Locals remember ‘America’s favorite mom’, Florence Henderson

Henderson died yesterday of heart failure surrounded by her family and friends, a day after being hospitalised.

The veteran Hollywood actress died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, Daily Mail reports.

Henderson was still avidly pursuing musical theater when she was cast as mother Carol Brady in the sitcom “The Brady Bunch”, which made its television debut in 1969. “The Brady Bunch Hour” aired 1977, followed by “The Brady Brides” in 1981 and “The Bradys” in 1990.

Beyond her work in the sitcom world, Henderson, a native of Dale, Indiana, made her start in acting on Broadway, after moving to NY at the age of 17.

She appeared on NBC’s Today show as a “Today Girl” in 1959. Variety noted that they marked the first musical outfit put together by an automaker “to make the class hotel circuit”. She was grand marshal for this year’s race.

Florence Henderson, who was in attendance at the Dancing with the Stars finale on Monday as IndyCar racer James Hinchcliffe performed, died Thursday night.

She also shared a photo of Henderson with former husband Ira Bernstein and their children.

“(Henderson) could not have been friendlier or kinder or more gracious”, said Kirsh, a 47-year-old who estimates he’s seen every “Brady Bunch” episode twice. She also returned to the show numerous times during the most recent season to cheer on her TV daughter, Maureen McCormack, who played Marcia Brady.

Henderson had made some TV and movie appearances this year.

Henderson was a well-known nightclub entertainer performing in Texas when she was asked to audition for the role that would change her life.

She began her show business career at 17, when she attended New York’s American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Of her many credits, Henderson was the first woman to host “The Tonight Show” for the vacationing Johnny Carson.

Florence Henderson played one of America’s most iconic mothers to ever appear on television. On the other hand, her appearance as part of the superstar ensemble cast of the 2007 television special “Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age” reminded audiences of both her stage and television skills.

Those who didn’t know Henderson personally will remember her by her lasting legacy – the lovely lady, Carol Brady. ‘I learned so much about how to be in public from her graciousness’.

Florence Henderson was born in IN on Valentine’s Day, 1934.

Fittingly, Henderson is survived by a large family; four children and five grandchildren. One of her affairs, she wrote, was with John Lindsay, the dashing mayor of New York City during the 1960s. Then she told Lauer about her long-distance “friend with benefits”, who lived in Florida at the time, while she lived in L.A. And, no, she wasn’t interested in getting married again.