The Brady Bunch is a Sherwood Schwartz-created American sitcom that aired on ABC from September 26, 1969, to March 8, 1974. The show is about a large blended family with six children. The show aired for five seasons before being canceled in 1974 and entering syndication in September 1975. Though the show was never a ratings or critical success during its first run, it has subsequently become a popular syndicated staple, particularly among children and teen audiences.
It's one of the most famous TV sitcoms. Even now, it has had a significant cultural impact, with inspiration and parodies appearing in a wide range of modern media. But what is going on with the Brady Bunch today? Let's take a look and see what we can find out.
#1 Pat Conway, played by Rita Wilson
Rita Wilson is a Los Angeles, California-born American actress and producer. Wilson, unlike some of the other Brady Bunch actresses, is better known for her appearances in popular films such as Sleepless in Seattle in 1993, Jingle All the Way in 1996, and Runaway Bride in 1999. Wilson does, however, credit some of her success to her appearance on The Brady Bunch in 1972.
Wilson rose to
celebrity and glory, even marrying Tom Hanks in 1988. She has appeared in numerous television shows and films over the last 47 years, including My Big Fat Greek Wedding, The Good Wife, The Glass House, and The Wild Thornberrys.
#2 Sam Franklin, played by Allan Melvin
Allan Melvin played Sam Franklin, Alice Nelson's lover. Melvin's fame extended beyond The Brady Bunch, as he appeared in Flash Gordon and The Phil Rivers Shows. In 1969, he was cast as Sam Franklin, the owner of the neighborhood butcher shop.
Melvin is one of the few Brady Bunch stars who isn't remembered for his sitcom appearances. He also appeared on Broadway. Following his run on The Brady Bunch, he shifted his concentration to cartoon voiceovers. Melvin died of cancer in 2008, at the age of 84.
#3 Cousin Oliver, played by Robbie Rist
Robbie Rist portrayed Cousin Oliver. He is best remembered for his performance in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, but this was one of his first performances. As the Brady children grew older, a younger character, Cousin Oliver, was introduced to boost ratings. Rist joined the cast when he was nine years old.
The general population found Oliver to be as endearing as he was bothersome. Rist found his place after the show ended, making music and doing voiceover work. He and director Anthony C. Ferrante composed music for the Sharknado franchise and voiced various characters in anime and video game dubs.
#4 Alice Nelson, played by Ann B. Davis
Ann B. Davis played Alice Nelson, the Brady Family's housekeeper. She had also appeared in other renowned television shows such as The Ford Show, which starred Tennessee Ernie Ford. She said that acting was not her first choice for a career, but she changed her mind after seeing her brother's theater performances. She was originally a pre-med student.
Davis' character was so popular that she was one of only two actors to appear in every episode of The Brady Bunch. She returned to her iconic role in six separate spin-off shows before retiring from performing in 1974. She became a Christian after joining an Episcopalian religious community in Denver, Colorado. She died in 2014, at the age of 88.
#5 Jan Brady, played by Eve Plumb
Eve Plumb portrayed Jan Brady, the Brady Family's middle daughter. She had started acting at a young age and was already used to it. She began her career in advertisements before landing roles on shows such as The Virginian and It Takes a Thief.
Plumb is now a singer and painter in addition to being an actress. She was offered contract extensions to play Jan in reunion attempts, but she finally declined. She went on to perform more interesting characters, such as an adolescent prostitute in Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway. While she still appears on TV and in films on occasion, she is now mostly a painter. She paints from her studio in Laguna Beach, California, and has received critical acclaim. Her works range in price from $65 to $2,450.
#6 Marcia Brady, played by Maureen McCormick
Maureen McCormick played Marcia Brady, the oldest of the Brady daughters. She was cast when she was 13 years old. While McCormick is best recognized for this character, she portrays her as a brilliant, caring, and decent young woman. During the span of the show, she soon became America's sweetheart.
However, once the program ended, McCormick struggled to keep her good-girl persona. It didn't help that she was having difficulty obtaining job. She married Michael Cummings and released a collection of country songs, but she still struggled to find herself. She battled body dysphoria and drug addiction for years before making a comeback on television. She appeared on VH1's Celebrity Fit Club and the 23rd season of Dancing With The Stars. She did, in fact, win the previous tournament.
