Bobby Sherman, an iconic figure and one of the most celebrated teen idols of the late 1960s and early 1970s, has passed away after a courageous battle with kidney cancer. His devoted wife, Brigitte Poublon, shared the heartbreaking news alongside actor John Stamos in a heartfelt Instagram post on Tuesday, June 24. Sherman was 81 years old at the time of his passing, leaving behind a legacy of music and love.
“It is with profound sadness that I announce the passing of my cherished husband, Bobby Sherman, who left this world holding my hand,” Poublon expressed in her emotional tribute. “Bobby’s unwavering love, courage, and grace illuminated our lives throughout our 29 beautiful years of marriage. I was his Cinderella, and he was my prince charming. Even during his final moments, he displayed immense strength for me. Bobby embodied bravery, gentleness, and radiated light in all he did.”
“He dedicated his life to serving others,” she noted with pride. “He made the remarkable choice to step away from the glitz of sold-out concerts and magazine covers to become an EMT and a trainer with the LAPD. He saved lives through his work. Bobby defined what true heroism is — it’s quiet, selfless, and deeply human.”
Sherman was not only a teen idol but also a pop culture phenomenon, emerging just before and alongside other famous stars like Donny Osmond and the late David Cassidy. Notably, Sherman was 26 years old when his hit single “Little Woman” climbed to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969. In contrast, Cassidy was only 20 when “I Think I Love You” topped the charts, and Osmond was a mere 13 when “One Bad Apple” made its mark. This age difference may have contributed to the brevity of Sherman’s time at the top of the charts, as his entire Hot 100 career lasted just two and a half years.
Sherman’s rise to fame began with his role as the youngest brother, Jeremy Bolt, on the beloved TV series Here Come the Brides, which aired on ABC from 1968 to 1970. One of his co-stars was David Soul, who would later achieve his own pop success, topping the charts in 1977 with the hit ballad “Don’t Give Up on Us.” Tragically, Soul passed away in January 2024 at the age of 80.
Here Comes the Brides featured a catchy theme song titled “Seattle,” but it was Perry Como who scored a top 40 hit with it in the spring of 1969, reaching No. 38. However, this was just the beginning of Sherman’s significant success, as he achieved remarkable sales with both singles and albums on Metromedia Records from 1969 to 1971. His debut hit “Little Woman” soared to No. 3 for two weeks in October 1969, coinciding with the peak of The Archies’ “Sugar, Sugar,” showcasing that bubblegum pop could indeed make a major impact on the music industry.
The term bubblegum is used here as a descriptor of the genre, celebrating its catchy and upbeat nature rather than as a critique. Most of Sherman’s hits, characterized by their vibrant and lively sound, were often categorized as bubblegum due to his strong teen appeal. However, they shared similarities with other popular songs from that era, including Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” Edison Lighthouse’s “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes),” Dawn’s “Candida,” and Ray Stevens’s “Everything Is Beautiful.” These melodic pop songs with memorable choruses have always resonated with audiences.
Following the success of “Little Woman,” Bobby Sherman continued his winning streak with three additional top 10 hits in the years 1969-70 including “La La La (If I Had You),” “Easy Come, Easy Go,” and “Julie, Do Ya Love Me.” All four of these singles were certified gold by the RIAA. Additionally, Sherman achieved three top 20 albums on the Billboard 200: Bobby Sherman, Here Comes Bobby, and With Love, Bobby, with all three albums also receiving gold certification.
Acclaimed producer Jackie Mills worked on the first five of Sherman’s ten Hot 100 hits, while Ward Sylvester took the reins for four of the subsequent five. Sherman took on dual roles as both producer and arranger for his final hit, “Waiting at the Bus Stop,” which he co-wrote with Ronald Boutwell. Unfortunately, this single did not perform as well as his earlier releases, only peaking at No. 54 in September 1971, breaking a remarkable streak of seven consecutive top 30 hits.
Sherman shifted gears with the release of “Jennifer,” a sweeping ballad penned by future Oscar winners Peter Allen and Carole Bayer Sager. However, this song also struggled in the charts, managing to reach only No. 60 in November 1971.
Bobby Sherman, born Robert Cabot Sherman Jr. on July 22, 1943, in Santa Monica, California, grew up in Van Nuys alongside his sister Darlene. Interestingly, the renowned songwriter Diane Warren also shares roots in Van Nuys.
Sherman embarked on his musical journey with recordings for Starcrest Records in 1962. He became a familiar face on the pop music TV show Shindig!, which aired on ABC from 1964 to 1966. In 1965, he made waves by bubbling under the Hot 100 with “It Hurts Me” on Decca Records, a track reminiscent of Roy Orbison’s style.
Sherman made a guest appearance on an episode of the 1965-66 series Honey West, portraying a kidnapped band member. He also graced the screen on The Monkees (1966-68), specifically in the episode titled “Monkees at the Movies,” where he played a surfer-singer named Frankie Catalina, a nod to Frankie Avalon.
In March 1971, he acted as songwriter Bobby Conway in an episode of the popular ABC show The Partridge Family. This episode served as a “back-door pilot” for a new series titled Getting Together. However, Sherman’s chart success dwindled during the summer of 1971. When fall programming premiered in September, Getting Together was not included in ABC’s successful Friday night lineup, which featured hits like The Brady Bunch, The Partridge Family, Room 222, The Odd Couple, and Love, American Style.
Instead, the network chose to place it in the less favorable Saturday night lineup, where it faced stiff competition from the iconic All in the Family, which was entering its second season on a new night. This classic sitcom quickly soared to No. 1 in the ratings. As a result, Getting Together struggled against the overwhelming popularity of All in the Family and was ultimately canceled after only 14 episodes.
In 1974, Sherman made a guest appearance on an episode of the acclaimed series Emergency!, which marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life as a paramedic. He volunteered with the Los Angeles Police Department, collaborating with paramedics and instructing CPR and first aid classes. For over a decade, he served as a medical training officer at the Los Angeles Police Academy. In 1999, he became a reserve deputy sheriff with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, continuing his commitment to teaching CPR and emergency training to new deputy hires. Sherman officially retired from the sheriff’s department in 2010.
Throughout the 1970s and into the mid-1980s, Sherman occasionally appeared on television, often in popular yet lighthearted shows such as The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, and Murder, She Wrote. In 1997, he showcased his talent by playing himself in an episode of the acclaimed sitcom Frasier.
In 1998, Sherman participated in The Teen Idol Tour alongside Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits fame and Davy Jones from The Monkees. Following Jones’ departure from the tour, Micky Dolenz, also of The Monkees, took his place in 1999.
Sherman’s first marriage was to Patti Carnel, with whom he had two sons. Later, he married Brigitte Poublon in July 2010 in Las Vegas. Together, they co-founded the Brigitte & Bobby Sherman Children’s (BBSC) Foundation, dedicated to providing educational opportunities and a music program for students in Ghana, as well as equipping them with resources to pursue higher education.
Poublon publicly shared Bobby’s diagnosis of stage 4 cancer on Facebook on March 25, stating: “As many of you are aware, Bobby has been retired for some time and is no longer able to participate in cameos, sign autographs, or make appearances. It is with a heavy heart that we inform you of Bobby’s recent diagnosis of stage 4 cancer. During this difficult time, we kindly request your understanding and respect for our privacy.”
Bobby Sherman is survived by his loving wife, his sons Tyler and Christopher, and his six cherished grandchildren.
