Surprising Facts About Ann B Davis, America’s Favorite Housekeeper

Surprising Facts About Ann B Davis, America’s Favorite Housekeeper

What Happened To Ann B Davis From "The Brady Bunch"?

Ann B Davis was a cultural icon of her time, beloved by coworkers and fans alike. From her early days as a startup actress, through to The Brady Bunch, to her tragically sudden end, Davis certainly lived an extraordinary life. This is her story.

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1. Her Family Supported Her

Ann B Davis's talent bubbled to the surface early in life. Along with her twin sister, Davis was the youngest of four siblings. As anyone with a large family can tell you, Davis would have needed to assert her personality quickly to stand out. Even if she was one of many, it was that same family that helped her on her way to stardom.  

Family—and the search for it—would remain a constant motivation throughout her life.

Publicity photo of American actress smiling and looking at the cameraUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons

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2. She Almost Had An Entirely Different Career

It’s hard to believe, but acting wasn’t Davis’s first choice. She started her university career in pre-med, intending to become a doctor. However, she also came from a family who had a large interest in show business. Her older brother was a dancer in the national company of Oklahoma!—and it was at one of his performances that Davis decided to rearrange her entire life and follow in his footsteps. 

This would become the inspiration for her most famous character.

Publicity photo of Ann B. Davis smilingMilburn-McCarty Associates, Wikimedia Commons

3. She Was A Late Bloomer

Despite her talent, Davis was something of a late bloomer.  Although she graduated in 1948 with a bachelor’s degree in theatre, six years passed before anyone discovered her talent when she was 28 years old. Davis was performing for free in a cabaret coffeehouse when a casting agent suggested she audition for an upcoming show.

Little did she know, her career was about to take flight.

Studio portrait of American actor Ann B Davis wearing striped blouse and smilingHulton Archive, Getty Images

4. She Was Successful Quickly

Ann B Davis first made her mark with a recurring role on The Bob Cummings Show. She played Charmaine “Schultzy” Schultz. Schultzy was the title character’s assistant. Davis won her way into the hearts of viewers with her funny and heartwarming portrayal of Schultzy’s unrequited crush on her employer. She would go on to see great success in this role.

American actress Ann B Davis, with a quizzical expression on her faceArchive Photos, Getty Images

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5. Her Talent Was Honored Early In Her Career

It was actually during her time at The Bob Cummings Show that the Emmys nominated Davis as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series—a nomination she would receive four times. She went on to win twice, back-to-back. But Davis’s stardom was only starting to rise.

Publicity photo of Bob Cummings and Ann B. DavisNBC Television, Wikimedia Commons

6. She Was Impossible To Repress 

Davis made a mark with her clever lines, often stealing the show from those she acted with. She was hired on The Bob Cummings Show to play the “straight man” to Cummings’ womanizing antics. However, Davis’s character became beloved. This created a foreshadowing of what would come in her career. 

Screenshot of the TV Series The Bob Cummings ShowMcCadden Productions, The Bob Cummings Show (1955–1959)

7. She Was Successful in the Theatre

When The Bob Cummings Show ended, Davis landed on her feet. She continued to be busy between her two major roles. Not only did she appear on television as a guest star and in commercials, but she acted with several touring companies in the late 50s and 60s. While she didn’t let this stop her from going onto bigger things, something else almost did.

Screenshot of the TV Series  The Bob Cummings ShowMcCadden Productions, The Bob Cummings Show (1955–1959)

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8. She Was Adaptable

As the 60s continued to carry on, Davis’s appearances on television began to dwindle. While she continued to appear in commercials, most notably for Ford, Davis notably did not pick up many roles in any series. During this time, she was performing across America as a standup comedian. However, fate had a special plan in store for her: a sitcom titled, The Brady Bunch

The Brady Bunch Ann B. Davis 1969ABC Television., Wikimedia Commons

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9. Her Most Iconic Role Almost Didn’t Happen

Although it is impossible to imagine, The Brady Bunch almost happened without Ann B Davis. The original lineup for the show included Joyce Bulifant as Mrs Brady and Monty Margetts as Alice. Everything changed when Florence Henderson became available for the role of Mrs Brady. 