#7 Cindy Brady, played by Susan Olsen
Susan Olsen played Cindy Brady, the youngest of the Brady daughters. Olsen, like Knight, made her cinematic debut in Gunsmoke. She was just eight years old when she was cast as Cindy, but she rapidly became known for her kind demeanor and curly pigtails.
Susan Olsen worked as a graphic designer for a clothing business in Malibu, California after her stint as Cindy ended. She later founded her own company, Man in Space, and designed glow-in-the-dark Converse sneakers. She then became a radio personality on LA Talk Radio and a spokesperson for Migraine Awareness Month. But things haven't been perfect. After a bigoted diatribe against gay actor Leon Acord-Whiting, she was sacked from her show Two Chicks Talkin' Politics.
#8 Peter Brady, played by Christopher Knight
Christopher Knight portrayed Peter Brady, the middle Brady son. Knight had already been in television advertisements. He landed his first major acting role on Gunsmoke in 1955, but he didn't become famous until he took on the role of Peter Brady. His good looks and charm helped him become a popular adolescent celebrity.
Christopher Knight ceased acting after The Brady Bunch ended. He simply decided to shift careers in 1988. He began his career as a sales representative for the computer business Martec. He eventually became the vice president of several computer companies before launching his own, Eskape Labs. However, he returned to television in 2003 as a reality star in My Fair Brady and The Surreal Life.
#9 Greg Brady, played by Barry Williams
Barry Williams portrayed Greg Brady, the oldest of the Brady sons. Williams' interest in acting began at a young age. In order to realize his dream of becoming a celebrity, he sought assistance from his famous neighbor, Peter Graves. He even changed his surname from Blenkhorn to Williams when he was just 11 years old. In 1965, he landed his first acting role thanks to an acting class and a coach. Four years later, he was known as Greg Brady.
After The Brady Bunch ended, he released a few songs and toured with some of his co-stars. He did, however, transition from television to musical theater. He appeared in musicals such as West Side Story, Grease, The Music Man, and West Side Story. He did, however, continue to appear on television. He appeared in a few episodes of General Hospital, Three's Company, and That's '70s Show. He's also been a DJ on Sirius Satellite Radio, where he plays 70s music.
#10 Bobby Brady, played by Mike Lookinland
Mike Lookinland portrayed Bobby Brady, the youngest of the Brady brothers. He began working on The Brady Bunch when he was nine years old. However, the role catapulted him to superstardom. Lookinland was number 42 on VH1's list of the "100 Greatest Kid Stars."
Bobby was portrayed by Lookinland in six separate spin-off series. He soon found himself behind the camera rather than in front of it. He worked as a production assistant on several films and attributes his interest in cameras to Robert Reed. Reed had actually given each member of the ensemble a Super 8 camera. He currently has his own decorative concrete firm in Salt Lake City.
#11 Carol Brady, played by Florence Henderson
Carol Brady, the matriarch of the Brady family, was played by Florence Henderson. Henderson had roles in Broadway musicals such as Wish You Were Here and Fanny before joining The Brady Bunch. Her mother had taught her to sing and dance since she was two years old, and she was always admired for it.
Henderson was able to build a name for herself after The Brady Bunch disbanded. She was the first woman to co-host The Tonight Show, and she even had her own show, The Florence Henderson Show, in 2008. She also appeared in The King of Queens, 30 Rock, and The Cleveland Show. She was placed 54th on
Entertainment Weekly's list of the 100 greatest TV icons. Henderson passed away on Thanksgiving Day, 2016, at the age of 82.
#12 Mike Brady, played by Robert Reed
Robert Reed portrayed Mike Brady, the patriarch of the Brady Family. He attended Northwestern University and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London to study acting. He returned to the United States after graduation and joined the off-Broadway theater company "The Summer Shakespearewrights." In 1961, he landed his first major on-screen role as Kenneth Preston in The Defenders.
Reed was cast in The Brady Bunch seven years after The Defenders. He returned to the part in a few films and specials throughout the years before becoming a drama teacher at the University of California. Unfortunately, Reed died in 1992 at the age of 59.