Maureen McCormick
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Maureen McCormick | |
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At a booksigning for her book Here's the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice in Maui, December 2009
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Born | Maureen Denise McCormick August 5, 1956 Encino, California, U.S. |
Occupation | Actress, singer |
Years active | 1964–present |
Spouse(s) | Michael Cummings (m. 1985–present) |
Children | Natalie Cummings (b. 1989) |
Contents
Early life and career
Maureen McCormick was born in Encino, California, the daughter of Irene (née Beckman) and William McCormick, a teacher.[1] She has three older brothers: Michael, Dennis and Kevin. At the age of six she won the Baby Miss San Fernando Valley beauty pageant.[2] McCormick first appeared on national U.S. television in 1964 for Mattel toys on Barbie and Chatty Cathy doll commercials. She lent her voice to a redesigned Chatty Cathy doll in 1970. Through the later 1960s McCormick appeared in two episodes of Bewitched and played guest roles on I Dream of Jeannie, Honey West, The Farmer's Daughter, and My Three Sons. According to her biography, McCormick attended Taft High School in Woodland Hills California.Marcia Brady
Further information: The Brady Bunch
Further information: Characters of The Brady Bunch
McCormick played the eldest daughter, Marcia, who had five siblings. She had a perky and popular personality in The Brady Bunch, an American television sitcom about a blended family that aired from late 1969 to early 1974 on ABC, Friday nights at 8 p.m. After its cancellation, "Brady Bunch" episodes were rebroadcast in syndication for decades as children's programming, gathering a long-lasting, cross-generational popularity that led to spinoffs and movies.Later career
After The Brady Bunch, McCormick made guest appearances on many television series such as Happy Days, Donny & Marie, Love Boat, Vega$, Streets of San Francisco, and Fantasy Island, along with supporting roles in The Idolmaker and B-movies such as 1979's A Vacation In Hell, Skatetown, U.S.A., and 1987's Return to Horror High. McCormick later claimed she failed to get a part as a prostitute or heroin dealer for the movie Midnight Express because of this.[3] McCormick was the first actress to play Rebecca Crane on the soap opera Passions but she was not put on contract. McCormick also performed in musical stage productions during the mid 1980s, including as the character Wendy Darling in Peter Pan.[4]In 2007, McCormick was a cast member on the fifth season of VH1's reality show Celebrity Fit Club, hoping to lose 30 pounds she had gained since her mother died of cancer and needing to move her disabled brother into an assisted living facility. McCormick lost 34 pounds and, in June of that year, was the individual winner of the series.
In 2008, she became a spokesperson for Children International.[5] Later that year, she became a cast member on the CMT reality show Gone Country. This led to a spin-off reality series called Outsiders Inn in which she opened a bed and breakfast inn in Newport, Tennessee.
On March 15, 2009, McCormick appeared on Comedy Central's roast of Larry the Cable Guy.
She also appeared in an episode of the show Scrubs as J.D.'s dream wife; however, she is married to him as Marcia Brady.
Personal life
McCormick and fellow Brady Bunch cast member Barry Williams had a sporadic romance during the original series run, with their first romantic kiss happening in the summer of 1972, while filming the Hawaiian episodes.In her autobiography, McCormick wrote that her grandmother died from syphilis in a mental institution, having gotten the disease from her husband, who caught it in Europe at the time of World War I (and who committed suicide a week after his wife's death). McCormick's mother contracted syphilis in utero and McCormick dealt with a lifelong, but unfounded, fear she would also get the disease.[6] Hence, McCormick later said her favorite scenes in The Brady Bunch were those that called for her to cry, since this allowed her to release feelings she drew from those fears.
Following the cancellation of The Brady Bunch, McCormick went through years of addiction to cocaine and quaaludes that harmed her career. McCormick later claimed she sometimes traded sex for drugs. She also had two abortions during her early twenties. She flubbed an audition with Steven Spielberg for a part in Raiders of the Lost Ark, showing up high on cocaine and sleepless for three days. She lost her reputation for reliability in Hollywood, and one producer threatened that she would never work as an actress again. She also dealt with bouts of depression and bulimia.[2][7]
On March 16, 1985, she married Michael Cummings, who had heard of The Brady Bunch but had never seen it. They fell in love upon meeting in a church.[8] McCormick and Cummings have one child, daughter Natalie Michelle, born May 19, 1989. The family lives in Westlake Village, northwest of Los Angeles.
