Meet Florence Henderson, the OG TV mom, Carol Brady, from the iconic show “The Brady Bunch” (1969-1974). She was also the host of “The Florence Henderson Show” on RLTV, and TV Land and Entertainment Weekly ranked her as one of the 100 Greatest TV Icons of all time.
Before becoming a household name, Florence studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and performed in various touring productions before making her Broadway debut in “Wish You Were Here”. She even busted a move on “Dancing with the Stars” in 2010.
Florence was married twice, first to Ira Bernstein until their divorce in 1985, and then to John Kappas from 1987 until his passing in 2002. She starred alongside Ann B. Davis on “The Brady Bunch”.
Maureen McCormick, who played Marcia Brady, still looks up to Florence as a mentor and credits her with teaching her valuable life lessons, like finding joy and surrounding yourself with positive people. Florence was all about spreading love and laughter, and her heart health was a cause close to her heart, literally.
Despite rumors, Susan Olsen, who played Cindy Brady, shut down speculation of an affair between Florence and Barry Williams, who played Greg Brady, saying they had a mutual respect and love for each other, but nothing romantic.
Florence explained the secret to “The Brady Bunch”‘s success, saying it was the love and camaraderie among the cast members that made the show work, and a little bit of luck didn’t hurt either. She was known for her generosity and helped raise millions for various charitable organizations.
Florence Henderson, the ultimate TV mom, left a lasting legacy in the world of television, and her impact is still felt today.