Condolences: Bobby Sherman
• Bobby Sherman, singer and actor who became a quintessential shaggy-haired teen idol of the late ’60s and early ’70s, died Tuesday, June 24 at the age of 81. Sherman’s wife, Brigette Poublon Sherman, had announced three months ago that her husband of 29 years had been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.
Sherman rose to fame as a regular (alongside David Soul) on the ABC series Here Come the Brides in 1968-1970 and quickly parlayed that into an even bigger career as a singing star. Sherman was especially beloved by adolescent and pre-teen girls for his hit singles and television appearances, becoming the literal poster boy for the power of bubblegum music for a few years. With his suitable-for-wall-pasting photo spreads in magazines like Tiger Beat and 16, Sherman was rivaled only by Donny Osmond and David Cassidy in his power to mesmerize with a soothing voice and cuddly good looks.
At his peak, in 1969-70, Sherman had four singles reach the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 and achieve gold-selling status: “Little Woman” (No. 3), “La La La (If I Had You)” (No. 9), “Easy Come, Easy Go” (No. 9) and perhaps his best-known song, “Julie, Do Ya Love Me” (No. 5).
Sherman’s wife also pointed out how Bobby had reinvented himself in his post-idol decades, finding new roles far from the screen or concert stage: “He was a man of service. He traded sold-out concerts and magazine covers for the back of an ambulance, becoming an EMT and a trainer with the LAPD,” she said. “He saved lives. He showed us what real heroism looks like — quiet, selfless, and deeply human.”
In addition to Brigitte, Sherman is survived by sons Tyler and Christopher and six grandchildren. Variety has a more in-depth look at Sherman’s life and multiple careers.
