Florence Henderson Biography (1934-)

Full name, Florence Agnes Henderson; born February 14, 1934, in Dale, IN; daughter of Joseph (a tobacco sharecropper) and Elizabeth (a homemaker; maiden name, Elder) Henderson; married Ira Bernstein (a producer), January 9, 1956 (divorced, 1985), married John Kappas (a hypnotherapist), August 4, 1987; children: (first marriage) Barbara Bernstein Chase (a television host), Joseph, Robert Norman, Elizabeth. Addresses: Contact: c/o FHB Productions, P.O.Box 11295, Marina Del Rey, CA 90295.

Nationality: American
Gender: Female
Occupation: Actress, singer, producer, writer
Birth Details: February 14, 1934; Dale, Indiana, United States

Famous Works

CREDITS
Television Appearances
Series
Regular, Sing Along, CBS, 1958
Regular, The Tonight Show (also known as The Jack Paar Showand The Tonight Show with Jack Paar), NBC, 1958-1962
(With Bill Hayes) Cohost, Oldsmobile Music Theatre (also known asOldsmobile Presents and Oldsmobile Theatre), NBC, 1959
Today girl, The Today Show (also known as NBC News Today and Today), NBC, 1959-1960
Summer hostess, The Bell Telephone Hour, 1964
Carol Ann Brady, The Brady Bunch, ABC, 1969-1974
Semiregular panelist, The Hollywood Squares, NBC, between 1969 and1976
Carol Brady, The Brady Bunch Hour, ABC, 1976-1977
Carol Brady, The Brady Brides, 1981
Host, Country Kitchen (also known as Florence Henderson's HomeCooking), The Nashville Network, 1985-1993
Carol Brady, The Bradys, CBS, 1990
Maggie Colby, Dave's World, CBS, 1993-1995
Cohost, Our Generation, Faith and Values Network, 1995-1996
Host, Florence Henderson's Short-cut Cooking, 1998-1999
Cohost, Later Today, NBC, 1999-2000
Special correspondent, The Today Show, 2000-2001
Moms on Strike, The Family Channel, 2002
Voice of Demeter, Hercules (animated; also known as Disney's Hercules).
Episodic
Guest, Coke Time with Eddie Fisher, 1954
"Huck Finn," The U.S. Steel Hour, CBS, 1957
"A Family Alliance," The U.S. Steel Hour, CBS, 1958
Celebrity contestant, Password, between 1962 and 1967
Celebrity guest, The Face Is Familiar, 1966
Guest, The Ed Sullivan Show, 1966
"The Abbe and the Nymph," I Spy, 1966
The Don Knotts Show, 1970
To Tell the Truth, 1971
Grandma Hutchins, "You're Never Too Old," The Brady Bunch, NBC, 1973
Medical Center, 1975 and 1976
Herself, The Muppet Show, syndicated, 1976
Audrey Baynes, "Lonely at the Top/Divorce Me, Please/Silent Night," The Love Boat, ABC, 1977
Diane DiMarzo, "Folks from Home/The Captain's Cup/Legal Eagle," The Love Boat, ABC, 1978
Christine Frank, "The Captain's Ne'er-do-well Brother/The Perfect Match/The Remake," The Love Boat, ABC, 1980
Harriet Rogers, "Isaac's Teacher/Seal of Approval/The Successor," TheLove Boat, ABC, 1981
"Country Cousin Blues/Daddy's Little Girl/Jackpot," The Love Boat,ABC, 1981
Ellen Ashley, "My Mother, the Swinger," Fantasy Island, ABC, 1981
Violet Casper (some sources cite Violet Cuthbert), "Hartland Express," Hart to Hart, ABC, 1981
"The Sailor," Fantasy Island, ABC, 1982
"Rendezvous at Big Gulch" (also known as "Terror in the Neighborhood"), Police Squad!, ABC, 1982
Celebrity contestant, The $25,000 Pyramid, between 1982 and 1985
Annabelle, "Hits and Missus/Return of Annabelle/Just Plain Folks Medicine/Caught in the Act/The Real Thing/Do Not Disturb/Lulu & Kenny (Country Music Jamboree): Parts 1 & 2," The Love Boat, ABC, 1983
Anita, "Friend of the Family/Affair on Demand/Just Another Pretty Face,"The Love Boat, ABC, 1983
Sarah James, "It Had to Be Mel," Alice, CBS, 1983
Lyla Armstrong, "Forgotten Melodies," Finder of Lost Loves, 1984
Irene, "Runaway," The Love Boat, ABC, 1985
"Love and the Piano Teacher," The New Love, American Style, ABC, 1985
Host, "A Team Show," Musical Encounter, part one, KLCS, 1985
Host, "A Record Show," Musical Encounter, part three, KLCS, 1985
Host, "Musical Families," Musical Encounter, part five, KLCS, 1985
"Healthy, Wealthy, and Dead," Cover Up, 1985
Celebrity contestant, The $100,000 Pyramid, between 1985 and 1986
Margaret Flanagan, L.A. Law, NBC, 1986
Maria Morgana, "Death Stalks the Big Top: Parts 1 & 2," Murder, She Wrote, CBS, 1986
Herself, "The Schumachers Go to Hollywood," It's Garry Shandling's Show, Showtime and Fox, 1987
Carol Brady, "Brady Dimension" (also known as "A Very Brady Episode"), Day by Day, NBC, 1989
Everyday with Joan Lunden, 1989
Patti Sue Diamond, "Ballad for a Blue Lady," Murder, She Wrote, CBS, 1990
The Sally Jessy Raphael Show, CBS, 1990
Herself, "My Mom and Why I Love Her," Out of This World, 1991
Celebrity guest, Scattergories, 1994
Florence "Flo" Anderson, "Suck Up or Shut Up," Roseanne, ABC, 1994
"Mommies Day," The Mommies, NBC, 1994
Lydia Sexton, Burke's Law, CBS, 1994
Herself, "Caroline and the Balloon," Caroline in the City, NBC, 1995
Herself, Night Stand, 1995
Muriel, Fudge-a-Mania, 1995
Biggers and Summers, Lifetime, 1995
Madeline, "Joe's Kept Secret," Ellen, ABC, 1996
Guest Host, The Vicki Lawrence Show (also known as Fox after Breakfast), Fox, 1996
Straight Forward with Roger Ailes, America's Talking Network, 1996
The Rosie O'Donnell Show, 1996 and 1997
Mother-in-law, "Thankless Giving," Hiller and Diller, 1997
Voice, Nightmare Ned, ABC, 1997
The Late, Late Show, CBS, 1997
Larry King Weekend, 1997
Nellie Forbush, "No Sex 'til after Homework," Union Square, 1997
The View, ABC, 1998
The Howie Mandel Show, 1998

