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Barry Williams chose The Brady Bunch over his social life
Barry Williams didn't need a girlfriend as a young man, he was already in love with The Brady Bunch.
Barry Williams played the role of the oldest member of The Brady Bunch kids, Greg Brady, for the show's entire five seasons.
With his dreamy blue eyes and charming smile, Williams became one of TV's biggest heartthrobs. You may have even had a poster of Barry Williams on your bedroom wall, and you're not alone.
Wherever he went during his time as Greg on The Brady Bunch, young women, teens and adults alike, did whatever it took to get an autograph from the young star. But with all the attention from fans, Williams still preferred his alone time.
Despite being a high-demand date, he wasn't all that interesting in dating. His only love at the time was his acting career and The Brady Bunch.
According to a 1973 interview with The Tampa Tribune, Williams took an interest in acting at a young age. Even as a toddler, he would beg his mom, who was resistant for some time, to let him start acting. When he was 11, she finally agreed.
"When I play a part, myself is a tool, my resource," Williams said. "If I don't have part of the character in me, I do research to find out more about him."
At the time of this interview, Williams was 19 and attended Pepperdine University in Malibu. School and work took up most of his time. He would attend classes in the mornings, and would spend his afternoons working on-set of The Brady Bunch.
To add even more to the young star's plate, he would spend another three days attending singing, dancing and acting classes.
According to the interview, Williams said his biggest trouble as a young man was meeting people as himself, Barry Williams, not Greg Brady.
"I have trouble with preconceptions," Williams said. "People either think I'm like Greg Brady, or they assume I'm going to be a snobby star type. And when I say 'hey, look, let's drop all that,' they think that's a put on too."
Williams admitted to missing having a normal childhood, but with the perks that come along with having an acting career, it's hard to want to strip it all away. The compensation alone was enough for Williams to have no regrets.
"Acting is my life, and it's more important to me than a social life," Williams said. "Like recognition, it has its advantages and its disadvantages. I may get a better table at a restaurant, but my meals are interrupted by people wanting autographs."
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Of course, I can think more broadly now, and I can contemplate this enormous popularity he had as a young man. A strange thing to navigate.
