cassidy married three different women—Kay Lenz, Meryl Tanz, and Sue Shifrin—his non-marital relationship with Sherry Williams was arguably his longest-lasting romantic connection. Sources indicate their on-again, off-again bond began around the time of *The Partridge Family* and continued for approximately 15 years, spanning the 1970s and 1980s, culminating in the birth of their daughter, Katie, in 1986.

2. Sherry Williams Never Wanted to Marry the Teen Idol

Unlike the women Cassidy ultimately married, Sherry Williams reportedly never wanted to marry him. This detail is crucial, suggesting that their connection, though volatile at times, was rooted in a dynamic that existed outside the pressures of formal commitment. This independence may be why their relationship was able to endure the pressures of his fame and his multiple subsequent marriages.

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3. Katie Cassidy Was Born During an "Extramarital Affair"

David Cassidy was married to his second wife, Meryl Tanz, from 1984 to 1987. Katie Cassidy was born in November 1986. This places Katie's birth squarely within the period of Cassidy's marriage to Tanz, meaning the renewed relationship with Sherry Williams at that time was technically an extramarital affair. This complicated timeline is a testament to the enduring, albeit messy, nature of his connection with Williams.

4. The Public Child Support Battle in the Late 1980s

Following Katie’s birth, the relationship took a public and contentious turn. In the late 1980s, Sherry Williams filed a paternity suit seeking child support payments from the former teen idol. Williams, a model-actress at the time, was reportedly seeking $5,000 a month in child support and medical expenses for their daughter, Katherine Evelyn. This legal battle highlighted the financial and emotional distance between Cassidy and his first daughter in her early years.

The Legacy of Katie Cassidy and the Estrangement

The most enduring and complex part of the David Cassidy and Sherry Williams story is their daughter, Katie Cassidy, who has forged a successful acting career, notably as Laurel Lance/Black Canary on the TV series *Arrow*. Her upbringing and subsequent relationship with her father became a major topic following his death.

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5. Katie Was Raised by Her Mother and Stepfather

Due to the short-lived nature of the relationship around her birth and the subsequent child support case, Katie Cassidy was primarily raised by her mother, Sherry Williams, and her stepfather, Richard Benedon. She took her stepfather's surname, Katherine Evelyn Benedon, before adopting her biological father’s name for her acting career. This stable upbringing, provided by Williams and Benedon, contrasted sharply with her father's turbulent life.

6. David Cassidy Purposely Left Katie Out of His Will

When David Cassidy died in 2017, it was revealed that he had intentionally and explicitly left Katie Cassidy out of his will. The will stipulated that his entire estate, valued at approximately $150,000, was to go to his son, Beau Cassidy, from his third marriage to Sue Shifrin. This shocking decision underscored the deep-seated estrangement and "turbulent relationship" that existed between the father and daughter in his final years.

7. Sherry Williams is Offering Fresh, Updated Insights

In a significant development that brings new relevance to their story, Sherry Williams-Benedon has recently stepped into the public eye to discuss her life with David Cassidy. She was a key interviewee on the 2022 "My Life with David Cassidy" podcast, providing an unedited, hour-long perspective on the man she knew for decades. Furthermore, in 2024, she was mentioned as planning to attend a major honor event for David Cassidy, indicating her continued, albeit complicated, connection to his legacy and family. This participation offers fresh, unique content that goes beyond the common knowledge of his public life.