Was The Partridge Family based on the Cowsills?

The youngest, Tracy Partridge, was played by Suzanne Crough. Little girls identified with the youngster, and although Suzanne did some other TV work and cartoon voiceovers throughout the 1970s, she was forever identified with her "Partridge Family" role.

Sadly, Suzanne Crough passed away at her Nevada home on April 27, 2015 at the age of 52. At the time of this writing, her cause of death has not been announced, but a family member confirmed it, and indicated it was sudden.

Unlike some actors who were typecast, Suzanne embraced the four years she spent on "The Partridge Family," and delighted in meeting fans, signing autographs, and taking part in reunion shows. Even though she did little acting outside of the series, she never lost her enjoyment of performing. In an interview she stated: �I went out for parts when there were some, and I traveled a little, had some fun, and then met my husband. I signed the contract to be in the "new" Partridge Family, but I was 6 months pregnant with my oldest daughter and moving out of L.A. The series fell through. I lived 1-1/2 hours outside of L.A. and played mom for about 3 years. I met with my agent and publicist, got pictures and then found out I was pregnant again. So I got a real job. I still say I would love to go back to acting, but after my kids are older. You can't just drop everything and go out on a call and keep a stable life.�

Suzanne was married and had two daughters. One of her daughters is engaged to be married this summer.

The Associated Press:
The youngest daughter on hit 1970s television show "The Partridge Family" has died.

Suzanne Crough Condray, who played Tracy Partridge, was found dead Monday night at home in Laughlin, near Las Vegas. She was 52.

Her husband, William Condray, said his wife was a patient and loving wife, mother and grandmother.

"She was madly in love with her granddaughter," Condray said of their 1-year-old granddaughter, Evelena.

Clark County Coroner John Fudenberg (FYOU'-den-berg) said Tuesday that an autopsy was scheduled Wednesday. Her cause of death is pending the results of forensic laboratory testing.

The child actress was featured on "The Partridge Family," which ran on ABC from September 1970 to March 1974.

The show revolved around a widowed mother and her five children who formed a band. The series starred Shirley Jones, with her real-life stepson David Cassidy as the resident heartthrob.

Crough as Tracy played the tambourine as a member of the TV family's band. She was often the warm backdrop that set up the zingers flung out by her on-screen brother Danny, played by Danny Bonaduce.

She also appeared in commercials as a child but largely stayed out of the limelight as an adult, according to IMDB.com.

The former actress did attend the occasional "Partridge Family" reunion, including interviews and other celebrations.

Crough lived for years in her native California with her husband and two daughters, including a first-born who she said looked just like her, according to a 1993 USA Today report. She had also owned the Book Center bookstore in Temecula, California.

Her tearful husband said Tuesday that he met his wife decades ago, starting as friends before dating. The couple had plans to mark their anniversary this summer.

"My wife and I were going to celebrate 30 years of marriage in July," he said.

Services have not been set.

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R.I.P. Partridge Family Star Suzanne Crough 1963-2015
Suzanne Crough, who played young Tracey Partridge in the hit 70s TV show The Partridge Family, has died at age 52 at her home in Laughlin, Nevada.

The Partridge Family ran from September 1970 to March 1974 and has been in syndication ever since.

The Partridge Family was based on the real life group The Cowsills. The Tracey character was based on Susan Cowsill, who was around the same age as the Tracey character when The Cowsills had there string of hits in the 60s.

Originally, the producers of the show set out to make a show featuring The Cowsills but the show was so long in development that by the time they were ready to produce they changed plans and went ahead with the fictitious Partridge Family instead.

The Partridge Family starred Broadway legend Shirley Jones as Shirley Partridge and teamed her with her step-son David Cassidy as her TV son Keith Partridge. Susan Dey and Danny Bonaduce also made their name as child stars in the show.

Crough was 7-years old when the first show aired and 11 when it finished. After the show was cancelled she did some voice-over work in cartoons, including reprising her Tracey Partridge role in the 1974-75 cartoon series �The Partridge Family 2200 A.D.

The Partridge Family released eight albums between 1970 and 1973. Fours of the albums reached the US Top 10. 1971�s �A Partridge Family Christmas Card� was a number one album in America.

The first Partridge Family single �I Think I Love You� reached no 1 in Australia in October 1970.

The Partridge Family Australian hits
I Think I Love You, (no 1, 1970)
Doesn�t Somebody Want To Be Wanted (no 7, 1971)
I�ll Meet You Halfway (no 7, 1971)
I Woke Up In Love This Morning (no 5, 1971)
It�s One Of Those Nights (no 21, 1972)
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do (no 3, 1972)
Looking Through The Eyes Of Love (no 22, 1973)

In the studio the Partridge Family records were performed by studio musicians. David Cassidy was the show�s only actor to feature on the records.

In 2010 Suzanne appeared on The Partridge Family Reunion on �Today� where she said had a husband and two daughters and worked as an office manager at Office Max.

The cause of death has so far not been released. Her husband William Condray they were to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary in July.

Who was the Partridge Family modeled after?

The Partridge Family was created for television by Bernard Slade, and the series' executive producer was Bob Claver. The show was inspired by and loosely based on the Cowsills, a family pop music group that was famous in the late 1960s.

What ever happened to the Cowsills?

The Cowsills were also spokespersons for the American Dairy Association and appeared in commercials and print ads for milk. The Cowsills disbanded in the early 1970s but most of them have never really left the music business and various members have regrouped through the years.

Were the Cowsills for real?

The Cowsills are an American singing group from Newport, Rhode Island, six siblings noted for performing professionally and singing harmonies at an early age, later with their mother. Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.

Why did the Cowsills stop singing?

The group splintered apart and fell out of fashion in the early '70s. Later came allegations of abuse at the hands of Bud Cowsill, the family patriarch, who died in 1992. Among members, there were problems with addiction and substance abuse.