Maureen McCormick Had 3 Abortions by 20 & Was 'Dead Spiritually' until She Met Her Child's Father at Church

Actress Maureen McCormick had the perfect online persona, playing the perky and happy girl on "The Brady Bunch," but her real life was taking a dip every passing day. She eventually met a man who would turn her life around.

Maureen McCormick began her acting career as Marcia Brady — a pretty girl from a flawless family — in "The Brady Bunch." She portrayed a well-balanced, happy girl character in the role she played from 1969 to 1972.

But when the cameras stopped rolling, she went back to a life that was anything but flawless. She constantly worried that her mother, born with syphilis, had passed it down to her.

She cried about ending up like her grandmother, who had died from syphilis after being institutionalized, hiding her tears in her character's crying scenes.

While her mother had been treated for the condition to prevent passing it down to her kids, McCormick could not help but worry about it, and she developed anxiety and depression as a teen.

THINGS GOT WORSE WHEN "THE BRADY BUNCH" ENDED

Things had been terrible on the show, but they only got worse when it ended. In 1975, a year after they stopped filming, McCormick'slife started spiraling out of control.

First, she got involved with a boyfriend who introduced her to drugs. She became addicted and could not bring herself off the hook for the next five years. Her drug-dealing friends loved her company because she was Marcia Brady, which helped their image and business.

However, her Marcia Brady persona also worked to her disadvantage because she couldn't land other roles. It made it difficult to be herself as everyone still associated her with the part.

The blame wasn't, however, entirely on other people. She also contributed to missing out on substantial acting roles because she was always high on drugs and looked sleep-deprived.

In addition to her brief romance with her on-screen brother Barry Williams, her out-of-control behavior also led to unwanted pregnancies. The "Big Baby" actress opened up about terminating three pregnancies by the time she was 20:

"I was 18, 19, and 20 when I had each abortion. It shows how careless I was."

HOW MAUREEN MET HER LOVE, AND HER LIFE CHANGED

McCormick's first attempt at getting clean was in 1981 when filming the series "The Brady Brides." She was a no-show, and instead of being on set screening her potential screen husband, she was locked up in her apartment doing drugs.

Her agent Sandy Bressler had to break down her apartment door to get in, then tore off her clothes and threw her in the shower, saying she needed to get help.

He then loaded her in his car and took her to the late Dr. Eugene Landy, who proved to be no good as he would prescribe her so many drugs that often left her feeling confused.

Eventually, Jerry Houser, who played her husband on "The Brady Brides," took her to church, which was what she needed. She had been "dead spiritually," and the church became her saving grace.

While there, she reconnected with God and began praying for redemption. However, something else fantastic also happened. She met her husband, Michael Cummings, and it was love at first sight. She shared:

"It was the start of me getting clean."

Cummings became her most significant support and pushed her toward becoming sober. Sadly, before they married, McCormick had a relapse, and Cummings came to her saying that he would walk out if she ever did drugs again. She recalled:

"It woke me up. It was like the coldest shower you could ever take. There's just no way I'm gonna lose somebody that I love."

The actress had a good feeling about Cummings and knew she could trust him. However, she still battled her demons and even threatened to jump off the balcony one day, but her husband grabbed her and saved her life.

They married in 1985 and welcomed their daughter Natalie Michelle. But even after receiving her daughter, she still wasn't alright. Despite all the support she received from her husband, and through the church, she felt depressed most of the time and would cry every day.

It wasn't until a doctor friend recommended treatment that she began enjoying and living life to the fullest. Her husband stood by her through her dark times, supporting her relentlessly. Despite his wife's misgivings, he has nothing but good words to say about her:

"My wife really is an amazingly courageous woman and has taken on some very big monsters in her life and overcome them."

MAUREEN'S MARRIAGE AND MOTHERHOOD

Following her treatment, McCormick's life began to take a turn in the right direction, and she has since enjoyed life to the fullest. She disclosed that she started feeling like an average person for the first time after starting her treatment.

Despite the initial challenges at the beginning of their marriage, her union has stood the test of time. This year, they celebrated their 37th anniversary, and they continue to remain strong.

She says while marriage is hard, it is also gratifying. For 37 years, she has enjoyed her husband's love, kindness, and trust, and disclosed that she respects him with all her heart:

"You just need to get through those times when they can make you so mad, or when you want to walk out that door but don't. Today I trust that man with my life!"

The "Accidentally Engaged" actress shared that marriage was her most outstanding achievement, and so is being a mother to their daughter. She said of Natalie:

"We have a beautiful daughter who has a heart of gold. And I think my husband and I have become better human beings by being together."

McCormick continued to paise her husband saying he'd never let her down, and even though they go through challenges in their marriage like anyone else, they chose to keep working towards a common goal. "I don't know if anyone else could have taken me!" she jokes. "Our love has really grown much deeper."