Publicity photo of American actress, Ann B. Davis wavingUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons

10. She Was The Comedic Star

With Bulifant and Margetts, the dynamic was to be that Mrs Brady was the funny one and Alice would balance her out. When Henderson became available, the creators felt they needed a more naturally funny actor to play the housekeeper, Alice. That’s when they started to toss Davis’s name about. However, there was a problem.

American actress Ann B. Davis (1926 - 2014, top left) with the child membersFotos International, Getty Images

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11. Her Standup Career Almost Got In The Way 

Davis’s standup comedian career almost got in the way of her future success. When the opportunity to play the role of Alice Nelson on The Brady Bunch arose, she was already contractually committed to several weeks of shows in Seattle. Things were looking troubling for the future of The Brady Bunch.

Brady Bunch Full CastABC Television, Wikimedia Commons

12. Her Talent Was The Sort You Paid For

Davis was the sort of talent that you took risks for. Knowing that Davis would be an essential part of the makeup of their show, the showrunners agreed to buy out her contract with the Seattle shows to secure her place with their cast. It was a good thing that they did, for they got more than they bargained for when hiring Davis. 

Screenshot of the movie The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

13. She Took Everything She Did Seriously

Davis was a deeply committed actor who took every role that she had seriously. The son of the creator of The Brady Bunch—and a life-long friend of Davis’s—Lloyd Schwartz commented that his father "didn't create Alice”. Davis created everything that the audience knows and loves about Alice Nelson, with her talent and her natural charm—so much so, she did things no one even knew about.

Screenshot of the TV Series The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

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14. She Kept Things Close To Her Chest

Davis wanted to know who every character was before she stepped into them. Unbeknownst to the majority of the world, Davis had created a secret backstory for Alice Nelson so that she could understand her motivations. It was a familiar history.

Screenshot of the TV Series The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

15. She Used What She Knew To Create Alice

Davis drew inspiration from her own life to create the backstory for Alice. In 2004, Davis told the Archive of American Television, “I decided that my twin sister was going to be a doctor who couldn’t afford school, so I started doing maid’s work so she could afford to go to college”. 

Although there are similarities in this backstory, there were also many differences between Davis and Alice—differences that could’ve spelled trouble for Davis’s future with the show. 

Screenshot of the TV Series The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

16. She Had Early Obstacles With The Brady Bunch

Although a woman with a large and caring heart, Davis never knew what to do with children. This is surprising to many, given that she is most famous for a character with parental tendencies. However, Davis never had children of her own and was never certain how to treat them. Despite connecting with her younger co-stars, this would carry on throughout Davis’s life.  

Screenshot of the TV Series The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

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17. There Was Constant Speculation About Her Personal Life

Part of Davis’s wariness when it came to children came from her lack of familiarity with them. She was never married and she never had kids. Due to this fact, people often speculated about her lack of partners. It is difficult to be a woman in Hollywood and keep your life private, but Davis did, with only small hints of her heartbreaks peeking through.

Screenshot of the TV Series The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

18. She Was Unlucky In Love

While she never spoke about it publicly and rarely spoke about it in private, Davis was unlucky in love early on in life. Her lifelong friend, Lloyd J Schwartz, stated that they had once spoken about her single status, and Schwartz concluded that there had once been a romance with a married man that had "ended badly".

This relationship seemed to have tainted Davis’s view on love for the rest of her life. However, it motivated her too.

Lloyd J. Schwartz in a suitChristopher Polk, Getty Images

19. She Was A Career Woman—Even To The Detriment Of Other Things

Davis was more focused on her career than finding a man. Davis spent her early life focused more on acting than on men. She once told the Chicago Sun-Times, “By the time I started to get interested (in finding someone), all the good ones were taken”. Perhaps that is what led Davis to her ultimate fate.

