Florence Henderson | |
|---|---|
 Henderson in 2012 | |
| Born | (1934-02-14)February 14, 1934 Dale, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | November 24, 2016(2016-11-24) (aged 82) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Burial place | Westwood Village Memorial Park |
| Alma mater | American Academy of Dramatic Arts |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1952–2016 |
| Known for | Carol Brady inThe Brady Bunch Fanny A Very Brady Christmas The Bradys |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 4 |
| Awards | TV Land Pop Culture Award |
Florence Agnes Henderson (February 14, 1934 – November 24, 2016) was an American singer and actress. With a career spanning six decades, she is best known for her starring role asCarol Brady on theABC sitcomThe Brady Bunch. Henderson also appeared in film, as well as on stage, and hosted several long-running cooking andvariety shows over the years. She appeared as a guest on many scripted and unscripted (talk and reality show) television programs and as a panelist on numerous game shows. Henderson was also a contestant onDancing with the Stars in 2010.
Henderson hosted her own talk show,The Florence Henderson Show, and cooking show,Who's Cooking with Florence Henderson, onRetirement Living TV during the years leading up to her death at age 82 onThanksgiving 2016 fromheart failure.[1]
Henderson, the youngest of 10 children,[2] was born on February 14, 1934,[3] inDale, Indiana, a small town in the southwestern part of the state.[4] She was a daughter of Elizabeth (née Elder), a homemaker, and Joseph Henderson, a tobaccosharecropper.[5] During theGreat Depression, she was taught to sing at the age of two by her mother, who had a repertoire of 50 songs. By the time she was eight, her family called her "Florency," and by age 12, she was singing at local grocery stores.[6]
Henderson graduated fromSt. Francis Academy inOwensboro, Kentucky, in 1951[7] and shortly thereafter went to New York City, enrolling in theAmerican Academy of Dramatic Arts.[8] She was an Alumna Initiate of the Alpha Chi chapter ofDelta Zeta sorority.[9]
Henderson started her career on the stage performing in musicals, such as the touring production ofOklahoma! andSouth Pacific atLincoln Center.[10]
She debuted on Broadway in the musicalWish You Were Here in 1952,[11] and later starred on Broadway in the long-running 1954 musical,Fanny (888 performances) in which she originated the title role.[7] Henderson appeared withGordon MacRae in theOklahoma! segment of the 90-minute television specialGeneral Foods 25th Anniversary Show: A Salute to Rodgers and Hammerstein (1954).[12] She later appeared in "The Abbe and the Nymph", an episode of the 1950s TV seriesI Spy[13][14] (not to be confused with the1960s series of the same name). She also portrayed Meg March in a CBS-TV musical adaptation ofLittle Women, which aired October 16, 1958.[15]
Henderson appeared in two episodes ofThe United States Steel Hour. She portrayed Mary Jane in an episodic adaptation ofAdventures of Huckleberry Finn, which aired on November 20, 1957.[16][17] She also appeared in "A Family Alliance",[14] an episodic adaptation of a short story fromA Harvest of Stories (1956)[18] byDorothy Canfield Fisher, which aired on June 4, 1958.[19][20]
Henderson, along withBill Hayes, appeared in the Oldsmobile commercials from 1958 through 1961 onThe Patti Page Show for which Oldsmobile was the sponsor. In 1959, she sang "Don't Let a Be-Back Get Away",[21] inGood News About Olds, an industrial musical for Oldsmobile.[22] Bill Hayes and she also gave a musical performance on the January 13, 1960, broadcast ofTonight Starring Jack Paar.[23] Henderson also appeared on Broadway inThe Girl Who Came to Supper (1963).[24]
In 1962, she won theSarah Siddons Award for her work in Chicago theater,[25] and the same year became the first woman to guest hostThe Tonight Show in the period after Jack Paar left as the show's host, and beforeJohnny Carson began his 30 years as the show's longest serving host in October 1962.[26] She also joined the ranks of what was then calledThe Today Girl and often substituted forDave Garroway onNBC's long-running morning show, doing weather and light news, a position also once held byBarbara Walters.[27]
She gave later musical performances on Paar's subsequent talk show in 1963, including the January 25[28] and February 22[29] broadcasts. She performed in the May 19, 1963, broadcast ofThe Voice of Firestone, alongside baritoneMario Sereni.[30] She also released her albums underRCA Victor as part of her music career.[28][29]
Her most widely recognized role was as Carol Brady inThe Brady Bunch, which aired onABC from 1969 until 1974. Henderson's best friend,Shirley Jones, had turned down the role, but the following year, she accepted the similar role of a mother with five children, named Shirley Partridge, inThe Partridge Family, which aired from 1970 to 1974.[31]
Primarily owing to her role onThe Brady Bunch, Henderson was ranked byTV Land andEntertainment Weekly as number 54 on their list of the 100 Greatest TV Icons.[32]
An avid game-show fan, Henderson was a frequent panelist on the original version ofHollywood Squares[33] and made occasional appearances onThe $25,000 Pyramid. Her other game show appearances includePassword, the originalMatch Game,What's My Line (as a panelist and a mystery guest),To Tell the Truth,I've Got a Secret,Snap Judgment,Personality,The Magnificent Marble Machine, andWho Wants to Be a Millionaire?. She also appeared alongside her Brady Bunch co-starRobert Reed on the John Davidson-hosted version ofHollywood Squares and teamed with Reed,Maureen McCormick,Christopher Knight andSusan Olsen on one of the originalFamily Feud's All-Star weeks, where they finished in second place.
