Thread: Florence Henderson, 'The Brady Bunch' actress, dies at 82

Florence Henderson, who became the ultimate TV mom when she took on the role of Carol Brady in '70s sitcom "The Brady Bunch," has died, her reps revealed. She was 82.

Henderson died Thursday night at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, after she was hospitalized the day before, said her publicist, David Brokaw. Henderson suffered heart failure, her manager Kayla Pressman said in a statement.

Family and friends had surrounded Henderson's hospital bedside, Pressman said.

On the surface, "The Brady Bunch" resembled just another innocuous TV sitcom about a family living in suburban America and getting into a different wacky situation each week.

But well after it ended its initial run, in 1974, the show resonated with audiences, and it returned to television in various forms again and again, including "The Brady Bunch Hour" in 1977, "The Brady Brides" in 1981 and "The Bradys" in 1990. It was also seen endlessly in reruns.

"It represents what people always wanted: a loving family. It's such a gentle, innocent, sweet show, and I guess it proved there's always an audience for that," Henderson said in 1999.

Premiering in 1969, it also was among the first shows to introduce to television the blended family. As its theme song reminded viewers each week, Henderson's Carol was a single mother raising three daughters when she met her TV husband, Robert Reed's Mike Brady, a single father who was raising three boys.

The eight of them became "The Brady Bunch," with a quirky housekeeper, played by Ann B. Davis, thrown into the mix.

The blonde, ever-smiling Henderson was a known Broadway star when the show began, having originated the title role in the musical "Fanny." But after "The Brady Bunch," she would always be known to fans as Carol Brady.

"We had to have security guards with us. Fans were hanging on our doors. We couldn't go out by ourselves. We were like the Beatles!" she said of the attention the show brought the cast...

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment...ies-at-82.html

For some reason, I never got into that show.

I think I heard she was a Christian, but not 100% sure - I hope so.

Originally Posted by victoryword

The lady that played Alice (forgot her name) became a serious born again Christian.

One thing I noticed for sure growing up African American as a Brady Bunch fan living in the hood - there was a big contrast between family life on that show and reality. Even the actor who played Mike Brady criticized the show for its lack of realism (solving major family problems in 30 minutes seemed to be one of many sources of frustration to him). I think when "Good Times" came out a couple of years later more African Americans I grew up with identified with this show much easier since it had SOME basis in realism (at least before they killed off James Evans).

Ann B. Davis was the maid. Yes, she was a Christian. She and I had a few letters back and forth. I was hoping to help her write a book. I liked her better on an earlier sitcom, "Love that Bob" starring Bob Cummings. She played Schultzy. Anyone remember?

Originally Posted by Bookman

Ann B. Davis was the maid - I liked her better on an earlier sitcom, "Love that Bob" starring Bob Cummings. She played Schultzy. Anyone remember?

Yep, I remember it, and I agree, she was good in that sitcom.

We never got The Brady Bunch... Sorry to hear she passed, tho.

She was on Dancing With The Stars a few years ago. She was about 76.

Originally Posted by Bookman

Ann B. Davis was the maid. Yes, she was a Christian. She and I had a few letters back and forth. I was hoping to help her write a book. I liked her better on an earlier sitcom, "Love that Bob" starring Bob Cummings. She played Schultzy. Anyone remember?

I remember watching "Love that Bob".

Originally Posted by A.J.

We never got The Brady Bunch... Sorry to hear she passed, tho.

She was on Dancing With The Stars a few years ago. She was about 76.

My mother said she was just in the audience at the beginning of this week or last week when they announced the winner.