Bobby Sherman Los Angeles, CA Obituary, Death — Bobby Sherman, the soft-spoken teen idol who rose to fame in the late 1960s as both a television heartthrob and pop music sensation, has died at the age of 81. His wife, Brigitte Poublon, confirmed his death on Tuesday via Instagram. In March, she had shared that Sherman had been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, though the specific type was not disclosed.
Sherman became a household name after starring as Jeremy Bolt, a shy lumberjack, in the hit ABC comedy western “Here Come the Brides” (1968–1970). The show propelled him to stardom, with fans sending him as many as 25,000 letters a week. He parlayed his television success into a music career that dominated the charts between 1969 and 1971.
His breakout hit, “Little Woman,” reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969 and was followed by Top 10 singles including “La La La (If I Had You),” “Easy Come, Easy Go,” and “Julie, Do Ya Love Me.” By the early 1970s, he had amassed seven gold singles, a platinum single, and ten gold albums, making him one of the most successful pop acts of the era.
Born Robert Cabot Sherman Jr. on July 22, 1943, in Santa Monica, California, he was raised in Van Nuys, where he developed an early passion for music. A self-taught musician, Sherman mastered more than a dozen instruments and began singing during his high school years at Birmingham High School. He later attended Pierce College in Woodland Hills before being discovered by actor Sal Mineo, who helped launch his entertainment career.
Sherman became a regular on the TV show “Shindig!” and made guest appearances on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” “The Johnny Cash Show,” and “The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.” He starred in his own sitcom, “Getting Together,” in 1971, although the series lasted only one season.
Despite his fame, Sherman remained grounded. “I didn’t really have time to have an ego,” he said in a later interview, reflecting on the intensity of touring and performing.
By the 1980s, Sherman began stepping away from show business. He pursued his long-time interest in healthcare, becoming an emergency medical technician and later serving as a medical training officer for the Los Angeles Police Department, where he taught CPR and first aid.
He returned to television for occasional appearances, including a memorable cameo as himself on “Frasier” in 1997, where he was affectionately mobbed by the character Roz, a lifelong fan.
Sherman married Patti Carnel in 1971; they divorced in 1977. In 2010, he married Brigitte Poublon, with whom he co-founded a charity benefiting children in Ghana.
He is survived by Brigitte, his two sons, Tyler and Christopher, and six grandchildren.
Though Bobby Sherman eventually stepped out of the spotlight, his fans never forgot him. His easy charm, pop anthems, and commitment to service defined a life lived with purpose, humility, and heart.
“In all honesty,” he once said, “I had the best of times, because the concerts were great, the fans were great. It was the proverbial love-in.”