Susan Olsen, best known for her role as Cindy Brady on "The Brady Bunch," recently shared a shocking story from her early days on the show. While filming, she experienced a serious accident that nearly cost her life.
During a makeup session on set, Olsen was standing on a chair when a heavy object fell from above. It struck the makeup artist first, then bounced off another crew member before hitting Olsen directly in the face. The impact left her injured and visibly swollen, a fact she later pointed out during a wedding scene in the series.
In a conversation on "The Real Brady Bros" podcast with her former co-stars Christopher Knight and Barry Williams, Olsen recalled how her face was noticeably puffy during the filming of her on-screen mother Carol’s wedding. She mentioned that if you look closely at the ceremony, you can see the effects of her injury.
At the time, only Florence Henderson, who played Carol, offered her comfort. The rest of the crew insisted she would be fine, but Olsen felt otherwise. She described her emotions, saying she wanted to cry and let go of her pride. After the incident, she decided to leave work early to see a doctor.
Olsen humorously reflected on the situation, mentioning that she could have made a lot of money if they had sued Paramount for her injury. Instead, she returned to work the next day, where Henderson made sure everyone noticed her condition.
Despite the injury, Olsen found a silver lining. She enjoyed the attention her bruises brought and even joked about it, saying her eyes were black and her face was swollen. Hal King, a renowned makeup artist, was brought in to help cover her injuries for filming.
"The Brady Bunch," which aired from 1969 to 1974, followed the story of a blended family and has remained a beloved classic. Olsen’s experience on set is a reminder of the unpredictable nature of filming and the challenges actors can face behind the scenes.
Recently, Olsen also discussed her views on a potential reboot of the show, which she claims fell through due to her political beliefs. She expressed disappointment that she could not portray her character in a way that reflected her real-life views. Olsen envisioned Cindy as a libertarian podcaster, hoping to bring a fresh perspective to the character.
Her story not only highlights the dangers of filming but also her resilience and sense of humor in the face of adversity.