Screenshot of the TV Series The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

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20. Her Beloved Character Developed In Surprising Ways

Few people realize that Davis’s iconic character, Alice, got her last name entirely by accident. When they created Alice, they referred to her simply as “Alice”. However, in one episode, Alice was to receive mail at the Brady household. It would not be believable for the mail to be addressed to just “Alice”. So, they gave her a last name, and Alice Nelson was born. 

Screenshot of the TV Series The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

21. She Had Strong Convictions 

Davis was very passionate about women’s independence. One of her favorite things about playing Alice was that the show writers gave Alice a life outside of the Brady family. She had her own family and romantic partner—a rich private life beyond her job. This was something that Davis had been passionate about for her whole life. It also caused problems for her.

Screenshot of the TV Series The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

22. She Struggled With Her Image In Society

Davis was constantly fighting against her image in society and the image of women around her. In the 50s, she told the Los Angeles Times, “I know at least a couple hundred glamour gals who are starving in this time. I’d rather be myself and eating”. It was a constant fight for her.

Screenshot of the TV Series The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

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23. She Struggled To Keep A Genuine Image

Davis struggled to keep her image genuine. At one point, she asked the NBC photographers not to touch up her photos. Unfortunately, in the end, they did anyway, polishing up the photo to remove imperfections and changing her eyebrows. Davis would continue to fight her imagery for the rest of her career.

Screenshot of the TV Series The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

24. She Shared Her Passion With Others

Davis was also a resourceful person, using the things that she was already passionate about to draw people together. When she was on the set of The Brady Bunch, she would get the rest of her cast, particularly the kids, involved with things like embroidery and knitting. They did this so frequently that they once headlined a craft magazine. These bonds continued, even off-set.

Screenshot of the TV Series The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

25. She Would Leave Her Comfort Zone To Make Others Comfortable

Davis, despite loving them, did not often spend time with her co-stars off-set. However, one year she planned an elaborate Halloween party for her Brady Bunch family. Davis may not have been her character “Alice," but she still cared deeply about the kids she worked with. Her relationship, particularly with Maureen McCormick would continue throughout her life. 

Maureen McCormick as  Marcia Brady  looking at the cameraSilver Screen Collection, Getty Images

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26. Her Convictions Sometimes Lead to Conflicts

As with any family, there are always a few bumps along the road. No one gets along perfectly, especially not within a family, and that rang true for Davis and her Brady Bunch co-star Robert Reed. Robert Reed was not fond of his time on The Brady Bunch. He thought it was beneath his acting skills. This led to some tense moments on set.  

Photo of Robert Reed smiling and looking at the cameraABC Television, Wikimedia Commons

27. She Found Reed Frustrating 

Davis, in particular, found Reed’s behavior especially frustrating. Reed had higher expectations for his career than what he got. He believed he could have reached greater heights than The Brady Bunch, and this resulted in Reed causing problems on set, refusing to participate in scenes he thought he was above doing. Davis did not like this.

Screenshot of the TV Series The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

28. She Found Humor In Tense Situations

Davis recalled an instance when Reed argued over a scene because he believed that slipping on a broken egg was not realistic. Davis laughed when she recalled this incident, remembering that Reed got proved wrong when he finally agreed to try it, slipping on the egg immediately. It was just one of many moments.

Screenshot of the TV Show The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

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29. She Thought Reed Should Be Thankful

Davis was incredibly thankful for the role that The Brady Bunch played in her life. She understood that she was lucky to have this job, and that everyone on the cast was too. She understood that Reed was not content with his career, and she recalled that “Robert was a very sad man”.  

However, she felt that he should have behaved with more gratitude for his job when he was on set. After all, it wouldn’t last forever.

Screenshot of the TV Show The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

30. She Saw The Brady Bunch To It’s End

In 1974, after five seasons, ABC canceled The Brady Bunch. Although it has since developed a strong and long-lasting fanbase, at the time The Brady Bunch’s ratings were dwindling. Their initial contracts were all for five years and ABC did not wish to involve themselves in the trouble of renegotiating them. Fortunately, this wasn’t the end of The Brady Bunch.

