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. 1985)​
Children	1

Maureen Denise McCormick (born August 5, 1956) is an American actress and singer. She is most famous for playing Marcia Brady on the TV show The Brady Bunch from 1969 to 1974. She also played Marcia in many spin-off shows and movies.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Maureen acted in films and on stage. She was in movies like The Idolmaker (1980) and Return to Horror High (1987). On stage, she played Wendy Darling in Peter Pan in 1983. She also played Betty Rizzo in Grease in 1994. In the 2000s, she appeared in TV shows like Passions. She also joined several reality television series. These included Celebrity Fit Club and Gone Country.

Maureen McCormick also had a music career. She recorded four albums with the Brady Bunch cast. Her only solo album, When You Get a Little Lonely, was released in 1995. Maureen faced some personal challenges after her early success. In 2008, she wrote an autobiography called Here's the Story. This book became a bestseller.

Maureen McCormick's Life and Career

Early Life and First TV Roles (1956–1968)

Maureen McCormick was born on August 5, 1956. Her birthplace was Encino, California. Her parents were Irene and Richard McCormick. She has three older brothers. Her family raised her in a Catholic home.

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

Starring in The Brady Bunch (1969–1974)

Cast photo of The Brady Bunch. Back (L-R): Christopher Knight (Peter), Barry Williams (Greg), Ann B. Davis (Alice). Second row (L-R): Eve Plumb (Jan), Florence Henderson (Carol), Robert Reed (Mike), Maureen McCormick (Marcia). Front (L-R): Susan Olsen (Cindy), Mike Lookinland (Bobby).

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

Maureen McCormick played Marcia Brady. Marcia was the eldest daughter in The Brady Bunch. This show was about a blended family. It aired from 1969 to 1974 on ABC. Marcia was known for her cheerful and popular personality.

After the show ended, it was shown again in reruns for many years. This made it very popular across different generations. This popularity led to spin-off shows and movies. Maureen also voiced Marcia in The Brady Kids cartoon. She recorded four albums with the Brady Bunch cast. In 1972, she released her first solo song. The next year, she recorded an album with her co-star Christopher Knight. Maureen's song "Little Bird" was a small hit. She performed it on American Bandstand.

In 2015, old footage of Maureen as Marcia was used in a Snickers commercial. This commercial aired during Super Bowl XLIX. It showed action star Danny Trejo as a hungry Marcia. After eating a Snickers, Marcia changed back to Maureen McCormick.

Other Roles and Personal Journey (1975–2006)

After The Brady Bunch ended, Maureen faced some personal difficulties. Despite these challenges, she appeared in many TV shows. These included Happy Days, The Love Boat, and Fantasy Island. She also had roles in movies like The Idolmaker.

Maureen reprised her role as Marcia Brady in The Brady Bunch Hour (1976–1977). She also appeared in The Brady Brides in 1981. In 1983, she played Wendy Darling in a touring play of Peter Pan.

Maureen married Michael Cummings on March 16, 1985. After getting married, she worked on overcoming her personal struggles. She received help from a psychologist. She also found support from her friends, including her former Brady Bunch cast members.

She continued to act in films and TV. She was a police officer in Return to Horror High (1987). She also played Marcia Brady again in A Very Brady Christmas (1988). Maureen and Michael had a daughter, Natalie Michelle, on May 19, 1989. In 1994, Maureen made her Broadway debut. She played Betty Rizzo in Grease.

Maureen released her first solo album, When You Get a Little Lonely, in 1995. It was released by her brother's record label. The album received mixed reviews. Maureen later said she wished she had written some of her own songs for it. In 1997, she played country singer Barbara Mandrell in a TV movie. In 2000, she was the first actress to play Rebecca Crane on the soap opera Passions. In 2003, she appeared as herself on the show Scrubs.

Reality TV and Recent Work (2007–Present)

McCormick in 2009

In 2007, Maureen joined the reality show Celebrity Fit Club. She wanted to lose weight after her mother passed away. Maureen lost 34 pounds and won the show.

She released her autobiography, Here's the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice, on October 14, 2008. The book became a bestseller. It was on The New York Times bestseller list for three weeks. Maureen promoted her book on many TV and talk shows.

Also in 2008, she joined the reality show Gone Country. She competed for a music contract. This led to her own spin-off show, Outsiders Inn. In this show, she opened a bed and breakfast. In 2008, Maureen became a spokesperson for Children International. In 2015, she appeared on the Australian reality show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. She stayed on the show for 42 days.

On August 30, 2016, Maureen competed on Dancing with the Stars. She was partnered with professional dancer Artem Chigvintsev. They finished in 8th place. In 2019, she reunited with the other main cast members of The Brady Bunch. They starred in the TV series A Very Brady Renovation on HGTV.

In 2020, Maureen became a global ambassador for Special Olympics International. In 2021, she started a new HGTV series called Frozen in Time. In this show, she helps remodel homes with a contractor. In 2023, she appeared in an episode of the new Fantasy Island TV series.

Biographical Portrayals

Kaley Cuoco played Maureen McCormick in the TV movie Growing Up Brady (2000). Maureen's character, Marcia Brady, has also been played by other actresses. Christine Taylor played Marcia in The Brady Bunch Movie (1995) and its sequel A Very Brady Sequel. Autumn Reeser played Marcia in The Brady Bunch in the White House.

Discography

Studio albums

Filmography

Film

Television

Stage credits

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Maureen McCormick para niños