Robert Reed

Who Was Robert Reed?

Robert Reed was an accomplished American actor, renowned for his portrayal of the quintessential family man Mike Brady on the beloved sitcom The Brady Bunch. He pursued formal training in acting, studying at Northwestern University and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. Reed’s professional career began with a role in the dramatic television series The Defenders in 1961. Three years later, he made his Broadway debut in Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park.

In 1969, Reed achieved widespread fame with his iconic role as Mike Brady, which he portrayed throughout the original run of The Brady Bunch. Simultaneously, he was involved in the detective series Mannix. Following the conclusion of The Brady Bunch, Reed took on critically acclaimed roles in notable miniseries such as Rich Man, Poor Man (1976) and Roots (1977). He reprised his role as Mike Brady several times in various spin-offs, including The Brady Bunch Variety Hour in the late 1970s and The Bradys in 1990.

Early Life and Career

Born John Robert Rietz Jr. on October 19, 1932, in Highland Park, Illinois, Robert Reed is celebrated as one of television’s most beloved fathers. Originally aspiring to be a serious actor, he achieved fame through The Brady Bunch. Reed’s education in the performing arts began at Northwestern University, and he later spent two years at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, where he cultivated a passion for Shakespearean theater.

Upon returning to the United States, Reed joined an off-Broadway theater company called the Shakespearewrights, participating in productions of classic plays such as Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. His Broadway debut in 1964 saw him take over the lead role from Robert Redford in Barefoot in the Park.

In addition to his theatrical work, Reed achieved significant success in television. He made his small-screen debut as a young attorney in The Defenders, a role he maintained until the series concluded in 1965. During this time, he also had a recurring role on Dr. Kildare and made guest appearances on several other shows, including Ironside.

The Brady Bunch

In 1969, actor Robert Reed was cast as the quintessential family man, Mike Brady, on the enduring sitcom The Brady Bunch. This series presented a syrupy yet charming view of suburban family life and quickly became a cultural icon of the 1970s. Aired from 1969 to 1974, The Brady Bunch gained phenomenal popularity over its five-year run, especially through reruns in syndication.

However, behind the scenes, Reed experienced significant dissatisfaction with the show. He frequently clashed with its creator, Sherwood Schwartz, regarding the show’s content. In a 1983 interview with The Associated Press, Reed expressed his frustrations, stating that he and Schwartz “fought over the scripts” and that he believed Schwartz filled the show with “just gag lines.” He felt that without his protests, The Brady Bunch would have been reduced to mere comedic gimmicks. Despite his discontent with the sitcom’s direction, Reed formed close bonds with his fellow cast members. He developed a lifelong friendship with his television wife, Florence Henderson, and served as a surrogate father figure to his on-screen children: Barry Williams, Maureen McCormick, Christopher Knight, Eve Plumb, Mike Lookinland, and Susan Olsen.

While still working on The Brady Bunch, Reed appeared in the Los Angeles-based detective series Mannix from 1969 to 1975. Portraying the serious Lieutenant Adam Tobias, he remained a cast member for the show’s entire six-year duration. Reed continued to achieve success in television, most notably through his roles in the miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man (1976), Roots (1977), and Scruples (1980). Throughout his career, he received three Emmy Award nominations for his work on Roots, Rich Man, Poor Man, and Medical Center.

Reed returned to the character that made him famous when he reprised the role of Mike Brady in the short-lived The Brady Bunch Variety Hour in the late 1970s, along with several subsequent television movies and series.

Final Years

In the 1980s, Reed appeared in various television series, including Nurse and Hunter. He reprised his role as Mike Brady in the 1990 series The Bradys, but the show struggled to attract an audience. As his acting roles diminished, Reed discovered a new passion as a drama teacher, beginning to teach Shakespeare at the University of California, Los Angeles, in the latter part of his life.

Death

Reed passed away on May 12, 1992, at the age of 59, in Pasadena, California. While his death was initially attributed to colon cancer, it was later revealed that AIDS had hastened his decline. He was survived by his daughter, Karen Baldwin, from a brief marriage in the 1950s. As a gay man, Reed faced challenges in concealing his sexuality during his years in Hollywood. Florence Henderson remarked, “He was an unhappy person. I think had Bob not been forced to live this double life, I think it would have dissipated a lot of that anger and frustration.”