After her marriage, McCormick went through a series of interventions, stints in rehab and experimental therapies. She says treatment with psychologist Eugene Landy, who had also treated Brian Wilson, set her back. Although she began to get sober after marrying her husband, McCormick still suffered from depression and paranoia. McCormick once threatened to jump from a balcony in front of her husband.[8] She and her husband were at first wary of medication, but McCormick has been treated with antidepressant medication such as Prozac since the 1990s. McCormick also said she was helped by her friendships with former Brady Bunch cast members.[2][3]
In April 2007, on the TV series Dr. Phil, McCormick talked about a family dispute, accusing her brother of both elder abuse and alienating their father from his other children to gain control of his finances.[9]
Autobiography
On October 14, 2008, with wide and sometimes controversial publicity, she released her autobiography Here's the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice, which debuted at number four on The New York Times Best Seller List and stayed on the list for three weeks.[10] The book was published by HarperCollins and was acquired by the Director of Creative Development, Lisa Sharkey. While promoting the book she was a guest on many news and talk shows such as Access Hollywood, The Howard Stern Show, Good Day L.A. and Paula's Party. The Today Show reportedly aired an interview with McCormick about the book rather than switch to a story about the 2008 recession.[11] McCormick said a movie would likely be made about her autobiography.[12]Other TV, film and stage work
- In 1967, she played Sylvia on My Three Sons (season 8, episode 10; "Ernie The Bluebeard")
- On 02-11-1975, she played Hildie on Happy Days (season 2 epi 16 "CRUIZIN'")
- In 1976, she played a teenage prostitute on the TV series The Streets of San Francisco.
- In 1977, she played a kleptomaniac tennis star on The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries.
- On February 5, 1989, she reprised her role as Marcia Brady in a dream sequence episode of the short-lived sitcom Day by Day. The episode brought together the Brady family in a dream to slacker son Ross who neglects schoolwork to watch a Brady Bunch marathon. McCormick scored big laughs in the satiric segment playing a visibly pregnant Marcia.
- In 1993, she played herself on an episode of Herman's Head.[13]
- In 1994, McCormick played the role of Rizzo in the Broadway production of Grease.
- In 1997, she played the title role in Get to the Heart: The Barbara Mandrell Story.
- In 2000, she played Rebecca Hotchkiss on Passions for 10 episodes; after her stint ended, she was replaced by Andrea Evans.
- In 2001, she played Mrs. Strawther on Son of the Beach.
- In 2003, she appeared in Scrubs in a dream sequence where protagonist J.D. imagines Marcia Brady as his ideal bride (he shushes her when she points out that her name is actually Maureen McCormick).
- In 2003, she appeared as herself in a "bonus feature" entitled "Child Stars on Your Television" [14] in the DVD release of Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star.[15]
- In 2007, she played a shy, clumsy woman who was the eventual object of Jason Alexander's desires in the Brad Paisley country music video, "Online".[16]
- In 2009, she participated in the Comedy Central Roast of Larry the Cable Guy, which aired on March 14.
Recording career
McCormick recorded four albums, with the Brady Bunch cast, and toured with them. In 1972, she released her first solo single with the songs "Truckin' Back to You" and "Teeny Weeny Bit (Too Long)." A year later McCormick recorded an album with Brady co-star Christopher Knight. The pop LP, called Chris Knight and Maureen McCormick, carried both duets and solo tracks by the two young television stars. McCormick's second solo single was "Little Bird", backed with "Just a Singin' Alone", had mild chart success in the western US. McCormick performed "Little Bird" on American Bandstand and the show's host Dick Clark encouraged her to follow a singing career. McCormick released another single in 1973, "Love's in the Roses", backed with "Harmonize."More than twenty years later McCormick released her first solo album, a country CD called When You Get a Little Lonely (1995). Although not a commercial success, it gathered mostly positive reviews.
In 1997, she played country singer Barbara Mandrell in the television biography Get to the Heart: The Barbara Mandrell Story and in 2008 competed for a record contract on the CMT reality show Gone Country.
Biographical portrayals
Kaley Cuoco portrayed Maureen McCormick in Growing Up Brady. McCormick's character Marcia Brady has been portrayed by Christine Taylor in The Brady Bunch Movie and A Very Brady Sequel.Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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1965 | The Farmer's Daughter | Christine | TV series; season 2, episode 25: "Why Don't They Ever Pick Me?" |
1965 | Bewitched | Young Endora — Girl | TV series; season 2, episode 7: "Trick or Treat" |
1965 | Honey West | Margaret Mary Driscoll | TV series; season 1, episode 8: "In the Bag" |
1965– 1966 |
Camp Runamuck | Maureen Sullivan | TV series; two episodes; season 1, episode 1: "Who Stole My Bathtub"; season 1, episode 16: "Tomboy" |