Screenshot of the TV Series The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

31. The Brady Bunch Was Her Family

The end of The Brady Bunch was difficult for Davis, as her coworkers had become her family. While Davis stayed in touch with her Brady co-stars, building a relationship with Maureen McCormick in particular, they were no longer a constant in her life. Davis now had a hole she needed to fill. 

Screenshot of the TV Series The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

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32. She Inspired The First Dinner Theater Play

Following the cancelation of The Brady Bunch, Davis was at a loss for what to do next. She ended up performing dinner theater and traveling across the country. During one of these plays, her old friend Lloyd J Schwartz visited her and created a play for her to perform. This was the first play written for dinner theater specifically. But it wasn’t enough to keep Davis satisfied.

Screenshot of the TV Series The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

33. She Started A Fresh Chapter

At this time, she was also exploring her faith. Davis discovered a true passion for the church after her Hollywood parish took on a new rector—and something shifted when she decided to “go and catch his act”. This simple encounter caused waves in Davis’s life she couldn’t possibly expect.

Screenshot of the TV Series The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

34. She Was Searching For Something—Even If She Didn’t Realize It

When she visited that new Hollywood rector, she took part in his bible study, which ignited a flame Davis hadn’t known needed to be lit. In her words, “I felt as though I had been living in a castle, but confined to one room. Now all the others are open”. Davis had yet to realize how much this one act would change her life.

Screenshot of the TV Show The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

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35. She Leaned Into Her Faith

Thanks to her career in dinner theatre, Davis was able to test out her faith across the country. Now that Davis had discovered this passion within the Episcopal church, she began to use the opportunities provided to her in her travels to make pitstops at Episcopal churches. However, that hole created by the end of The Brady Bunch was still present. 

Saint Andrews Episcopal ChurchJeffrey Beall, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

36. She Transformed Her Life For a Cause She Believed In

In 1974, not long after the cancelation of The Brady Bunch, Davis met Bishop William Frey and his wife, Barbara. Davis was heading to Denver, where Frey’s clergy was, for her dinner theatre show—and she was advised to connect with Frey. This caused a stunning ripple effect.

Screenshot of the TV Series The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

37. She Was Immediately Recognizable

Davis visited Frey at an afternoon service that he was performing—and when he laid eyes on her, a lightbulb of recognition went off. Right away, he knew her from The Bob Cummings Show. As such, Davis wound up breaking bread with both Frey and his wife. Additionally, they attended her dinner theater show. It was a delightful friendship in the making—and it didn't end there.

Screenshot of the TV Series The Bob Cummings ShowMcCadden Productions, The Bob Cummings Show (1955–1959)

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38. She Formed Deep Bonds

After that lunch with Frey and his wife, Davis continued the relationship. She would visit the couple whenever she had the time to spare, and in the summer of 1975, barely a year after meeting them, she went with their family on vacation. It had only been a year after The Brady Bunch ended—and Davis was well on her way to moving on.

Screenshot of the TV Series The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

39. The Church Offered Her A Place To Belong

Later in 1975, Davis made a fateful trip to visit Frey at his home. At the time, Frey was the Bishop of Colorado and lived in a large home in downtown Denver with his wife and around 18 other religious followers. It was with this household that Davis would find her peace—and also eventually meet the end of her life. 

Screenshot of the TV Series The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

40. Once Decided, She Left Everything Else Behind

What started as a “prolonged visit” quickly began to stretch out of hand. After several months with the Freys, Davis contacted her agent with a surprising request. She told him that she wasn't interested in working for the next year. And that wasn't all.

Screenshot of the movie The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

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41. She Transformed Her Whole Life In A Moment

Davis turned her entire life around once she had connected with the Frey family. Following her call to her agent, she sold her Los Angeles house and moved into Frey’s household. It would seem that Davis finally found the family that she’d been looking for. However, what was the cost to those who knew her before? 

