'Partridge Family' Star Danny Bonaduce Says Johnny Cash Stood Up for Him After David Cassidy Said This

Former child actor Danny Bonaduce recently reminisced about late singer Johnny Cash filming a part of The Partridge Family's debut episode.

People magazine reported that Bonaduce appeared on the podcast, Pop Culture Retro!, wherein he shared some behind-the-scenes insight into filming the family sitcom, which ran for four seasons until 1974.

In the May 28 Pop Culture Retro! episode, Bonaduce, known for his role as the quippy Partridge Family character Danny Partridge, noted that Cash filmed a brief scene for the first episode. Bonaduce referenced that the scene showed his character and the rest of his musically inclined family playing instruments.

"Johnny Cash says, 'Ladies and gentlemen, the Partridge Family,' and the curtains open and we're frozen solid with fear, and finally we get to do it, and we're playing, 'I Think I Love You,' our first and only number one hit," said Bonaduce during the podcast episode, per People magazine.

According to Bonaduce,David Cassidy, who played Danny's older brother, Keith, took issue with how he was using his bass.

"And in the middle of the song or at the end of the song, David Cassidy turns to me, a 10-year-old Danny Bonaduce, looks at me and says, 'You don't strum a bass guitar, you pluck it. Do you think you can pluck it, kid?'" continued Bonaduce, now 66.

Bonaduce then suggested that Cash wasn't happy with how Cassidy spoke to his younger castmate.

"Johnny Cash walks up on stage, puts a finger to David's face like this, and he turns to me, I'm 10 years old, and he goes, 'You're going to be fine, kid. You'll get it.' And walked off. And that's my very nice Johnny Cash story that I like very much," said Bonaduce.

Danny Bonaduce Opened up About His Friendship With David Cassidy After His Death

In a 2017 interview with KING 5 Seattle, shortly after Cassidy's death, Bonaduce opened up about his friendship with his former Partridge Family castmate. He explained that they "were not really close" while filming the iconic '70s series. He clarified that he always viewed Cassidy as an older brother-figure and thought he "was the coolest thing that ever happened."

He also said that following Cassidy's death at the age of 67, his brother Sean Cassidy let him know that the late singer considered him family. Bonaduce shared that he was aware that Cassidy had a fondness for him.

In addition, he said that Cassidy helped him with his career after he faced legal trouble.

"David called me up one day, and he's always said this, he said, 'You're the funniest guy in the world, but now you're the joke. Don't be the joke,'" said Bonaduce.

Bonaduce then said that Cassidy offered him a chance to tour with him, under the condition that he was professional, punctual, and stayed sober. Bonaduce credited going on the tour as what helped him establish his career as a radio host.

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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 7:17 PM.