1966 | I Dream of Jeannie | Susan | TV series; season 1, episode 20: "My Master, the Doctor" |
1967 | My Three Sons | Sylvia Walters | TV series; season 8, episode 10: "Ernie the Bluebeard" |
1969 | The Arrangement | Uncredited | Zephyr Commercial |
1969– 1974 |
The Brady Bunch | Marcia Brady | TV series; 116 episodes; series regular |
1971 | Cold Turkey | Talking Doll | Voice |
1972 | The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie | Marcia Brady | The Brady Kids on Mysterious Island; television movie; voice |
1972– 1973 |
The Brady Kids | Marcia Brady | TV series; voice |
1973 | Marcus Welby, M.D. | Sharon Boyd | TV series; season 4, episode 23: "The Day After Forever" |
1975 | Happy Days | Hildie | TV series; season 2, episode 16: "Cruisin'" |
1975 | Harry O | Nancy Wayne | TV series; season 1, episode 22: "Street Games" |
1975 | The Turning Point of Jim Malloy | Uncredited | Television movie |
1975 | Joe Forrester | Irene Kellogg | TV series; season 1, episode 3: "Bus Station" |
1976 | The Streets of San Francisco | Cindy Lawson | TV series; season 5, episode 5: "No Minor Vices" |
1976 | Pony Express Rider | Rose of Sharon | Theatrical release |
1976 | Gibbsville | Uncredited | TV series; season 1, episode 4: "All the Young Girls" |
1976– 1977 |
The Brady Bunch Hour | Marcia Brady | TV series; 9 episodes; series regular |
1977 | Delvecchio | Lynette Youndfellow | TV series; season 1, episode 14: "One Little Indian" |
1977 | Moonshine County Express | Sissy Hammer | Theatrical release |
1977 | The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries | Karen Phillips | TV series; season 2, episode 10: "Nancy Drew's Love Match" |
1977– 1982 |
The Love Boat | Barbara Holmes | TV series; 5 episodes |
1978 | Vega$ | Jenny Logan | TV series; season 1, episode 8: "The Pageant" |
1978– 1983 |
Fantasy Island | Angela Brennan | TV series; 6 episodes |
1979 | Take Down | Brooke Cooper | Theatrical release |
1979 | Insight | Jenny | TV series; one episode: "When, Jenny? When?" |
1979 | Lou Grant | Tiffany | TV series; season 2, episode 16: "Sweep" |
1979 | A Vacation in Hell | Margret | Television movie |
1979 | The Runaways | Janet | TV series; season 2, episode 2: "Throwaway Child" |
1979 | Skatetown, U.S.A. | Susan | Theatrical release |
1980 | The Idolmaker | Ellen Fields | Theatrical release |
1981 | The Brady Girls Get Married | Marcia Brady | TV special |
1981 | The Brady Brides | Marcia Brady-Logan | TV series; 6 episodes; series regular |
1981 | Texas Lightning | Fay | Theatrical release |
1983 | Shout for Joy | Uncredited | Co-stars: Michael Cummings; Robert Pierce |
1986 | New Love, American Style | Uncredited | TV series; episode: "Love and the F.M. Doctor" |
1987 | Return to Horror High | Officer Tyler | Theatrical release |
1988 | A Very Brady Christmas | Marcia Brady Logan | Television movie |
1989 | That's Adequate | Space Princess | Theatrical release |
1989 | Day by Day | Marcia Brady | TV series; season 2, episode 11: "A Very Brady Episode" |
1993 | Bradymania: A Very Brady Special | Marcia Martin Brady-Logan | TV special |
1996 | The Single Guy | Valerie | TV series; season 2, episode 4: "Kept Man" |
1996 | Panic in the Skies! | Turkey, Walker's Assistant | Television movie |
1997 | Touched by an Angel | Jodi | TV series; season 3, episode 19: "Clipped Wings" |
1997 | Dogtown | Didi Schmidt | Theatrical release |
1997 | Get to the Heart: The Barbara Mandrell Story | Barbara Mandrell | Television movie |
1997 | ABC TGIF | Judy Beauchamp | TV series; episode: "Halloween Frightful Bash" |
1997– 1998 |
Teen Angel | Judy Beauchamp | TV series; 11 episodes; series regular |
1997– 2003 |
Johnny Bravo | Franny Amberly Pizza Girl |
TV series; voice; 3 episodes |
1999 | Baby Huey's Great Easter Adventure | Nick's Mom | Direct-to-video |
1999 | Moesha | Saleslady | TV series; season 5, episode 8: "Isn't She Lovely?" |
2000 | The Million Dollar Kid | Betsy Hunter | Theatrical release |
2000 | Passions | Rebecca Hotchkiss (#1) | TV series; season regular |
2000– 2002 |
Son of the Beach | Mrs. Strawther | TV series; 3 episodes |
2001 | The A-List | Uncredited | Short film |
2001 | Title to Murder | Leah Farrell | Theatrical release |
2001 | Shock Video 2002: America Undercover | Narrator | Television special |
2002 | The Ellen Show | Rita Carter | TV series; season 1, episode 14: "Shallow Gal" |
2002 | Jane White Is Sick & Twisted | Nancy | Theatrical release |
2003 | The Brothers Garcia | Mrs. Bauer | TV series; season 4, episode 11: "Moving on Up" |
2004 | The Guardian | Receptionist | TV series; season 3, episode 12: "Beautiful Blue Mystic" |
2008 | Stone & Ed | Dream Mother | Theatrical release |
2008 | Outsider's Inn | The Innkeeper | TV series; series regular; 7 episodes |
2011 | Prayer Hour | Stage Mom | TV movie |
2011 | Christmas Spirit | Sarah | TV movie |
2012 | Snow White: A Deadly Summer | Eve | Direct-to-video |
Awards and nominations
Year | Presenter | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2005– 2006 |
TV Land Awards | Choice Dream Sequence | Nominated |
2005 | TV Land Awards | Choice Singing Siblings (shared with the kids of The Brady Bunch) | Nominated |
2006 | TV Land Awards | Most Beautiful Braces | Nominated |
2007 | TV Land Award | Pop Culture Award |
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