Henderson was the spokeswoman forWesson cooking oil from 1974 to 1996.[2][34] During that time, she hosted a cooking show onTNN,Country Kitchen,[34] and did ads forPrange's, aWisconsin department store chain. She appeared onThe Love Boat S1 E11 "Divorce Me, Please" vignette as Audrey Baynes, who finds new appreciation for her husband, played by Shecky Greene (1977). She played Diane DeMarzo inThe Love Boat S2 E11 "Captain's Cup" story (1978). Other guest appearances on the series are listed in the appended television chronology. Henderson co-hosted the short-lived NBC morning talk showLater Today (1999–2000), withJodi Applegate andAsha Blake.[35]
In the 2000s, she was the spokeswoman forPolident.[2] In 2003, Henderson seemed to poke fun at her wholesome image by appearing in aPepsi Twist television commercial withOzzy Osbourne.[36]
Henderson also appeared with her TV children, as she did with Christopher Knight on the reality television seriesMy Fair Brady.[37] She was also in the sixth season ofVH1'sThe Surreal Life.[38]
Beginning in the mid-1990s, Henderson would perform the song "God Bless America" at theIndianapolis 500, accompanied by thePurdue All-American Marching Band,[39] at the request of the Hulman-George family, the owners of theIndianapolis Motor Speedway and friends of Henderson's.[40]
She appeared in the"Weird Al" Yankovic video for "Amish Paradise". In 2002, she made a memorable guest appearance onimprovisational comedy showWhose Line Is It Anyway?, participating in on-screen kisses withRyan Stiles andColin Mochrie.[41]
From 2007 to 2009, Henderson co-hosted the daily talk showLiving Live with formerDesigning Women starMeshach Taylor on Retirement Living TV.[42] The show was reworked to focus on her and was renamedThe Florence Henderson Show.[42] The show was nominated for an Emmy award in 2010.[43] On the July 12, 2010, edition ofWWE Raw, Henderson appeared as the night's guest host.[44]
Henderson was one of 12 celebrities competing onthe 11th season ofDancing with the Stars, which premiered on September 20, 2010. Her professional partner wasCorky Ballas, father of two-time championMark Ballas.[45] On October 19, 2010, she was the fifth contestant eliminated.[46]
Henderson voiced Barbara,Cleveland Brown's childhood nanny, in the episode "The Men In Me" ofThe Cleveland Show, which originally aired on March 25, 2012. The episode features a depressed and confused Cleveland singing a parody version of his show's theme before Barbara interjects and gets Cleveland to realize it does not matter who he is or who others perceive him to be as long as he accepts himself for who and what he is. At the end of the episode, Cleveland says, "Florence Henderson, everyone!"
Henderson made a special appearance on May 11, 2012, in a special Mother's Day episode onThe Price Is Right withDrew Carey, displaying prizes, as well as one of the showcases.[47]
In February 2013, she began hosting a cooking show,Who's Cooking with Florence Henderson, onRetirement Living TV.[48] Henderson hosted several times the beauty pageantsMrs. America and Mrs. World.
