The teen heartthrob of the 1960s-1970s, Bobby Sherman has died at the age of 81. His wife Brigitte Poublon broke the sad news on social media thus, “Bobby left this world gripping on my hand like he held our life up with love, courage, and grace. He was my princess charming and I was his Cinderella.”

Earlier this year, Bobby shared that he was fighting a cancerous condition at Stage 4. Up to his last days, he was a powerful and affectionate person as he had been able to lead his life in the past decades.

A Star accidently Born

Bobby Sherman was not born in showbiz. He was raised in San Fernando Valley, singing songs of Ricky Nelson and playing in a high school rock band. He was courteous, polite and belonged to a strict family, which believed in discipline.

In 1964, when he was at college and studying child psychology, he was taken to one of the Hollywood parties by his girlfriend. This was the night when being totally unaware of what was about to happen he got his act on stage to sing with the band. He was noticed by some famous actors such as Jane Fonda, Natalie Wood, and Sal Mineo who inquired about his agent after seeing his performance. He received a phone call a few days later and before long he was hired into the popular ABC rock n roll program Shindig!.

The event brought the stardom only in one instance.

Teen Idol Emerging

Bobby with his blue eyes, sweet face with a smile, and cool hairstyle in the shaggy haircut became popular among teenagers soon. He also featured regularly in the covers of Tiger Beat and Sixteen magazines. We could see his picture on posters, lunch and even cereal packages.

His music career launched into taking off form such hits as:

• “Little Woman” (his first gold record in 1969)
• “Julie, Do Ya Love Me”
• “Easy Come, Easy Go”
• “La La La (If I Had You)”

He registered four top 10 songs in Billboard Hot 100 and 6 albums hitting Billboard 200. His album, Here Comes Bobby, lasted 48 weeks in the chart and included a No. 10.

Acting Career and TV Fame

Sherman was even more famous in 1968 when he played the role of Jeremy bolt in Here Come the Brides, a TV drama-comedy that took place in the 1870s in Seattle. He sang the theme song of the show titled, Seattle as well.

Subsequently, he appeared in another television show, Getting Together (1971), which was a spin-off of The Partridge Family, and therein he played a young songwriter. It brought him to a position of being the first to star in three commercial TV shows at the age under 30.

At a time when the world was full of change with war protests, free love, and cultural shifts Bobby Sherman’s clean and positive image was a source of comfort for many young fans. As one newspaper said, “He was a reassuring face during a chaotic time.”

Leaving the Spotlight for a Bigger Purpose

At the end of the 1970s Bobby chose to retire into obscurity. Years of traveling, shooting and playing had caught up with him. He once said, I did not know what home was as it lasted three years and was so hectic.

Yet, instead of being dissolved he discovered another purpose in saving lives.

He was a certified emergency medical technician (EMT) in 1988. He has served with Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), as an instructor on CPR and first aid classes on new recruits. He even gave his salary on behalf of this work.

He also became a reserve deputy with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, helping with courthouse security and assisting during emergencies. He estimated that he helped deliver five babies, sometimes in the backseats of cars or even on sidewalks.

For his community service, Bobby received multiple honors:

• LAPD’s Reserve Officer of the Year (1999)
  
  
• FBI Exceptional Service Award
• “Twice a Citizen” Award from LA County
  
  In 2004, he was honored in the U.S. House of Representatives for his dedication to public service.

Giving Back to the World

Together with his wife Brigitte, Bobby also co-founded the Brigitte and Bobby Sherman Children’s Foundation at Ghana. The charity is involved in education, health and welfare services of the needy children. Even during his retirement period, Bobby still devoted his time and love to other people.

A Legacy to Remember

Bobby came back to the stage in the 1990s when he participated in the Teen Idols Tour with other musicians, Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, and Peter Noone. He was adored by people as much as decades ago. Adolescent and grown-up fans brought roses and teddy bears to his feet.

Bobby Sherman has a wife Brigitte, and two sons named Christopher and Tyler.

He could have been a pop star at the beginning of his career, but he turned out to be a helper, a healer and a role model. His biography is a lovely demonstration of fame used to the best possible effect, of how service and kindness can make an individual a really successful human being.