‘Brady Bunch’ Star Florence Henderson Dead at 82
Florence Henderson, best known for her work on the sitcom The Brady Bunch, passed away Thursday at the age of 82.
Her manager said she died from heart failure in Los Angeles.
"We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear mother Florence Henderson from Heart Failure," the Henderson family said in a statement. "On this day of thanks, our beloved mother was surrounded by her devoted children and dearest friends. We thank all of her fans for their many years of love and ask that we be allowed to grieve in private."
Henderson played beloved mother Carol Brady on the popular sitcom, which still plays strong in reruns today. Her acting career began on Broadway in 1952, but she struck paydirt with The Brady Bunch, which aired from 1969-1974 and returned in different forms as specials and shows, albeit much less successful, in the early '80s and '90s.
Henderson, who worked steadily after the show's cancelation -- she was even hosting The Florence Henderson Show and Who's Cooking With Florence Henderson, on Retirement Living TV at the time of her death, also held the distinction of being the first woman to guest host The Tonight Show when she filled in for Johnny Carson.
Henderson is the third Brady Bunch star to pass away. Robert Reed, who played her husband Mike, died in 1992, while Ann B. Davis, who played bubbly maid Alice, died in 2014.
Maureen McCormick, who starred as oldest daughter Marcia on the show, reacted to Henderson's passing, as did many other Hollywood heavyweights: