Secretive Facts About Florence Henderson, TV's "Perfect" Mom
Florence Henderson rose to fame as Carol Brady in the wholesome sitcom The Brady Bunch. But her perfect television family had dark secrets.
1. She Kept Her Family’s Secrets
Florence Henderson warmed her way into the hearts and homes of millions of families as Carol Brady in the beloved sitcom The Brady Bunch. As the mother of the Brady brood, however, she kept her fake family's dark and dangerous secrets—and a few of her own.
Behind closed doors, when the cameras weren’t rolling, the Brady mom lived a different life.
2. She Was A Valentine’s Gift
Long before she was the effervescent “Carol Brady”, Florence Agnes Henderson was a humble Indiana girl. Born on February 14, 1934, she was a true Valentine’s gift to her mother Elizabeth and father Joseph. And, as the youngest of ten children, she was practically born into a Brady bunch of her own. Except, her childhood was a nightmare.
Municipal Archives of Trondheim, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
3. She Was Dirt Poor
While Carol Brady may have had a picturesque life, Henderson’s real childhood was anything but cozy. Years later, she recalled sharing a bed with up to four of her siblings, huddling for warmth in their heatless home during harsh winter nights. “
We were like spoons,” she said, describing how she and her siblings would take turns warming each other’s backs.
That is not to say, however, that it wasn’t a happy home.
4. She Had The Gift Of Music
Even in the depths of their crushing poverty, Henderson’s mother found a way to bring light into their lives: music. When Henderson was just two years old, her mother taught her to sing—introducing her to a full repertoire of 50 songs.
By the time she could walk, Henderson had learned every single lyric, setting the stage for a lifelong love of performing.