The Donny & Marie Show, 1998
Leeza, 1998
CBS This Morning, CBS, 1999
The Today Show, 1999
The Rosie O'Donnell Show, 1999
The Ainsley Harriott Show, 2000
Guest host, Larry King Live, Cable News Network, 2000
Lily, "Dark Meet," The King of Queens, CBS, 2000
Herself, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, ABC, 2001
Herself, "The Brady Bunch Episode," The Weakest Link, 2001
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, 2001
Shirley Grouper, "Two's a Crowd: Part 1," Ally McBeal, 2002
Appeared in episodes of The Dean Martin Show; The Dictionary Game; The Hollywood Palace, The Jackie Gleason Show; The Jonathan Winters Show; Kraft Music Hall; in "1984," an episode of The Love Boat, ABC; The Mike Douglas Show in the 1970s; as guesthost of Nashville Now in the 1980s; Operation: Entertainment; Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher in the 1990s; The Tony Orlando and Dawn Rainbow Hour in the 1970s; and The Wil Shriner Show.
Specials
Laurey, "Oklahoma," General Foods Anniversary Show: A Tribute to Rodgers and Hammerstein (also known as General Foods Anniversary Show and General Goods Anniversary Special), 1954
An Evening with Richard Rodgers (also known as The Rodgers andHammerstein Anniversary Show), 1954
Oscar Hammerstein II--An Appreciation (also known as Tribute toOscar Hammerstein), NBC, 1960
A World of Love, 1970
Highlights of the Ice Capades: Bell System Family Theatre, 1970
This Is Tom Jones, 1970
The Gershwin Years, 1961
City vs. Country, 1971
A Salute to Television's 25th Anniversary, 1972
The Paul Lynde Halloween Special, 1976
Bob Hop Special: Bob Hope's All-Star Comedy Special From Australia, 1978
Bob Hope Special: Bob Hope's Women I Love--Beautiful But Funny, 1982
The Night of 100 Stars II, 1985
Sylvia Fine Kaye's Musical Comedy Tonight III, 1985
Host, Star Tour Australia, 1986
Candid Camera Christmas Special, 1987
Happy Birthday, Hollywood!, 1987
Jay Leno's Family Comedy Hour, 1987
Ellen Casio, "Just a Regular Kid: An AIDS Story," ABC Afterschool Special, ABC, 1987
Host, The Mrs. America Pageant, 1987
Today at 35, 1987
Host, The Fourth Annual Mrs. of the World Pageant, 1988
Host, Still a Family, 1989
There Really Is a Santa Claus, 1989
Bob Hope Lampoons Show Business, 1990
Stand-Up Comics Take a Stand!, 1990
Starathon '90, 1990
Host, The Mrs. America Pageant, 1990
The Tube Test, 1990
Funny Business with Charlie Chase, 1991
New York host, Starathon '91, 1991
Mom Knows Best (also known as Sitcom Moms), CBS, 1992
Host, Starathon '92: A Weekend with the Stars, syndicated, 1992
Segment host, A 70s Celebration: The Beat Is Back (also known as A Salute to the 70s: The Beat Is Back), NBC, 1993
Bob Hope: The First Ninety Years, NBC, 1993
Host, Bradymania: A Very Brady Special (also known as Bradymania), ABC, 1993
A Capitol Fourth, PBS, 1994
Brady Bunch Home Movies, CBS, 1995
Gail Sheehy's New Passages, ABC, 1996
Host, Mom USA, syndicated, 1996
Herself, "Weird Al" Yankovic: (There's No) Going Home, 1996
Host, The Mrs. America Pageant, 1997
Host, A Capitol Fourth, PBS, 1997
Fifty Years of Television: A Celebration of the Academy of TelevisionArts and Sciences Golden Anniversary, HBO, 1997
Host, The Mrs. America Pageant, 1998
Celebrity guest, Music Too Hot for Mom, VH1, 1998
The E! True Hollywood Story: Dean Martin, E! Entertainment Television, 1999
The E! True Hollywood Story of the Brady Bunch, E! Entertainment Television, 1999
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, 1999
Cohost, Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular, NBC, 2000
Today: 50th Anniversary Special, NBC, 2002
