Barry Williams Took His TV Mother Florence Henderson on a Date and Had on and off Affair with Mauree

Posted by Arica Deslauriers on Tuesday, May 21, 2024

"The Brady Bunch" became a fan favorite in the years that it aired. Behind the scenes, the characters had their own little activities that some fans never knew about.

As with all hit sitcoms, "The Brady Bunch" was as interesting when the camera was not rolling as it was when on-screen. The characters have a series of interesting events behind the scenes that many fans do not know about.

Behind the scenes, there were more juicer stories of drug use, intimate relationships between cast members, on and off affairs, and silent disputes over the limelight. Only as the years went by did some of these stories see the light of day.

"The Brady Bunch" cast including Florence Henderson, Barry Williams and Maureen McCormick | Photo: Getty Images

BARRY WILLIAMS AND FLORENCE HENDERSON

One of the trendy stories at the time was a supposed incestual relationship between the on-screen Brady matriarch and her son Greg behind the scenes.

Florence Henderson, who played Barry Williams' mom on the show, allegedly had an affair with her on-screen teenage son, who was twice her age.

Henderson was 36 while Williams was 16 at the time, making such rumors almost unbelievable. However, later on, Williams confessed that he admired Henderson and fantasized about being with her in an interview.

Barry Williams at SiriusXM Studios on January 16, 2015 in New York City | Photo: Getty Images

Henderson was a married mother of four, but Williams did admit that he once took her on a date to discuss their mutual interest in music. When he dropped his teenage crush, he fulfilled his dream of planting a kiss on her cheek.

The iconic Brady matriarch Henderson opened up on her supposed date with the younger Williams, which had almost damaged her reputation as it looked like she had an affair with a younger man.

In her book "Life Is Not a Stage," Henderson recalled the moment she went out with the teenage Williams, noting that she would have done it with any older children if they had asked as she saw herself as a mentor.

Henderson noted that she understood that Williams was making his entrance into adulthood, and she did not want to discourage him by turning him down. She saw his request as innocent.

The duo was taken to the date by Williams' brother since he was too young to drive at the time and had not gotten his license. Henderson explained that the night was purely innocent, including the goodnight kiss, which later became overblown.

The late actress noted that she was aware of Williams' crush on her and played her part to help him get past it. After leaving the show, both stars remained friends and shared a good bond. Henderson remained loved as the beloved Carol Brady until she died in 2016.

Late "The Brady Bunch" actress Florence Henderson | Photo: Getty Images

She was widely remembered for her sweet sense of humor and mother appeal, but her story is not all there is to the behind-the-scenes tale of the "Brady Bunch." Fortunately, she got sober in the 80s, and since then, she has focused on getting things back together.

BRADY WILLIAMS AND MARCIA MCCORMICK

Another actual juicy romance took place between Williams and his on-screen sister, Marcia, played by Maureen McCormick. McCormick and Williams would go on to enjoy an on-and-off relationship.

In her memoir, "Here's the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice," McCormick opened up on her first kiss with Williams, adding that at some point, she felt like she was kissing her brother.

Florence Henderson with the Brady family, from the television series, "The Brady Bunch" | Photo: Getty Images

Both stars met on the set of the show when Williams was 14 and McCormick was 12. As they grew on the show, so did their hormones. In her book, McCormick noted that their kiss was long, passionate, and wonderful.

Later on, director Lloyd J. Schwartz, son of show creator Sherwood Schwartz, revealed that the attraction between both stars had begun to cause issues on camera and became awkward since they played siblings.

Their desire for each other began to get in the way of their job, and at a point, the peak of their tension prevented them from shooting a scene as both stars let their emotions get the best of them.

Actress and Grand Marshall Florence Henderson wave from a car during a parade ahead of the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 at on May 28, 2016 | Source: Getty Images

Different tactics were put in place to get the on-screen siblings to shoot the scene, and finally, the director used the psychic distance approached, which helped return things to normal. Over time, the tension between both stars began to cool off.

Also, the pair faced the barrier of timing. At the time, neither party was able to commit to a real relationship as their careers were starting, so both parties had to settle for an on and off fling.

In an episode of "Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen," the show host quizzed both parties on their first kiss, asking McCormick to rate her experience, and surprisingly, she gave it a high score.

Late ‘Brady Bunch’ actress Florence Henderson | Photo: Getty Images

MCCORMICK HAD ISSUES WITH DRUGS

Seeing the cast members together was a beautiful sight for the show's lovers, especially as each star had gone to build a career for themself after the series ended. However, McCormick had some difficulties at first.

Shortly after the show ended, the actress slipped into drug use and battled her insecurities and fears. Fortunately, she got sober in the 80s, and since then, she has focused on getting things back together.

The cast of "The Brady Bunch" television series on January 01, 1969 | Photo: Getty Images

"THE BRADY BUNCH"

The last episode of the classic sitcom aired almost forty years ago, but the impact remains fresh in the minds of those who were thrilled by the famous storyline of the Brady's.

The show was centered around newlyweds Mike Brady (Robert Reed) and his wife Carol (Florence Henderson), giving fans a glimpse of their daily lives with their six kids.

Since the last episode aired, cast members have remained close and part of each other's lives. Some have gone on to have great careers, while others still look back to the fondness of their childhood.

For viewers, "The Brady Bunch" remains one of America's most successful sitcoms, and hopefully, the world can see something of its sort again.

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