Florence Henderson was no Carol Brady in real life

November 22, 2024, 2:07PM By MeTV Staff

CBS Television Distribution

Florence Henderson has gone by many names, most notably Mrs. Brady. Henderson starred in The Brady Bunch from 1969 until 1974. During this time, she took on the role of America's mother, comforting many young people watching the series.

Henderson made a name for herself as an actor, but in an interview with The Miami Herald, Henderson revealed that when she was just starting out in her career, casting directors pushed her to change her name to something simpler.

"When I first came out here," she said. "I tested for Oklahoma!" she said. "They wanted me to change my name even before I tested. I said, 'What kind of a name would you like me to take?' They said, 'Oh, Felicity Ford or Jill Jones.'"

Luckily, while Henderson was a maternal figure, she was no pushover, as many seemed to assume. Many who watched The Brady Bunch assumed that Carol Brady was who Henderson naturally was in real life. Those who did assume such things were in for a stark surprise. In reality, Henderson was bold and confident. Most importantly, she wasn't afraid of speaking her mind.

"I've seen her walk into a situation where they expected Miss Goody Goodshoes to tiptoe in," said Henderson's former agent, Sandy Galen. "I've seen her go onto a show and be asked to do something she doesn't like, and, believe me, she won't. There's no way."

So ultimately, Henderson stuck to her guns and kept her name as it was. While we all love Carol Brady, it's important to know that sometimes, it's better to be a Florence Henderson instead.