Florence Henderson, ‘Brady Bunch’ mom, dies at 82

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Florence Henderson, who played the Carol Brady in The Brady Bunch has died at 82, according to the Associated Press (AP).

The news was confirmed through a statement to AP by Henderson’s manager, Kayla Pressman, on Thursday, November 24.

According to Pressman, Henderson died due to heart failure and that she was surrounded by family and friends when it happened.

Henderson’s publicist, David Brokaw, told AP that Henderson died at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. 

On her Facebook page, Henderson said about her role as the Brady Bunch matriarch: “I played Carol as the mother I always wished I had, as the mother a lot of people wished they had.”

The Brady Bunch featured a wholesome family formed when a widow and a widower – each raising three girls and three boys, respectively – decided to marry.

The series premiered in 1969 and ran until 1974, but is still in syndication today.

“Florence Henderson was a dear friend for so many years,” tweeted Henderson’s Brady Bunch co-star Maureen McCormick, widely known for her role as the eldest daughter Marcia on the classic show.

“Love & hugs to her family. I’ll miss u dearly #RIPFlorence,” McCormick wrote.

Florence Henderson was a dear friend for so very many years & in my <3 forever. Love & hugs to her family. I’ll miss u dearly #RIPFlorence

— Maureen McCormick (@MoMcCormick7) November 25, 2016

You are in my heart forever Florence pic.twitter.com/PABCuPubA2

— Maureen McCormick (@MoMcCormick7) November 25, 2016

Born in Indiana on February 14, 1934, Henderson’s more than 6-decade acting career began at age 17 when she enrolled in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. 

She debuted on Broadway at 18 with a small part in the musical Wish You Were Here, and later nabbed a breakout role as the lead in the musical Oklahoma!

In addition to the original Brady Bunch, Henderson appeared in several spinoff shows including The Brady Brides in 1981 and The Bradys in 1990, as well as several movies based on the sitcom. – With reports from AFP/Rappler.com