Susan Olsen Reveals Near-Death Experience While Filming ‘The Brady Bunch’ Pilot
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In a recent revelation, Susan Olsen, best known for her role as Cindy Brady in the classic TV show ‘The Brady Bunch,’ shared a chilling experience she faced while filming the pilot episode of the popular series. Olsen, now 63 years old, opened up about the incident on a podcast called The Real Brady Bros.
During the podcast episode, Olsen reminisced about the show’s first episode titled “The Honeymoon,” which aired in September 1969. She was joined by her on-screen siblings Barry Williams, Christopher Knight, and Mike Lookinland, who portrayed Greg, Peter, and Bobby Brady, respectively. The episode depicted the characters of Carol and Mike tying the knot and embarking on a humorous honeymoon adventure.
Olsen shocked her co-stars when she revealed that she had suffered a near-death experience during the filming of the pilot episode. She disclosed that during a scene in the girls’ bedroom set, she was accidentally hit in the face by an object that fell from the catwalk where the lights were stored. The impact left her face bruised and swollen, which was why the close-up shot of her during the episode appeared blurry.
Despite the severity of her injuries, Olsen kept the incident a secret from her cast members at the time. She recalls how she tried to hide the extent of her injuries by getting body makeup applied to her legs. However, her swollen face was noticeable in certain scenes and early publicity shots from the show.
Olsen’s on-screen mother, Florence Henderson, who passed away in 2016, stood up for her after the accident. She made sure that the producers were aware of Olsen’s injuries the following day when she showed up to work with black eyes and a swollen face. Henderson’s support and validation of Olsen’s pain meant a lot to her during that challenging time.
The young actress also shared that the director of the pilot episode, John Rich, praised her bravery in handling the situation. Although Olsen wanted to cry and express her pain, she drew strength from Rich’s words and decided to remain composed. Looking back, she expressed regret for not taking legal action against the production company for the incident.
Despite the traumatic experience, Olsen found a silver lining in the situation when makeup artist Hal King, known for working with Lucille Ball, covered her injuries with makeup. She was delighted by the opportunity to work with a makeup artist she admired and appreciated the effort to conceal her bruises during filming.
Olsen’s story sheds light on the challenges faced by child actors in the entertainment industry and the importance of support from colleagues and mentors. Her resilience and ability to find positivity in a difficult situation demonstrate her strength as a survivor in the world of show business.