Screenshot of the TV Series The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

42. The Brady Bunch Was Her Exception

While Davis removed herself from acting to prioritize her faith, she always made an exception for The Brady Bunch. In 1976, Davis participated in the first of many Brady Bunch reunions. The Brady Bunch Hour was an hour-long “variety” show hosted by the Brady family.  Although the entire cast, excluding Eve Plumb, was in it, Davis almost wasn’t.

Screenshot of the TV Show The Brady Bunch Variety HourParamount, The Brady Bunch Variety Hour (1976–1977)

43. She Was Almost An Afterthought

Davis’s life change caused an issue with The Brady Bunch Hour. She now lived in Denver and spent most of her time volunteering with Frey’s family. When the cast was being put together, Davis wasn't even truly considered. In the end, however, she snagged a part as a guest star. Of course, there were still issues.

Screenshot of the TV Show The Brady Bunch Variety HourParamount, The Brady Bunch Variety Hour (1976–1977)

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44. They Made Accommodations For Her

Davis appeared in every episode of The Brady Bunch Hour despite her designation as a guest star. The producers made special arrangements so that she wasn't required on set every day of the week. Being reunited with her “Brady Family” once again thrilled Davis. Unfortunately, that enthusiasm did not stretch to every cast member.

Screenshot of the TV Show The Brady Bunch Variety HourParamount, The Brady Bunch Variety Hour (1976–1977)

45. She Didn’t Get Along With Everyone

The producers felt that the show needed a regular comedian, so they cast Rip Taylor to play Brady’s neighbor—and Alice’s love interest. Rip Taylor was famous for his often raunchy and off-color humor. Something that did not sit well with Davis. 

Screenshot of the TV Show  The Brady Bunch Variety HourParamount, The Brady Bunch Variety Hour (1976–1977)

46. Her Faith Got In The Way

Davis was devotedly Christian. She found Taylor’s crude remarks and style of comedy distasteful. It went against her own personal beliefs. As a result, she didn't even want to talk to Taylor unless the script demanded it. This led to more problems than it solved.

Screenshot of the TV Show The Brady Bunch Variety HourParamount, The Brady Bunch Variety Hour (1976–1977)

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47. She Was Stubborn

Rip Taylor was hurt by Davis’s lack of interest in him, which continued to contribute to the bad blood between them. Davis saw Taylor as crude; Taylor saw Davis as a prude who needed to lighten up. It was a divide that was impossible for them to cross. Fortunately, they did not have to put up with each other for long. 

Screenshot of the TV Show  The Brady Bunch Variety HourParamount, The Brady Bunch Variety Hour (1976–1977)

48. Her Humor Didn’t Save The Variety Hour

The Brady Bunch Hour only lasted for one season, consisting of nine episodes. While some people consider it a cult classic, it is more widely reported as a disaster, often being referenced as one of the worst shows in the history of television. Despite this, The Brady Bunch continued to return, and Davis continued her involvement. 

Screenshot of the TV Show The Brady Bunch Variety HourParamount, The Brady Bunch Variety Hour (1976–1977)

49. She Reunited With Her Cast

The next special for The Brady Bunch was a television special titled The Brady Girls Get Married. The television special was the first time since The Brady Bunch that Davis was able to work with the entire cast again. It would also be the last time that she worked with them all together. 

Screenshot of the movie The Brady Girls Get MarriedParamount, The Brady Girls Get Married (1981)

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50. She Was Impossible to Ignore

The Brady Girls Get Married fed into another short-lived series: The Brady Brides. Maureen McCormick and Eve Plumb returned to reprise their roles as Jan and Marcia Brady, now married women themselves. This was the only Brady Bunch spin-off to be in front of a live audience. Initially, the cast did not include Davis.

Screenshot of the TV Series The Brady BridesParamount, The Brady Brides (1981)

51. Her Talent On Stage Helped Her

It's not certain how Davis became involved with The Brady Brides. They did not intend for her to be part of the original cast. However, when the live audience responded so well to her guest appearance, she continued to appear regularly until it was canceled. 

