Lives of 'Brady Bunch' Cast over 50 Years Later: There's a Doting Dad, a Single Mom & a Beauty Who's Aged Well

Sherwood Schwartz's "The Brady Bunch," which aired over fifty years ago, might have gained popularity in reruns, but the original cast continues to be remembered. Six people from the original family are alive – while some retired to enjoy a private life, others devoted their lives to family.

Two years after blessing fans with "Gilligan's Island," which aired from 1964 to 1967, Sherwood Schwartz created "The Brady Bunch," an American sitcom based on the reality of a complicated blended family. It aired for five seasons between 1969 to 1974.

The bunch came to be following Mike Brady's marriage to Carol Martin. The couple had three kids each (Mike fathered three boys, and Carol, three girls).

They managed to live in a four-bedroom house in the suburbs of Los Angeles. Initially, the plot settled on the challenges experienced in adjusting to the blended household before moving to more intense family issues like young love, sibling disputes, and parenting.

Although the Brady cast recorded commercial albums and performed live, the sitcom was unpopular among audiences during its run. It only gained momentum in reruns, creating a pop culture phenomenon.

In the years after its cancelation, the story lived on through different network sitcoms, including "The Brady Bunch Variety Hour," "The Brady Brides," "The Bradys," two feature films, "The Brady Bunch Movie" and "A Very Brady Sequel," and a TV movie, "The Brady Bunch in the White House."

What began with a few audiences and a host of critics became a parody of the close-knit American nuclear family, with other shows taking cues from the success of "The Brady Bunch."

While the sitcom's influence is never undermined, credit is also given to its original cast members, including Robert Reed, Florence Henderson, Christopher Knight, Eve Plumb, Mike Lookinland, Maureen McCormick, Barry Wiliams, and Ann B. Davis.

These actors worked jointly to bring the story to life, and while some may have passed away, they all continue to be in the hearts of many. So where are the living legends from "The Brady Bunch?"

Six of the Nine People from the Original Family Are Alive

Following the 2022 Primetime Emmy awards, Mike and Carol's kids reunited, reminding fans that they are alive and well. Maureen McCormick, who starred as Marcia, made her acting debut on the sitcom and established herself as an actress, featuring onscreen works like "Fantasy Island," "Passions," "The Love Boat," and "Teen Angel."

Reed was married for five years, and he welcomed a daughter during this time. But following his untimely death at age 59 from colon cancer, sources claimed he was a homosexual living with HIV.

McCormick also appeared on reality TV shows and competitions, including Hollywood Squares," "Celebrity Fit Club," and "Dancing With the Stars," where she looked stunningly beautiful, showing off her dancing skills, and winning the eighth position in season 23.

The "Fantasy Island" actress also married the love of her life, Michael Cummings, in 1985, and they welcomed a daughter together.

Although McCormick is still happily married to her husband and has a thriving career, the 66-year-old once suffered depression and nearly lost her career after she dabbled into drugs.

In her 2008 memoir, the actress explained that she "spiraled downward on a path of self-destruction that cost me my career and very nearly my life." Today, McCormick is doing great, and in recent times, she joined her former o-stars for Brady specials and reunions.

Eve Plump, the middle daughter, Jan, was present for some of the Brady Specials, but through the years, she declined the Brady reunions.

Though Plump was a guest star on "That '70s Show" and Army Wives, she retired from TV and poured herself into painting. The now 64-year-old lives in Laguna Beach with her husband.

The youngest sibling in the house was Sweet Cindy, played by Susan Olsen. She joined the family in 1969, and like her colleagues, Olsen was featured in Brady specials and reunions.

As an older actress, the former child star was stereotyped. She confessed that even after earning a drug addict or tough guy role, producers believed she was never the right person for the job.

Olsen still appears in films, but the 61-year-old, who has been married twice, and has a son, spends her days painting like her onscreen sister.

Barry Williams, who played the eldest son, Greg, always had a knack for acting before and after his appearance in "The Brady Bunch." His other features include "That Girl," "The Mod Squad," "Mission: Impossible," and "Post-Brady Bunch."

Later, Williams pressed the brakes on his acting career and chose to keep a low profile. Despite attending reunions, he is away from the spotlight and is focused on his family.

Williams is a doting and supportive dad to his two kids. He first became a dad in 2003, when he welcomed his son, Brandon, with his ex-wife, Eila Mary Matt. In 2012, he welcomed a daughter, Samantha, with his former girlfriend, Elizabeth Kennedy.

Though the father-of-two has found love again with his third lover, Tina Mahina, they are yet to have kids. However, the former actor has remained committed to his kids.

Christopher Knight, the second son of Mike Brady, found success as a TV star after a few years of featuring on "The Brady Show."

Between 2003 to 2005, he appeared on "The Surreal Life," "Celebrity Food Fight," and "My Fair Brady," a reality show with model ex-wife Adrianne Curry.

Curry, a former winner of America's Next Top Model show, was the actor's third wife. He has since moved on with Cara Kokenes, whom he married in 2016.

Mike Lookinland, the youngest Brady son, Bobby, never had much of an acting career apart from Brady specials. In his twenties, he became addicted to alcohol but fortunately became sober. Lookinland later married his young love with whom he shares two kids.

During an appearance on Oprah Winfrey's "Where Are They Now?" he confessed that he lived his childhood as an adult, which made him a victim of alcohol abuse. He added:

"From the age of 8, I learned that nothing in the entertainment industry is real. It's all fake…I think I was drawn to something more real that I could do myself."

Irrespective of the outcome of the Brady kids, the show impacted their lives positively. McCormick claimed that it has remained a distinct show, different from any sitcom in television history and that the love onscreen and off the set was genuine. In her words:

"The love was real… you had parents and children who respected each other. We didn't have a stupid dad. We had a wonderful dad, wonderful mom, great housekeeper."

The Deceased "The Brady Bunch" Cast

The Brady family's wonderful mother was Florence Henderson, who was a fans' favorite. Following her time on the sitcom, she amassed fame in different films, dramas, talk shows, and Brady Bunch spin-offs.

Henderson recorded success as a reality TV star. She was on "The Surreal Life," the eleventh season of "Dancing With the Stars," "Country Kitchen," and "Who's Cooking with Florence Henderson."

On November 24, 2016, Henderson passed away in the hospital, where she was receiving treatment for a failed heart. She was 82.

The actress lived a fulfilled life, achieving a successful career and marriage, even though her husband, John Kappas, died at 77, leaving her to become a single mom.

Henderson, who was married to the same man for fifteen years, talked about her experience caring for him before his death. She described caring for her sick husband as a "privilege and challenge."

Her onscreen husband, Robert Reed, started acting almost a decade before playing the family's patriarch. Following his time on "The Brady Bunch," the actor joined the "Roots" cast, where he earned an Emmy nomination before bagging a role in "Nurse."

Reed was married for five years, and he welcomed a daughter during this time. But following his untimely death at age 59 from colon cancer, sources claimed he was a homosexual living with HIV.

He successfully concealed his sexuality until after his death in 1992, and according to Henderson, telling the truth would have affected "The Brady Bunch." She had maintained:

"I don't think "The Brady Bunch" could have existed at that time with the public knowing that Robert Reed was gay. I just don't think they would have bought it."

Ann B. Davis, referred to as the great housekeeper by an adult McCormick, was the family's beloved maid. With her signature blue dress, brunette hair, and warm smile, Davis wowed fans of "The Brady Bunch."

In reality, she never had kids to look after, nor did she ever marry. Davis was content with her life and lived well, earning her Screen Actors Guild pension, declaring, "I am where the Lord wants me to be." In 2014, she was 88 years old.