Susan Olsen, Former "Brady Bunch" Child Star Co-Writes New Tell-All Book

Remember Cindy Brady? The one who always tattled on her siblings. The one with the lisp. The "youngest one, in curls."

Believe it or not, she wasn't always Cindy Brady. She made a few commercials for Downey and Clairol and sang The Monkees' "I'm a Believer" on the Pat Boone Show. She had a bit part in an Elvis Presley movie, "The Trouble with Girls." But once she was cast as the youngest Brady Bunch daughter, she has been Cindy Brady to America ever since.

The lisp, however, was real. Olsen suffered the speech impediment until the age of nineteen when she attended a special clinic to help her overcome the affliction.

As an adult, Olsen studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. With the exception of reprising her role for "Brady" movies, Olsen hasn't acted since sometime in the eighties.

Her most interesting role, to date, is that of mom.

Parenting can be challenging enough. But Olsen's son, Michael, was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. Described as a form of high-functioning autism, Asperger patients have difficulties in social interaction, display repetitive behaviors and exhibit limited empathy.

Olsen took her son to a number of doctors before he was finally diagnosed with Asperger's. Once he was diagnosed, Olsen realized how fortunate she was. Her son is only mildly afflicted. As difficult as it may be for her as a parent, it is equally as difficult for her son. His mild form of autism often comes off as "bratty" behavior and it took Olsen awhile to realize he was not acting out to test her as he has little control over his actions.

One thing Olsen says has helped tremendously has been the kitten rescue she and her son engage in. They foster parent kittens and this brings out the gentler side of Michael. It helps to develop his empathy, which many Asperger patients lack.

Olsen and the rest of the "Bradys" still keep in touch. Son Michael has a "Grandma Flo" as he refers to Florence Henderson. When Florence Henderson did a commercial with Ozzie Osbourne, Michael got the impression that he now had a "Grandpa Ozzie." According to Olsen, the remainder of the Brady Bunch actors are extended family, serving as aunts and uncles.

Real life brother, Christopher Olsen played the part of the kidnapped boy in Alfred Hitchcock's "The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)" starring Doris Day and James Stewart.

Olsen's own career veered away from Hollywood for the most part. She was a graphics designer and worked with Converse shoes. She was also a radio hostess, part of a rock band and has served as spokesperson for Migraine Headache Awareness Month.

In 2007, Olsen and Henderson were headliners on a mother-daughter cruise to Greece on Princess Cruises. It was also in 2007 that the Brady Bunch cast received the TV Pop Culture Awards on the TV Land Awards.

But these days, Olsen has been busy co-writing the recently-published "Love to Love You Bradys: The Bizarre Story of The Brady Bunch Variety Hour" (Ecw Press, September 1, 2009). The book includes color photos and over 100 interviews including interviews with Sid and Marty Krofft (the sibling production team responsible for "The Brady Bunch Variety Hour"), Sherwood Schwartz (the television producer responsible for "The Brady Bunch" television show) and Rip Taylor (an actor and regular on "The Brady Bunch Variety Hour").

According to the Amazon.com product description, the book promises to be another of those tell-all books, chronicling the personal and professional issues which made "The Brady Bunch Variety Hour" a debacle.

For all intents and purposes, it appears Cindy Brady is still being the tattle-tale. Whether or not this helps or hurts book sales, only time will tell.

Sources:
OMG! Goddess Celebrity Moms, Interview by Ali Landry
Notable Names Database