Dave Madden, who played agent Reuben Kinkaid on The Partridge Family, died on Thursday after a long illness. He was 82.

Madden's death was confirmed by his niece, who said he passed away at a hospice near his Jacksonville area home, according to The New York Daily News.

Dave Madden Dies

As Reuben Kinkaid on The Partridge Family, Madden managed the group of sibling singers, despite the fact he wasn’t much of a fan of children. His biggest comic scuffles were with boisterous bassist Danny Partridge, played by Danny Bonaduce.

“His relationship with Danny Bonaduce is what made the show work – this strange, mad little boy and the grown man who was even worse as a father figure,” Shirley Jones, who played the Partridge matriarch, told The New York Times. She also added that despite his character's rough edges, Madden actually “loved kids.”

Jones, in addition to starring as his TV mother, was the real life stepmother to David Cassidy – who played heartthrob Keith Partridge.

Prior to landing the role on The Partridge Family, Madden had made a name for himself in the comedy world as a regular performer on the Laugh-In series, which also featured Lily Tomlin and Goldie Hawn. His other TV gigs included parts on The Love Boat, Happy Days and Bewitched. After The Partridge Family went off the air, he landed a recurring role on Alice.

Years after retiring from acting in 1997, Madden released a tell-all titled Reuben on Wry: The Memoirs of Dave Madden.

Madden is survived by his wife, daughter and son.

– Chelsea Regan

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