Freak Accident Filming Pilot Nearly Killed ‘Brady Bunch’ Actor

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Susan Olsen, known for her role as Cindy Brady, the “one with the ringlets,” endured a severe accident during the filming of the initial episode of The Brady Bunch.

Previously known screen kid shared details about an incident that happened behind the scenes during a recent episode of ‘The Real Brady Bros’ podcast, which she recorded with her old cast members, Christopher Knight and Barry Williams.

In the first episode of the show back in 1969, where Mike and Carol Brady got married, there was a scene where the camera had difficulty capturing Cindy’s face clearly. Olsen explained that this wasn’t an error but rather because she had sustained an injury before filming began.

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When The Brady Bunch made its debut in 1969 with Mike and Carol Brady tying the knot, a scene showed some blurriness on Cindy’s face due to the camera’s focus issues. Olsen clarified that this wasn’t an accident, but rather because she had gotten hurt before filming commenced.

Olsen stated that she had a close call with death. She explained that an accident occurred when she was perched atop a makeup chair, and an object from the catwalk – filled with lights and various equipment – tumbled down.

In a turn of events, it was me who got struck, following an incident where a prop fell from the makeup artist’s station and then from the actress wearing body makeup. This unexpected object landed right on my face, I shared. Reminiscing those moments, Florence Henderson, who portrayed my TV mom, courageously spoke up for me, saying, “That blow was quite intense for that young girl,” only to be met with denials by others, who insisted, “She’s okay.” However, I was there, feeling every bit of it.

Olsen shared that her family decided not to file a lawsuit against the network, even though she was injured. “The disappointing fact is that we didn’t sue Paramount for this reason: if we had, I could have received more in compensation than what I earned from the show,” she continued.

Nevertheless, it was evident that she had injuries. She ended up with “two black eyes” along with a swollen face and nose. Upon her return to the set, Henderson inquired about her condition and ensured everyone understood that Olsen was injured. “[Henderson] said, ‘Make sure everyone notices her.’ And my mom replied, ‘Of course, I will,’ because people were trying to claim, ‘It didn’t actually harm her. She’s okay,'” she recounted.

To conceal Olsen’s wounds, the team behind The Brady Bunch sought help from Lucille Ball’s makeup artist, Hal King, who had been a source of great admiration for her. This encounter left her spellbound.

“She adored Lucy, considering her as an inspiration. Her excitement couldn’t be contained when she was with her. Every day, new colors of bruises appeared on her body, and she would share this with Hal, saying ‘Hal, my bruises are purple today,'” she expressed.

The podcast interview with Mike Lookinland (Bobby Brady) serves as a reunion or reconciliation for the cast members portraying the Bradys.

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The podcast appearance, where Mike Lookinland (Bobby Brady) took part, was like a coming-together or making up again for the actors who played the Bradys.

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Mike Lookinland’s (Bobby Brady) presence in the podcast can be seen as a reunion or rapprochement among the cast members playing the Brady family.

Previously, it was mentioned that a possible comeback for “The Brady Bunch” was cancelled because of Olsen’s backing of Donald Trump, her stance on COVID-19 vaccine issues, and her views regarding the LGBTQ+ community.

Olsen mentioned on the ‘Walk Away Campaign’ podcast that he had a conversation with his ‘Brady Bunch’ family and his agent. They told him they couldn’t accommodate him in the role because of strong resistance. He felt surprised, saying, ‘It seems I’ve been canceled.’ The character he portrayed for more than five decades is now off-limits due to being perceived as too risky. He replied, ‘Alright then, good luck with your production; I wish you success.’

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2025-04-24 00:54