Mrs. World Pageant, PAX, 2002
Awards Presentations
The 41st Annual Emmy Awards, 1989
MTV Movie Awards, MTV, 1993
Movies
Meg March, Little Women (musical), 1958
Carol Brady, A Very Brady Christmas, CBS, 1988
Muriel, Fudge-A-Mania, ABC, 1995
Pilots
Monica Richardson, The Love Boat, ABC, 1976
Carol Brady, The Brady Girls Get Married (also known as The Brady Brides), NBC, 1981
Television Work
Series
Coproducer, Country Kitchen (also known as Florence Henderson'sHome Cooking), The Nashville Network, 1985-1993
Stage Appearances
New girl, Wish You Were Here, Imperial Theatre, New York City, 1952
Laurey, Oklahoma!, City Center Theatre, New York City, 1953
Resi, The Great Waltz, Los Angeles Civic Light Opera, Los Angeles,later Curran Theatre, San Francisco, CA, both 1953
Title role, Fanny, Majestic Theatre, New York City, 1954
Mary Morgan, The Girl Who Came to Supper, New York City, 1963
Anna, The King and I, Los Angeles Music Center, Los Angeles, 1965
Jerome Kern's Theatre (benefit performance), Lincoln Center Theatre, New York City, 1966
New Faces of 1966 (revue), 1966
Nellie Forbush, South Pacific, New York State Theatre, New York City, later Lincoln Center Theatre, 1967
The Sound of Music, Los Angeles Civic Light Opera, 1978
Ella, Bells Are Ringing, Los Angeles Civic Light Opera, then San Francisco Civic Light Opera, between 1978 and 1979
The Night of 100 Stars II, Theatre at Radio City Music Hall, New York City, 1985
Alone Together, La Mirada Civic Theatre, La Mirada, CA, 1989
Major Tours
Laurey, Oklahoma!, 1952-1953
Maria, The Sound of Music, 1961
Annie Oakley, Annie Get Your Gun, 1974
Film Appearances
Nina Grieg, The Song of Norway, Cinerama, 1970
The one-night stand, Shakes the Clown, IRS Releasing, 1992
Herself, Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult, Paramount, 1994
Grandma, The Brady Bunch Movie, Paramount, 1995
Herself, Holy Man, Buena Vista, 1998
Herself, Get Bruce!, Miramax, 1999
RECORDINGS
Videos
Amish wife, "Amish Paradise," "Weird Al" Yankovic: The Videos, 1996
Also appeared in the video Looking Great, Feeling Great.
Albums
With One More Look at You, Manhattan Records, 1979
The Girl Who Came to Supper, Sony, 1992
It's a Sunshine Day: The Best of the Brady Bunch, MCA, 1993
Broadway in Love: Embraceable You, Sony, 1993
Fanny (original Broadway cast recording), RCA, 1996
Taped Readings
(With Linda Lavin and Marcia Rodd) The Performances of John Vliet Lindsay, 1970
WRITINGS
Books
(Adaptor with Shari Lewis) One-Minute Bible Stories, New Testament, illustrated by C. S. Ewing, Doubleday (Garden City, NY), 1986
A Little Cooking, A Little Talking and a Whole Lotta Fun, edited by Elyssa A. Harte, Panorama Publishing (Van Nuys, CA), 1988
Florence Henderson's Short-Cut Cooking: America's Favorite Mom Shows You How to Get Food on the Table Fast, photographs by Lisa Koenig, Morrow(New York City), 1998

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Books

Lovece, Frank, and Andrew Edelstien, The Brady Bunch Book, WarnerBooks (New York City), 1990
Stoddard, Sylvia, TV Treasures: A Companion Guide to the Brady Bunch, St. Martin's Press (New York City), 1996
Williams, Barry, and Chris Kreski, Growing Up Brady, HarperPerennial (New York City), 1992

Periodicals

Advocate, August, 1993, pp. 54-55
Entertainment Weekly, May 29, 1992, pp. 43-44
Fitness Plus, September, 1991
Parade, August, 1992
People Weekly, July 26, 1993, pp. 60-64; September 13, 1999, p. 152

Electronic

Florence Henderson Official Site, http://www.flohome.com, January14, 2002

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