<P> David Joseph Madden ( December 17 , 1931 -- January 16 , 2014 ) was a Canadian - born American actor . His most famous role came on the 1970s sitcom The Partridge Family , in which he played the group 's manager , Reuben Kincaid , opposite Shirley Jones 's character . Madden later had a recurring role as diner customer Earl Hicks on the mid-1970s to mid-1980s sitcom , Alice . </P>
who played mr. kincaid on the partridge family
David Joseph Madden