Teen Idol Bobby Sherman Chose Caring for His Kids over Fame — Now His Calling Is to Save Lives

Bobby Sherman began his career as an actor, but after welcoming his two sons, he was inspired to step back from show business and eventually found a new calling. He dedicated many years to saving lives as an EMTD and even delivered fiber babies in the field. Here are the details of his story.

Bobby Sherman is best known to many as an American actor, singer, and songwriter. He rose to fame as a teen idol in 1968 after appearing in the comedy-adventure "Here Come the Brides."

The movie, set in boom down Seattle in the 1870s, saw the actor take on the role of young logger Jeremy Bolt who always fought with his brother, Joshua Bolt, played by David Soul. After Sherman starred in the film in the following years, things got even better for the actor.

He bagged significant roles in hit productions, including "Easy Come, Easy Go," "Little Woman," "La La La (If I had you)," and "Julie, Do Ya Love Me." Overall, it was an amazing time in Sherman's. However, the newly found fame quickly became the actor's nightmare, as he became disoriented.

The talented teen idol could work seven days a week in different states and cities. During a July 1998 interview with Washington Post, Sherman confessed:

"I'd film five days a week, get on a plane on a Friday night and go someplace for matinee and evening shows Saturday and Sunday, then get on a plane and go back to the studio to start filming again. It was so hectic for three years that I didn't know what home was."

But despite how hectic and difficult it was to cope with his concert schedule, Sherman still sent love to his fans and admitted to enjoying himself.

According to the teen idol, he had the best time because the concerts and the fans were terrific. Sherman explained that it was a "proverbial love-in," but it took so much from him.

Sherman Chose His Family over Fame

After enjoying a few years of fame and fortune as a teen idol, Sherman finally had time for love. He married Patti Carnel in 1971, and the pair welcomed two children, sons Christopher and Tyler.

Following the arrival of his sons, Sherman decided to withdraw from show business instead of retiring. After he withdrew, the doting dad of two focused on raising his children.

On one occasion, Sherman said he was treating a woman with a broken ankle when she looked closely at him and recognized who he was.

Sherman was very involved in their upbringing, and as a caring father, he did everything for his boys. The actor went as far as building a miniature version of Disneyland's Main Street in his backyard.

Sherman took a picture of the original and talked Disneyland into giving him a set of plans. After getting what he needed, the actor began building. After spending $15,000 and working for two and a half years, Sherman finally completed the project.

He joked that his Carnel, whom he divorced in 1979, was not so happy about the project because of the constant hammering noise, adding that at some point, his ex-wife jokingly told him, "If you don't finish it, I'll kill you."

Undoubtedly, Christopher and Tyler influenced their dad to make models, but the duo also did more than that. They motivated him to pursue a career in EMT, as he became an emergency medical technician. The teen idol noted that when his kids were little, he would nurse their wounds because his spouse was afraid of blood. In Sherman's words:

"As kids grow up, they fall, scrape their knees, get bloody noses. My ex-wife was squeamish regarding blood, especially our kids' blood, so it was kind of up to me."

Sherman gained first aid knowledge after taking a Red Cross class in 1983. He noted that he freaked out whenever he thought of Christopher and Tyler falling out of a tree or from their bikes.

But although he enrolled in a Red Cross class, Sherman never had any reason to save his sons' lives. However, the singer's life-saving skills were put to good use when he helped injured motorists at a crash scene.

Sherman Dedicated Many Years to Saving Lives Medically

Sherman's love for saving lives led him to acquire more knowledge. After becoming an EMT, he underwent further training and would later get skills in defibrillation and become an instructor for ten years.

Eventually, the Los Angeles Police Department got wind of Sherman's skills as he was good at what he did and invited him to the force's training center.

Then in 1992, Sherman was officially sworn into the LAPD as a police officer and the chief medical training officer. He taught officers first aid and CPR and derived joy while at it. In his words:

"It's a labor of love to be able to teach these officers how to patch people up. There's no better feeling in the world than knowing these people are out there, helping someone, saving someone's life."

Besides being a teacher to his colleagues, Sherman also did some heroic deeds in the field, including delivering five babies, and found it rewarding. During his course, there were some funny cases he came across when his patients recognized him.

On one occasion, Sherman said he was treating a woman with a broken ankle when she looked closely at him and recognized who he was.

The woman told the teen idol that her grandkids had his face plastered on their walls. For Sherman, seeing the woman who was ailing forget about her pain briefly was everything.

On another occasion, the singer recalled working on a hemorrhaging woman who had passed out. According to Sherman, the woman's husband could not stop staring at him, and then he said to his wife:

"Look, honey, it's Bobby Sherman!"

The former actor said the woman was stunned, and she said: "Oh great, I must look a mess!" However, Sherman made her feel better, noting that she looked okay.

Eventually, he signed an autograph for her before paramedics took her away. Many years down the road, Sherman is retired, but his impact on people's lives will never be forgotten.