Teen Idol Bobby Sherman Battling Stage 4 Cancer

Forner Teen Idol Bobby Sherman battling cancer

Bobby Sherman, a beloved teen idol from the late 1960s and early 1970s, is facing a significant health challenge at age 81 after being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.

The announcement came from his wife, Brigitte Poublon, in an emotional Facebook post on Tuesday, where she shared, “It is with a heavy heart that we share Bobby has recently been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. During this challenging time, we kindly ask for your understanding and respect for our privacy.” She did not specify the type of cancer, but the stage 4 designation indicates it has advanced and likely spread beyond its original site, a serious prognosis at any age, particularly for someone in their early 80s.

Sherman, born Robert Cabot Sherman Jr. on July 22, 1943, in Santa Monica, California, rose to fame as a singer and actor, captivating millions with hits like “Little Woman” (1969), which sold over a million copies, and “Julie, Do Ya Love Me” (1970). His role as Jeremy Bolt, the shy, stammering logger in the ABC series Here Come the Brides (1968–1970), cemented his status as a heartthrob, earning him more fan mail than any other ABC performer at the time. His boyish charm and shaggy hairstyle made him a fixture in teen magazines like Tiger Beat, and his live performances often left him with hearing loss from the screams of adoring fans.

After his peak in entertainment, Sherman stepped away from the spotlight in the 1970s, pivoting to a career in public service. Inspired by a 1974 guest role on Emergency!, he trained as a paramedic and worked over a decade with the Los Angeles Police Department as a medical training officer, later becoming a technical Reserve Police Officer and earning the Reserve Officer of the Year award in 1999. He also served as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff in San Bernardino County until retiring from that role in 2010. 

Alongside his wife Brigitte, whom he married in 2010, he co-founded the Brigitte & Bobby Sherman Children’s Foundation (BBSCF), focusing on education and support for children in Ghana.