60s Teen Idol Bobby Sherman Passed Away At 81

Bobby Sherman, the clean-cut pop star with a dazzling smile and shaggy mop of hair, has died at age 81. A teen idol of the late ’60s and early ’70s, Sherman’s charm and bubblegum pop hits like “Little Woman” and “Julie, Do Ya Love Me” made him a staple on the walls and in the hearts of millions of fans.

His wife, Brigitte Poublon, shared the news of his passing on Tuesday. Actor and family friend John Stamos posted her heartfelt words on Instagram: “Bobby left this world holding my hand — just as he held up our life with love, courage, and unwavering grace.” Sherman had been quietly battling stage 4 cancer.

Sherman was everywhere at the height of his fame—on lunchboxes, cereal boxes, and the pages of Tiger Beat and Sixteen. He ranked No. 8 on TV Guide’s list of TV’s 25 Greatest Teen Idols, earning a spot alongside other iconic heartthrobs from Ricky Nelson to David Cassidy.

From Shindig! to Superstardom

Sherman’s career took off in the mid-1960s when he was cast in the ABC music series Shindig!. That led to more TV success, including starring roles in Here Come the Brides and Getting Together. His biggest musical hits—“Little Woman,” “Easy Come, Easy Go,” “Julie, Do Ya Love Me,” and “La La La (If I Had You)”—all landed in the Billboard Top 10. His album Here Comes Bobby stayed on the Billboard 200 chart for 48 weeks and peaked at No. 10.

The ABC show Here Come the Brides launched him to teen idol status in 1968. Playing logger Jeremy Bolt, Sherman won over fans with his sweet vocals on the show’s theme song “Seattle.” The show lasted two seasons, followed by Getting Together, a spinoff of The Partridge Family.

Sherman’s fame skyrocketed, and he became one of the few performers to star in three TV shows before turning 30. His gold-certified hit “Little Woman” cemented his place in pop history.

Beyond the Spotlight: Bobby’s Second Act

Despite his chart-topping success, the fast pace of stardom took a toll. “I’d film five days a week, get on a plane on a Friday night and go someplace for matinee and evening shows Saturday and Sunday, then get on a plane and go back to the studio to start filming again,” he told the Washington Post. “It was so hectic for three years that I didn’t know what home was.”

So Sherman stepped away from showbiz in the late ’70s. He found a second calling in emergency medicine and joined the LAPD as a certified EMT instructor. “If I see an accident, I feel compelled to stop and give aid even if I’m in my own car,” he told the St. Petersburg Times. “I carry equipment with me. And there’s not a better feeling than the one you get from helping somebody out. I would recommend it to everybody.”

Sherman was named LAPD’s Reserve Officer of the Year in 1999 and honored with the FBI’s Exceptional Service Award. He also received the Twice a Citizen Award from the Los Angeles County Reserve Foundation.

A Man of Heart and Humor

Sherman’s upbringing shaped his gentle nature. “I was brought up in a fairly strict family,” he told the Sunday News in 1998. “Law and order were important. Respect your fellow neighbor, remember other people’s feelings. I was the kind of boy who didn’t do things just to be mischievous.”

His journey to fame began by chance in 1964 when his girlfriend brought him to a Hollywood party. He hopped onstage to sing, and guests like Jane Fonda, Natalie Wood, and Sal Mineo were so impressed they asked who his agent was. Within days, Sherman had one—and soon, a spot on Shindig!.

Even during his quieter years, fans didn’t forget him. In the 1990s, he joined the Teen Idols Tour with Micky Dolenz and Davy Jones of the Monkees and Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits. The Chicago Sun-Times recalled one show:

“Dressed to kill in black leather pants and white shirt, he was showered with roses and teddy bears as he started things off with ‘Easy Come, Easy Go.’”

Legacy of Love and Service

Sherman continued to make an impact long after leaving the spotlight. He co-founded the Brigitte and Bobby Sherman Children’s Foundation in Ghana, providing health, education, and support to underprivileged children.

He also worked security as a reserve deputy for San Bernardino County and helped deliver five babies in emergency situations. In one memorable case, a mother asked what his name was after he helped with the birth. “When he told her Bobby, she named the baby Roberta,” Sherman joked. “I was glad he didn’t tell her my name was Sherman.”

Looking back, Sherman had no regrets. “A lot of times, people say, ‘Well, if you could go back and change things, what would you do?’” he told the Tulsa World in 1997. “And I don’t think I’d change a thing – except to maybe be a little bit more aware of it, because I probably could’ve relished the fun of it a little more. It was a lot of work. It was a lot of blood, sweat and tears. But it was the best of times.”

Sherman is survived by his wife Brigitte, and his two sons, Christopher and Tyler. “Even in his final days, he stayed strong for me,” Brigitte wrote. “That’s who Bobby was – brave, gentle, and full of light.”