Screenshot of the TV Series The Brady BridesParamount, The Brady Brides (1981)

52. She Continued To Belong With The Brady Bunch

The Brady Bunch had been off the air for almost 15 years when Davis returned to her role of Alice in A Very Brady Christmas. This Christmas film brought the majority of the cast together once again (excluding Susan Olsen), and it would mark the revival of The Brady Bunch, to much surprise. 

Screenshot of the movie A Very Brady ChristmasParamount, A Very Brady Christmas (1988)

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53. Drama Was Where She Shone

In response to the success of A Very Brady Christmas, the network asked the creators of the original The Brady Bunch to create a new series. Although they were initially hesitant, they ultimately created The Bradys. This would be where Davis’s acting shone. 

Screenshot of the movie A Very Brady ChristmasParamount, A Very Brady Christmas (1988)

54. She Was Often Overlooked And Underestimated

The Bradys provided Davis with the opportunity to show how deep her acting skills went. A comedic actress for her entire career, people often overlooked and underestimated Davis’s talent. The Bradys featured more serious storylines; these allowed Davis to dig deeper and show her true talent. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to save the show. 

Screenshot of the TV Series The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

55. Her Journey With The Brady Bunch Eventually Ended

The Bradys couldn’t compete against the more popular shows of the time—and paid the ultimate price. The network canceled it after only a month and all of its remaining produced episodes aired on the same day.  Although Davis continued to appear in a small handful of shows following its cancelation, this was the last time that she played Alice Nelson with her Brady family. 

Alice Nelson, however, made one final TV appearance.

Screenshot of the TV Series  The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

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56. She’d Laugh At Herself 

Always willing to laugh at herself, Davis agreed to make a couple of cameo appearances in the 1990s, both of which made nods to the two iconic roles of her career. She made an appearance in the TV series Hi Honey, I’m Home as Alice Nelson. This cameo was easy, but the second one almost didn’t happen. 

Screenshot of the TV Series Hi Honey, I'm HomeRipe Productions, Hi Honey, I'm Home (1991–1992)

57. She Paid Homage To Her Past

Although Davis did not reprise her role of Alice Nelson again after Hi Honey, I’m Home, series, specials, and films of The Brady Bunch were still made. One such film was The Brady Bunch Movie released in 1995. None of the original cast reprised their roles. However, the creators invited Davis to cameo. She almost said no. 

Screenshot of the TV Series Hi Honey, I'm HomeRipe Productions, Hi Honey, I'm Home (1991–1992)

58. She Occasionally Had Doubts About The Brady Bunch

Davis loved her faith and her Brady Bunch family equally. This was difficult for her to balance. Whenever she considered returning to a role, she would consult with Lloyd Schwartz. The Brady Bunch Movie, in particular, was of concern for her. Its PG-13 rating almost had her turning the opportunity down.

Screenshot of the TV Series  The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

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59. She Never Forgot Her Past

In the end, Schwartz comforted Davis that The Brady Bunch Movie wouldn’t offend her religious principles. She made a brief cameo that played a nod to both of her famous characters, playing a Trucker named Schultzy. But while her career was big, it could’ve been bigger.

Screenshot of the TV Series The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

60. Her Talent Didn’t Match Her Ambition

Another remark from her lifelong friend Schwartz was, “The truth about her is that she was very successful, but she just didn’t have that fire in the belly a lot of actors needed to pursue this”. Davis’s contentment with her life stopped her from seeking further fulfillment in her career. She seemed quite content with what she'd already achieved. Which perhaps explains why Davis suddenly disappeared from the acting world.

Screenshot of the TV Series The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

61. She Always Had Time For Fans

Many people would stop Davis and ask for a moment of her time, and she was always willing to give it to them. Whenever a fan told her she helped raise them—which they told her often—Davis would often reply, “And look how well you turned out”. It was behavior like this that only made Davis all the more beloved. 

