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Who Is Maureen McCormick?
Maureen McCormick is an American actress best known for her iconic role as Marcia Brady, the eldest daughter on the hit television sitcom The Brady Bunch. McCormick’s career trajectory was marked by both early success and personal struggles, including battling and eventually overcoming drug addiction after the series concluded.
Early Life and Career
Born on August 5, 1956, in Woodland Hills, California, Maureen Denise McCormick was the youngest of four children in the McCormick family. Her father, Richard, was a schoolteacher, while her mother, Irene, was a stay-at-home mom. McCormick’s passion for performing emerged at an early age; she loved singing, dancing, and even organizing puppet shows for neighborhood children. At the age of six, McCormick’s rise to stardom began when she won the Baby Miss San Fernando Valley contest. This win led to a call from talent agent Pat Domigan, who recognized her potential and encouraged her to pursue a career in show business.
McCormick’s first major professional gig came in 1964, when she starred in a television commercial for Mattel’s “Baby Pattaburp” doll. She followed that with another commercial for the company’s “Chatty Cathy” doll and subsequently landed a role in the play Wind It Up And It Breaks at the La Jolla Playhouse.
The Brady Bunch
In 1969, McCormick was selected from over 1,200 candidates to portray Marcia Brady on The Brady Bunch, a new TV sitcom about a blended family starring Florence Henderson and Robert Reed. The show, which ran for five seasons, made McCormick a household name. During the series’ fifth season, McCormick revealed in her 2008 memoir, Here’s the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice, that she nearly lost her virginity to her co-star Barry Williams, who played her brother Greg Brady. Despite the close encounter, their relationship never progressed.
McCormick graduated from William Howard Taft High School in Woodland Hills during the show’s run. In 1981, she reunited with her Brady Bunch co-stars for the TV movie The Brady Brides, but by then, McCormick was grappling with personal issues, including substance abuse.
Drugs, Pills, and Bulimia
Following the end of The Brady Bunch, McCormick struggled with maintaining her career, as she found it difficult to shed the “good girl” image associated with her iconic character. She appeared in various guest roles on TV shows such as The Streets of San Francisco, Love Boat, Vega$, Happy Days, and Fantasy Island, as well as in B-rated films. Despite these appearances, McCormick found it challenging to land serious roles.
Her personal life became increasingly troubled. McCormick developed a long-standing battle with body image issues and bulimia, which began in her teenage years and eventually led to a downward spiral. She also became addicted to cocaine and prescription pills, a destructive path that impacted both her career and personal life. McCormick admitted to dating actor Steve Martin while she was heavily intoxicated, noting that the date was a result of her drug-fueled state.
In 1981, while working on The Brady Brides, McCormick’s addiction became more apparent when her agent found her hiding in her closet, high on cocaine after missing three days of production. McCormick later reflected on her struggles, saying, “I was so addicted to cocaine, it nearly destroyed me. It became my everything.”
Despite these challenges, McCormick eventually sought help, and over time, she overcame her addiction and rebuilt her life.
Marriage and Rehabilitation
Maureen McCormick married actor Michael Cummings on March 16, 1985. The couple welcomed their daughter, Natalie Michelle, on May 19, 1989.
Following her marriage to Cummings, McCormick took proactive steps to address her struggles with depression and addiction. She underwent several rehabilitation stints and explored experimental therapies, which ultimately proved to be effective. McCormick and her family settled in Westlake, California, where she focused on her well-being and personal growth.
Later Career
In addition to releasing a country music album, When You Get a Little Lonely (1995), McCormick remained active in the entertainment industry, appearing in various films and television shows. She gained significant attention when she joined the cast of VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club for its fifth season in 2007, where she emerged as the winner. The experience helped McCormick recognize the connection between her weight gain and depression, prompting her to openly address her struggles with mental health and substance abuse.
In 2016, McCormick participated in Dancing With the Stars during its 23rd season, finishing in eighth place.
In 2019, McCormick reunited with former castmates from The Brady Bunch for A Very Brady Renovation, a spinoff of HGTV’s Property Brothers. The renovation project aimed to recreate the iconic Brady home, offering fans a nostalgic glimpse into the beloved series.