Who is Linda Hoffman? Bobby Rydell, ‘Wild One’ singer, Passed away at 79
3 min read
Getty Images
Bobby Rydell, the teen idol actor, and singer who made his cinematic debut in Bye Bye Birdie starring Ann-Margaret and Dick Van Dyke, has died at the age of 79.
Rydell’s spokeswoman said to WPVI-TV that the Philadelphia native died on Tuesday at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia from pneumonia issues unrelated to COVID-19.
Rydell is best known for his rock and roll singles “Wild One,” “Volare,” “Sway,” “Forget Him,” and the Top 20 hit “Kissin’ Time,” which was his first single and catapulted him to fame. In the 1963 musical Bye Bye Birdie, Rydell plays Hugo Peabody, the high school sweetheart of Kim MacAfee (Ann-Margret), who wins a broadcast kiss from conscripted rock singer Conrad Birdie.
Who was Linda Hoffman?
Following the death of his first wife from breast cancer, Bobby Rydell married Linda Hoffman in 2009.
Linda Hoffman and Bobby Rydell started dating in 2008 and married a year later. The couple had been married for 12 years when Bobby died.
Linda Hoffman, a well-known cardiac sonographer, and her husband met in October 2007. According to rumors, Hoffman is the president of his fan club. Linda Ferrino Hoffman, the fan group’s president.
Linda Hoffman, a well-known cardiac sonographer, and her husband met in October 2007. According to rumors, Hoffman is the president of his fan club. Linda Ferrino Hoffman, the fan group’s president.
Rydell’s work in the music industry
Bobby Rydell went on to guest star in an episode of the World War II drama Combat opposite Vic Morrow. As well as the Desilu-produced unsold pilot “Swingin’ Together,” and the television movies Rockabye the Infantry and Mr. Rock ‘n’ Roll: The Alan Freed Story. In 2016, he starred alongside Robert De Niro and Danny DeVito in the film The Comedian.
In 2018, actor Von Lewis portrayed “Old Black Magic” singer Rydell in the Best Picture Oscar-winning film Green Book. It depicted Rydell’s debut as the youngest singer to perform at New York City’s legendary Copacabana nightclub.
Bobby Rydell was a regular on The Mike Douglas Show and made nine appearances on the renowned Dick Clark’s American Bandstand. He is regarded as one of the best five musicians of his generation, with over 25 million albums sold and 34 top 100 songs. Rydell has been a part of The Golden Boys, a trio formed with Philadelphia artists Frankie Avalon and Fabian, since 1985.
In 2016, Rydell told Main Line Today that he wanted to perform on stage “as long as the chops are still working”. He was promoting his candid memoirs Teen Idol on the Rocks: A Tale of Second Chances. On June 11, Rydell was scheduled to perform at The Golden Nugget in Atlantic City.
Rydell was able to live to the age of 79 because to the gift of organ donation. The official website of the musician urges followers to become organ donors and donate to The Gift of Life.
Ankita Khanrah
Ankita Khanrah is a second-year student of the Master of Communication and Journalism (Integrated) programme at the School of Mass Communication, KIIT Deemed University, Bhubaneswar.
