Biography for
Florence Henderson (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

14 February 1934, Dale, Indiana, USA

Birth Name

Florence Agnes Henderson

Height

5' 3" (1.60 m)

Spouse

John Kappas	(4 August 1987 - 26 September 2002) (his death)
Ira Bernstein	(9 January 1956 - 1985) (divorced) 4 children

Trivia

Florence filed law suits against two companies because of the unauthorized use of her photo - Serial Killer, Inc. had been using her face on a t-shirt with the name "Porn Queen" underneath. A Cotati, Ca., gift shop also used her picture in an ad. [May 1999]

Youngest of 10 children born to an Indiana tenant farmer named Joseph Henderson and his homemaker wife named Elizabeth Henderson.

Children with Ira Bernstein: Barbara Bernstein, Joseph Bernstein, Robert Bernstein and Elizabeth Bernstein.

Her husband, Dr. John Kappas, is a hypnotherapist, and he and Florence met when he helped her battle depression during the mid-1980s.

She flew to New York City every weekend during the run of "The Brady Bunch" (1969) (which filmed in LA) in order to be with her family.

In the mid-1950s, she was diagnosed with a bone deformation of the inner ear, and she had to have surgery to prevent deafness.

Graduated from Indiana's St. Frances School in 1951, and then studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC. She earned a scholarship to AADA because of her singing talent.

Was a "Today" (1952) girl from 1959-1960, and later went on to co-host the short lived spinoff series "Later Today" (1999) from 1999-2000.

Was the first woman to host "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" (1962).

Is a licensed hypnotherapist. She learned about hypnotherapy from her late husband, John Kappas.

Prefers to apply her own makeup.

Is portrayed by Rebeccah Bush in Growing Up Brady (2000) (TV).

In a 2006 TV Guide /Bravo poll, her Carol Brady character was named the TV mom that most shaped viewers perceptions of a housewife with 45% of the vote. She topped both June Cleaver and Shirley Partridge for the honor.

Could sing 50 songs by heart by the age of 2.

Best known on TV for her starring role as Carol Brady on "The Brady Bunch" (1969).

Before "The Brady Bunch" (1969), she was primarily known as a singing actress in stage musical comedy productions. She claims to have performed the role of "Maria" in the Rodger & Hammerstein musical, "The Sound of Music", more than any other actress.

Personal Quotes

On her late TV husband, Robert Reed: "He was so close to all six of the Brady kids. When he called and asked me to tell them he wasn't going to live much longer, they were devastated. He was a good friend."

I begged them [the producers] to give Carol Brady a job. They wouldn't do that. I mean, those clothes, for God's sake, take a look at them! I didn't choose those, please...But I said, 'Can I just hit the kids every now and then? I mean, real life!' They wouldn't let me.