In the 2000s, Henderson became a public benefactor to the Sisters of St. Benedict inFerdinand, Indiana. Some of the nuns there had been early educators of Henderson. She appeared in a number of their promotional videos and helped in fundraising efforts. She won money for the sisters on the game showWeakest Link and on a classic television-themed episode ofWho Wants to Be a Millionaire in 2001, winning $32,000 in their name.[49] When Henderson appeared onThe Surreal Life, she refused to wear a nun's habit in a comedy skit.[50]
Henderson married her first husband, Ira Bernstein, in 1956. They had four children together before divorcing in 1985. Three of the children worked in show business, with her oldest daughter Barbara Bernstein appearing in three episodes of The Brady Bunch. In 1987, she married her second husband, hypnotherapist Dr. John George Kappas, whom she had met when he treated her for depression and stage fright in the early 1980s.[51] They remained married until his death in 2002. Henderson had five grandchildren.[52]
Henderson died on November 24, 2016, atCedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 82.[53][1] She had been hospitalized the previous day.[53] According to her manager, Kayla Pressman, Henderson died ofheart failure.[1][54] Three days before her death, Henderson had attended the recording ofDancing with the Stars to support her friend and former on-screen daughterMaureen McCormick, who was a contestant.[55] Pressman stated that Henderson was not ill prior to her sudden hospitalization and that her death was a "shock".[56] She was cremated, and her ashes interred atWestwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.[57]
At the 33rd AnnualGracie Awards Gala (2008), Henderson won an Individual Achievement Award and an Outstanding Host (Information or Entertainment) forThe Florence Henderson Show.[58][59]
She won another Outstanding Host (Information or Entertainment) at the 37th Annual Gracie Awards Gala (2012) for co-hostingGood Food, Good Deeds.[59][60]
A1+1⁄16-mile (1.7 km) turf horse race for 3-year old and older fillies and mares born and bred in Indiana held atIndiana Grand Racing & Casino since 2004 is named in her honor, the Florence Henderson Stakes, on the Tuesday afterLabor Day in September.[citation needed]
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| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Song of Norway | Nina Grieg | |
| 1992 | Shakes the Clown | The Unknown Woman | |
| 1994 | Naked Gun33+1⁄3: The Final Insult | Herself | Cameo appearance |
| 1995 | The Brady Bunch Movie | Grandma (Carol's mother) | Cameo appearance |
| 1996 | For Goodness Sake II | Video Store Customer | |
| 1998 | Holy Man | Herself | Cameo appearance |
| 1999 | Get Bruce | Herself | Documentary |
| 2003 | Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star | Herself | Cameo appearance |
| 2008 | For Heaven's Sake | Sarah Miller | |
| 2010 | The Christmas Bunny | Betsy Ross | |
| 2016 | Fifty Shades of Black | Mrs. Robinson | |
| 2017 | Bad Grandmas | Mimi | Released posthumously |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | General Foods 25th Anniversary Show: A Salute to Rodgers and Hammerstein | Laurey | TV special | [12] |
| 1956 | I Spy | Nymph | Episode: "The Abbe and the Nymph" | [13][14] |
| 1957 | The United States Steel Hour | Mary Jane Wilk | Episode: "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" | [14][17] |
| 1958 | The United States Steel Hour | Gladys Pratt | Episode: "A Family Alliance" | [14][20] |
| 1958 | Sing Along | Herself | Regular Cast | |
| 1958 | Little Women | Meg March | TV musical special | [15] |
| 1958–62 | Tonight Starring Jack Paar | Herself | Regular guest | |
| 1959–60 | The Today Show | Herself | Today Girl | [27] |
| 1962–67 | Password | Herself | Contestant | |
| 1966 | The Bell Telephone Hour | Self - singer | "The Lyrics ofAlan Jay Lerner" w/Barbara Harris,Edward Villella,Patricia McBride,John Cullum andStanley Holloway | |
| 1968 | The Dean Martin Show | Herself | Guest appearance | |
| 1971–80 | Hollywood Squares | Herself | 96 episodes | |
| 1969–74 | The Brady Bunch | Carol Ann Brady | 117 episodes | |
| 1976 | The Love Boat | Monica Richardson | TV movie pilot | |
| 1976 | The Muppet Show | Herself | Series 1 Episode 7: "Florence Henderson" | |
| 1976 | The Paul Lynde Halloween Special | Herself | TV special | |
