Susan Olsen, the beloved actress who captured hearts as Cindy Brady on The Brady Bunch, became a household name at just 8 years old. But the journey from Hollywood stardom to adulthood wasn’t always smooth sailing. Let’s dive into what happened to Susan after the iconic show wrapped up in 1974 and how she carved out her own path in life.
From Cindy Brady to Real Life: Susan Olsen’s Early Days
Susan Olsen burst onto the scene as Cindy Brady, the youngest of the Brady bunch, and quickly became a fan favorite. But behind the scenes, her life wasn’t all sunshine and roses. She candidly shared that she faced bullying at school because of her lisp, which was very real and not just an acting choice. “That episode got me more teased at my real school because the lisp was real,” Susan once told The Age. “I had extensive oral surgery as a child. My tongue is too big for my mouth,” she explained, opening up about the challenges she faced during her formative years.
Over the years, Susan has been open about her experiences on the set of The Brady Bunch, including the off-screen chemistry among the cast members. “I think all of us [hooked up] … We led a sheltered life for part of the year so if there was anybody to get a crush on or try to date, it would be our counterparts,” she said, giving fans a glimpse into the camaraderie and friendships that blossomed behind the scenes.
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Susan also weighed in on the well-known feud between Maureen McCormick, who played Marcia Brady, and Eve Plumb, who portrayed Jan Brady. “I think it’s kind of petty. From day one with these two I have always been in the middle and now it’s at the point where there isn’t even a desire to communicate through me,” she revealed, shedding light on the complexities of maintaining lifelong friendships in the spotlight.
Managing Fame at a Young Age: Susan Olsen’s Reflections
Susan Olsen has always been candid about the challenges of navigating fame at such a young age. “Fame was the one part I didn’t like,” she admitted in an interview with Fox News in May 2023. “I loved the work. I loved my castmates. I really loved the industry. I really liked what I did. I was a kid who wanted a job. [But] fame to me was silly. Just really, really ridiculous. It was like fool’s gold,” she explained.
She recounted a particularly frightening experience shortly after the show premiered. “I went to my uncle, a drama teacher in Palo Alto. He taught high school, and he would have these really extravagant productions. And we went up north to one of his productions,” she shared. “I got recognized in the audience and I got mobbed. They had to call the police to get me out. It was this huge crowd of people. I’d seen a grownup who [said], ‘Oh look, her little face is red. She can’t breathe – here, sign one more [autograph].’ It was very, very frightening. I didn’t like it. I was ready to quit the show,” she recalled.
Where Is Susan Olsen Now?
After the show’s run from 1969 to 1974, Susan appeared in several Brady sequels, but she eventually decided to explore other passions outside of acting. “In my early 20s, I became a graphic artist,” she said. “I got talked into teaching acting for children at Vibe Performing Arts [in Santa Clarita, California]. I’ve been doing that for a couple of years,” she revealed.
