Maureen McCormick facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maureen McCormick
McCormick in 2009
Born	Maureen Denise McCormick (1956-08-05) August 5, 1956 (age 68) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress singer author
Years active	1964–present
Known for	The Brady Bunch The Brady Kids The Brady Brides A Very Brady Christmas The Love Boat Fantasy Island
Spouse(s)	Michael Cummings ​ (m. 1983)​
Children	1

Maureen Denise McCormick (born August 5, 1956) is an American actress, singer, and author. She is best known for playing Marcia Brady on the popular TV show The Brady Bunch. This show ran from 1969 to 1974 on ABC. Maureen also played Marcia in many spin-off shows and movies. These include The Brady Kids, The Brady Brides, and A Very Brady Christmas.

Besides her famous role, Maureen has appeared in other TV shows like The Amanda Show and The Love Boat. She also acted in movies such as The Idolmaker. In the 1980s and 1990s, she performed on stage. She played Wendy Darling in Peter Pan and Betty Rizzo in Grease. Maureen also released a country music album called When You Get a Little Lonely in 1995. In recent years, she has been on several reality television shows.

Maureen McCormick's Life and Career

Early Life and First Roles

Maureen McCormick was born on August 5, 1956, in Encino, California. Her parents were Irene and Richard McCormick. She has three older brothers: Michael, Dennis, and Kevin. Her family raised her in the Catholic faith.

When she was six years old, Maureen won the Baby Miss San Fernando Valley beauty pageant. In 1964, she first appeared on national TV. She was in Mattel commercials for Barbie and Chatty Cathy dolls. Later in the 1960s, Maureen had guest roles on several TV shows. These included Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, and My Three Sons. She also lent her voice to a redesigned Chatty Cathy doll in 1970. Maureen went to Taft High School in Woodland Hills.

Becoming Marcia Brady

Maureen McCormick's most famous role was as Marcia Brady on the classic 1970s sitcom The Brady Bunch.

From 1969 to 1974, Maureen played Marcia, the oldest daughter, in The Brady Bunch. This show was a sitcom about a blended family. Marcia was known for her cheerful and popular personality. After the show ended, it became very popular in reruns for many years. This led to new movies and spin-off shows. Maureen even had a short romance with her Brady Bunch co-star Barry Williams during the show's original run.

Music and Other Acting Roles

Maureen recorded four albums with the Brady Bunch cast. They also went on tour together. In 1972, she released her first solo songs, "Truckin' Back to You" and "Teeny Weeny Bit (Too Long)". The next year, she recorded an album with her Brady Bunch co-star Christopher Knight. It was called Chris Knight and Maureen McCormick. Maureen's solo song "Little Bird" was popular in some parts of the United States. She performed "Little Bird" on American Bandstand, and the host, Dick Clark, encouraged her to continue singing.

In 2015, old clips of Maureen as Marcia were used in a Snickers chocolate bar commercial. The ad showed action star Danny Trejo playing a hungry Marcia. After eating a Snickers, Marcia turned back into Maureen McCormick.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Maureen appeared in many TV shows. These included Happy Days, The Love Boat, and Fantasy Island. She also had roles in movies like The Idolmaker. In 1981, she played Marcia Brady again in the show The Brady Brides. Starting in 1983, Maureen toured as Wendy Darling in a stage production of Peter Pan.

Maureen McCormick married Michael Cummings on March 16, 1985. They have one daughter, Natalie Michelle, born on May 19, 1989. Maureen continued to act in films and TV shows. She was in the movie Return to Horror High (1987). She also played Marcia Brady again in the TV movie A Very Brady Christmas (1988). In 1994, Maureen made her Broadway debut. She played Betty Rizzo in a production of Grease.

On April 4, 1995, Maureen released her first solo album, When You Get a Little Lonely. Her brother's record label, Phantom Hill Records, released it. Maureen promoted the album with live shows and CD signings. She later said she wished she had written some of her own songs for the album. In 1997, she played country singer Barbara Mandrell in a TV movie about her life. Maureen also appeared in the soap opera Passions and the sitcom Scrubs.

Reality TV Star and Author

Maureen McCormick in 2009

In 2007, Maureen joined the reality show Celebrity Fit Club on VH1. She wanted to lose weight and succeeded, becoming the individual winner of the season.

Maureen McCormick wrote her autobiography, Here's the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice. It was published on October 14, 2008. The book became a bestseller, reaching number four on The New York Times list. While promoting her book, Maureen was a guest on many TV and radio shows.

Also in 2008, she joined the CMT reality show Gone Country. On this show, she competed for a music recording contract. This led to her own spin-off reality series called Outsiders Inn. In this show, she opened a bed and breakfast in Newport, Tennessee. In 2008, Maureen became a spokesperson for Children International.

In 2015, Maureen appeared on the Australian version of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. She stayed on the show for 42 days. In 2016, Maureen competed on season 23 of Dancing with the Stars. She danced with professional dancer Artem Chigvintsev and finished in 8th place. In 2019, she joined other Brady Bunch cast members in the TV series A Very Brady Renovation on HGTV.

In 2020, Maureen was named a Global Ambassador for Special Olympics International. In 2021, she started a new HGTV series called Frozen in Time. In this show, she works with a contractor to remodel homes.

Playing Maureen McCormick

Other actresses have played Maureen McCormick or her famous character, Marcia Brady. Kaley Cuoco played Maureen McCormick in the TV movie Growing Up Brady (2000). Christine Taylor played Marcia Brady in The Brady Bunch Movie (1995) and its sequel A Very Brady Sequel. Autumn Reeser played Marcia in the TV movie The Brady Bunch in the White House.

Film and TV Shows

Movies

Television Shows

Stage Performances

Awards and Recognitions

See also

In Spanish: Maureen McCormick para niños