Susan Olsen, Florence Henderson and Ann B. Davis arrives to ABC's 50th Anniversary CelebrationDFree, Shutterstock

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62. She Was Universally Beloved

Although The Brady Bunch turned all of its actors into household names, few were as well-loved as Davis was. In 2007, TV Land honored the cast and crew of The Brady Bunch. Davis was the last one to approach the microphone to give her acceptance speech, and she earned the most applause by far. Everyone but Davis understood her effect on people.

Ann B. Davis at the 5th Annual TV Land Awardss_bukley, Shutterstock

63. She Often Didn’t Realize How Loved She Was

For all of the fame and affection that Davis gained, she never fully comprehended the effect that she had on other people. Frey, when reflecting on the moment with TV Land, stated that Davis was obviously shocked by the reaction of her adoring peers, as well as their standing ovation.

Winners Pop Culture Award for Christopher Polk, Getty Images

64. Her Excellent Health Wasn’t Enough 

Davis experienced excellent health well into her 80s, so the circumstances of her passing were all the more sudden and unexpected. At 88 years old, she had been carrying on with her daily routine when an unforeseen tragedy struck.

American actress Ann B. Davis wearing white shirtBev Sykes, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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65. She Was Living Her Life Up To The Last Moment

Davis was found in the bathroom of the home that she shared with the Frey family by Frey himself. Upon receiving a call from Davis’s hairdresser, who had been expecting her, Frey hurried home to check on her—unfortunately, that call came too late to help Davis. 

Screenshot of the TV Series The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

66. She Was Found Too Late For Help

What Frey discovered in Davis’s bathroom that day was undoubtedly a harrowing sight to behold. The night before, Davis had suffered a serious fall, hitting her head—and she was now in a serious condition. 

Screenshot of the TV Series The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

67. Love Wasn’t Enough To Save Her

Davis’s loved ones rushed the elderly woman to the hospital, hoping for good news and a steady recovery. They didn’t get either: She never recovered, and passed from a subdural hematoma the following day, on June 1, 2014. 

Screenshot of the TV Series The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

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68. Her Impact Was Felt Across Generations

While the universe took Ann B Davis suddenly, the impact that she had on both those who grew up watching her and those who worked with her will never be forgotten. Reflecting upon the loss of her friend and former castmate, McCormick made the following statement, “[Davis] made me a better person. How blessed I am to have had her in my life”. Fans and family alike share this sentiment. 

Maureen McCormick looking at the cameraJoe Seer, Shutterstock

69. She Was An Inspiration—Literally 

Davis’s unique talent was an inspiration that continues to this day. Kimberly Potts, author of a popular novel about The Brady Bunch, reported that Davis’s lovable character from The Bob Cummings Show inspired another iconic character—namely, Marvel’s Pepper Potts in the Iron Man comics. She lived an amazing life. 

On the Set of the NBC Television Series Ron Galella, Getty Images

70. She Lived An Incredible Life Many Would Be Lucky To Have

Few people are lucky enough to create a legacy that will last long after their own life is over. Davis is one of those people. “Baby Boomers” and “Generation Xers” alike adored The Brady Bunch, but more than that, even today, people are still watching reruns of the show. 

Davis and her heart continue to live on every time that someone watches another episode and finds themselves falling in love all over again with Ann B Davis. 

Screenshot of the TV Series The Brady BunchParamount, The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

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Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? We’re always looking for your input! Please reach out to us to let us know what you’re interested in reading. Your suggestions can be as general or specific as you like, from “Life” to “Compact Cars and Trucks” to “A Subspecies of Capybara Called Hydrochoerus Isthmius.” We’ll get our writers on it because we want to create articles on the topics you’re interested in. Please submit feedback to hello@factinate.com. Thanks for your time!


Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? At Factinate, we’re dedicated to getting things right. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. We want our readers to trust us. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. Please let us know if a fact we’ve published is inaccurate (or even if you just suspect it’s inaccurate) by reaching out to us at hello@factinate.com. Thanks for your help!


Warmest regards,



The Factinate team




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