| 1976–77 | The Brady Bunch Hour | Carol Ann Brady | 9 episodes | |
| 1981 | The Brady Girls Get Married | Carol Ann Brady | TV reunion movie | |
| 1981 | The Love Boat | Annabelle Folker | Episode: "Country Cousin Blues" | |
| 1981 | The Brady Brides | Carol Ann Brady | 5 episodes | |
| 1982 | Police Squad! | Shot woman | Episode: "Rendezvous at Big Gulch (Terror in the Neighborhood)" | |
| 1982–86 | Pyramid (all versions) | Herself | Celebrity Panelist | |
| 1983 | Alice | Sarah James | Episode: "It Had to Be Mel" | |
| 1986 | Murder, She Wrote | Maria Morgana | Episode: "Death Stalks the Big Top" (Parts 1 & 2) | |
| 1987 | It's Garry Shandling's Show | Herself | Guest appearance | |
| 1988 | A Very Brady Christmas | Carol Ann Brady | TV reunion movie | |
| 1990 | The Bradys | Carol Ann Brady | 6 episodes; also sang third version of theme song | |
| 1990 | Murder, She Wrote | Patti Sue Diamond | Episode: "Ballad for a Blue Lady" | |
| 1993 | Bradymania: A Very Brady Special | Herself (host) | TV special | |
| 1993–95 | Dave's World | Maggie | Occasional; Beth's mother | |
| 1994 | Roseanne | Flo Anderson | Episode: "Suck Up or Shut Up" | |
| 1995 | Fudge | Muriel | Episode: "Fudge-a-mania" | |
| 1995 | Caroline in the City | Herself | Episode: "Caroline and the Balloon" | |
| 1995–96 | Our Generation | Herself | Co-host | |
| 1996 | Ellen | Madeline | Episode: "Joe's Kept Secret" | |
| 1997 | Nightmare Ned | Herself | Episode: "Monster Ned" | |
| 1999–2000 | Later Today | Herself | Presenter | |
| 2000 | Saturday Night Live | Herself (parody) | Guest appearance (uncredited) Episode: "Jackie Chan/Kid Rock" (May 20, 2000) | [61] |
| 2000 | The King of Queens | Lily | Carrie Heffernan's stepmother Episode: "Dark Meet" | |
| 2001 | Who Wants to Be a Millionaire | Herself | Contestant | |
| 2001 | Legend of the Candy Cane | Thelma (voice) | TV movie | |
| 2002 | Mom's on Strike | Betty | TV movie | |
| 2002 | Whose Line Is It Anyway? | Herself | Guest appearance | |
| 2003 | Mrs. America Pageant | Herself | Host | |
| 2003 | The 26th Annual Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts | Herself | Special appearance | |
| 2004 | The Brady Bunch 35th Anniversary Reunion Special | Herself | TV reunion special | |
| 2006 | The Surreal Life | Herself | Cast member | |
| 2006 | Loonatics Unleashed | Mallory "Mastermind" Casey | 3 episodes | |
| 2007 | The Ellen DeGeneres Show | Herself | Guest appearance | |
| 2007–09 | The Florence Henderson Show | Host | 52 episodes | [62][63] |
| 2008 | Ladies of the House | Rose Olmstead | TV movie | |
| 2009 | Samantha Who? | Loretta | Guest appearance | |
| 2010 | WWE Raw | Herself | Guest host | |
| 2010 | Dancing with the Stars | Herself | Contestant, Season 11 | |
| 2012 | The Cleveland Show | Nanny Barbara (voice) | Episode: "The Men in Me" | |
| 2012 | Handy Manny | Aunt Ginny | Episode: "Handy Manny and the Seven Tools" | |
| 2012 | Happily Divorced | Elizabeth | Episode: "Meet the Parents" | |
| 2012 | 30 Rock | Herself | Episode: "My Whole Life Is Thunder" | |
| 2012 | Matchmaker Santa | Peggy | Hallmark Channel TV movie | [64] |
| 2013 | Who's Cooking with Florence Henderson | Host | 12 episodes | [62] |
| 2014 | Trophy Wife | Frances Harrison | Episode: "The Wedding - Part Two" | |
| 2014 | Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off | Herself | Episode: "Boardwalk Bites" | |
| 2016 | K.C. Undercover | Irma | Episode: "Dance Like No One's Watching" | |
| 2016 | The Eleventh | Regina | 2 episodes (web series short) | |
| 2016 | Chelsea | Herself | Episode: "Ellen Page & Inspiring Role Models" | |
| 2016–2018 | Sofia the First | Grand Mum (voice) | 2 episodes |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | Carousel | Carrie Pepperidge | |
| 1952 | Wish You Were Here | The New Girl | |
| 1952 | Oklahoma! | Laurey | |
| 1953 | The Great Waltz | Resi | |
| 1954 | Fanny | Fanny | |
| 1961–62, 1968, 1978 | The Sound of Music | Maria Rainer | |
| 1963–64 | The Girl Who Came to Supper | Mary Morgan | |
| 1965 | The King and I | Anna | |
| 1967 | South Pacific | Nellie Forbush | |
| 1974, 1981 | Annie Get Your Gun | Annie Oakley |
| Year | Title | Voice |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | You Don't Know Jack Volume 2 | Herself |
Henderson is in her 17th year touting "Wessonality" for Wesson Oil. For eight years she has been host of Florence Henderson'sCountry Kitchen, a cooking show on the Nashville Network.
