FLORENCE HENDERSON
Name: Florence Agnes Henderson
Born: 14 February 1934 Dale, Indiana, U.S.
Florence Agnes Henderson (born February 14, 1934) is an American actress and
singer, perhaps best known for playing the role of Carol Brady in the television
program The Brady Bunch, which ran from 1969 to 1974.
Henderson, one of ten children, was born on Valentine's Day in Dale, Indiana,
the daughter of Elizabeth (née Elder), a homemaker, and Joseph Henderson, a
tobacco sharecropper. Raised Catholic, she graduated from St. Francis Academy
in Owensboro, Kentucky in 1951; shortly thereafter, she went to New York City,
enrolling in the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She is an Aluma
Initiate of the Alpha Chi chapter of Delta Zeta Sorority.
Henderson started her career on the stage, performing in musicals, such as the
touring production of Oklahoma! and South Pacific at Lincoln Center. She debuted
on Broadway in Wish You Were Here in 1952, and later starred in such notable
shows as Fanny (1954), and The Girl Who Came to Supper (1963). In 1962, she won
the Sarah Siddons Award for her work in Chicago Theatre, and the same year
became the first woman to host The Johnny Carson Show. Talented at skit comedy
as well as song and dance, she was ideal for the Dean Martin Variety Show, on
which she was a frequent guest.
Her most widely seen role was as "Carol Brady" in The Brady Bunch which was
produced from 1968 until 1974. A worldwide success, it continues to be screened
in many countries through syndication. Primarily due to her role in the Brady
Bunch, Henderson was ranked by TV Land and Entertainment Weekly magazine as one
of the 100 Greatest TV Icons. Henderson's ability to effortlessly transmit
warmth and affection was an essential element to the long enduring success of
the Brady Bunch. Henderson was a frequent panelist on the original version of
the television game show Hollywood Squares.
Henderson in September 1989
Henderson was also the spokeswoman for Wesson cooking oil, from 1976 to 1996.
During that time, she hosted a cooking show on TNN called Country Kitchen, and
also did ads for Prange's, a former Wisconsin department store chain. Henderson
co-hosted the talk show Later Today on NBC (1999-2000) with co-hosts Jodi
Applegate and Asha Blake. Today, she is the spokeswoman for Polident denture
cleanser (although she does not wear dentures herself). She is also the
spokesperson for RainSoft Water Treatment Systems. In 2003, Henderson seemed
to poke fun at her wholesome image by appearing in a Pepsi Twist television
commercial with Ozzy Osbourne.
Henderson regularly tours as a singer on the condominium circuit with other
performers such as magician/comedian Jamie Porter. Henderson has also appeared
with her TV children whenever the opportunity comes about. For instance, she
appeared on the reality-television series My Fair Brady starring Christopher
Knight. She is also in the sixth season of VH1's Surreal Life.
In most years since the mid-1990s, the song "God Bless America" has been
performed by Henderson at the Indianapolis 500. Henderson is a friend of the
Hulman-George family, the owners of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Her
performance is followed by "The Star-Spangled Banner," performed by a notable
artist each year.
An uncharacteristically naughty Florence can be seen on You Tube, on stage
performing a ribald version of "When You're Good to Mama" from the Broadway
musical "Chicago."
She appeared in the Weird Al Yankovic video for "Amish Paradise" and co-hosted
the daily talk show "Living Live" with former Designing Women star Meshach
Taylor on Retirement Living TV. The show was reworked to focus on her and was
renamed "The Florence Henderson Show".
Name: Florence Agnes Henderson
Born: 14 February 1934 Dale, Indiana, U.S.
Florence Agnes Henderson (born February 14, 1934) is an American actress and
singer, perhaps best known for playing the role of Carol Brady in the television
program The Brady Bunch, which ran from 1969 to 1974.
Henderson, one of ten children, was born on Valentine's Day in Dale, Indiana,
the daughter of Elizabeth (née Elder), a homemaker, and Joseph Henderson, a
tobacco sharecropper. Raised Catholic, she graduated from St. Francis Academy
in Owensboro, Kentucky in 1951; shortly thereafter, she went to New York City,
enrolling in the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She is an Aluma
Initiate of the Alpha Chi chapter of Delta Zeta Sorority.
Henderson started her career on the stage, performing in musicals, such as the
touring production of Oklahoma! and South Pacific at Lincoln Center. She debuted
on Broadway in Wish You Were Here in 1952, and later starred in such notable
shows as Fanny (1954), and The Girl Who Came to Supper (1963). In 1962, she won
the Sarah Siddons Award for her work in Chicago Theatre, and the same year
became the first woman to host The Johnny Carson Show. Talented at skit comedy
as well as song and dance, she was ideal for the Dean Martin Variety Show, on
which she was a frequent guest.
Her most widely seen role was as "Carol Brady" in The Brady Bunch which was
produced from 1968 until 1974. A worldwide success, it continues to be screened
in many countries through syndication. Primarily due to her role in the Brady
Bunch, Henderson was ranked by TV Land and Entertainment Weekly magazine as one
of the 100 Greatest TV Icons. Henderson's ability to effortlessly transmit
warmth and affection was an essential element to the long enduring success of
the Brady Bunch. Henderson was a frequent panelist on the original version of
the television game show Hollywood Squares.
Henderson in September 1989
Henderson was also the spokeswoman for Wesson cooking oil, from 1976 to 1996.
During that time, she hosted a cooking show on TNN called Country Kitchen, and
also did ads for Prange's, a former Wisconsin department store chain. Henderson
co-hosted the talk show Later Today on NBC (1999-2000) with co-hosts Jodi
Applegate and Asha Blake. Today, she is the spokeswoman for Polident denture
cleanser (although she does not wear dentures herself). She is also the
spokesperson for RainSoft Water Treatment Systems. In 2003, Henderson seemed
to poke fun at her wholesome image by appearing in a Pepsi Twist television
commercial with Ozzy Osbourne.
Henderson regularly tours as a singer on the condominium circuit with other
performers such as magician/comedian Jamie Porter. Henderson has also appeared
with her TV children whenever the opportunity comes about. For instance, she
appeared on the reality-television series My Fair Brady starring Christopher
Knight. She is also in the sixth season of VH1's Surreal Life.
In most years since the mid-1990s, the song "God Bless America" has been
performed by Henderson at the Indianapolis 500. Henderson is a friend of the
Hulman-George family, the owners of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Her
performance is followed by "The Star-Spangled Banner," performed by a notable
artist each year.
An uncharacteristically naughty Florence can be seen on You Tube, on stage
performing a ribald version of "When You're Good to Mama" from the Broadway
musical "Chicago."
She appeared in the Weird Al Yankovic video for "Amish Paradise" and co-hosted
the daily talk show "Living Live" with former Designing Women star Meshach
Taylor on Retirement Living TV. The show was reworked to focus on her and was
renamed "The Florence Henderson Show".