Maureen McCormick

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Maureen Denise McCormick (born August 5, 1956) is an American actress, reality show participant and recording artist. She is best known as a child actor who played Marcia Brady in the 1970s television series The Brady Bunch from 1969 to 1974.

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life and career

McCormick was born in Encino, California, on August 5, 1956, the daughter of Irene (née Beckman) and William McCormick, a teacher.^[1] She attended Charles Evans Hughes Junior High and Taft High School. McCormick made her television debut in 1964 in Barbie doll and Chatty Cathy commercials. She appeared in an episode of Bewitched and played guest roles on I Dream of Jeannie, Honey West, The Farmer's Daughter and My Three Sons before landing the role of Marcia Brady. McCormick played the Brady character during the show's run from 1969 to 1974, and in later Brady Bunch movies and spin-off series. She also lent her voice to the redesigned Chatty Cathy doll that was introduced in 1970.

McCormick said she suffered from the eating disorder bulimia in her late teens and early twenties, after The Brady Bunch ended. "Back on the show, I could eat whatever I wanted," she told Entertainment Tonight in November 2006. "Things changed. I am 5-foot 3-inches [tall]. At some point I stopped growing, and it is harder when you are small. We never dealt with [eating disorders] on the show." In a May 2007 episode of Access Hollywood, McCormick admitted to battling a five-year addiction to cocaine starting at the age of 18 (shortly after the Brady Bunch was cancelled).

[edit] Later career

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McCormick attempted to further her career after the demise of The Brady Bunch. Although she made guest appearances in numerous television series, and played supporting roles in a few B-movies (including 1979's Vacation in Hell and 1987's Return to Horror High), she was never able to repeat her earlier success. In 1994, McCormick played the role of Rizzo in the Broadway production of Grease. The following year she released a country and western album, When You Get a Little Lonely. Though not a great commercial success, it earned her generally positive reviews. In 2000, she played Rebecca Hotchkiss on Passions for ten episodes; after her stint ended, she was replaced by Andrea Evans.

McCormick's other TV appearances include an episode of Happy Days ("Cruisin") as well as an appearance as Amanda Bynes' mother in the Moody's Point skits on The Amanda Show. She also had a cameo appearance on Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star. Her line on the Former Child Star was "But if one more person calls me Marcia, I'll bust his f*ck*ng head".

• In 1993, she played herself on an episode of Herman's Head.[1]

• In 1997, Maureen played the title role in Get to the Heart: The Barbara Mandrell Story. As of June 30, 2007, it is rated at 5.0 out of 10 stars on IMDB and continues to be shown on Lifetime and WE.

• In 2003, she appeared in Scrubs in a dream sequence where JD imagines Marcia Brady as his ideal bride (he shushes her when she points out that her name is actually Maureen McCormick).

• McCormick returned to television in 2007 as a cast member on the fifth season of VH1's Celebrity Fit Club. She said that she hoped to lose 30 pounds she gained since her mother died, as well as having to move her brother into an assisted living facility. McCormick actually lost 34 pounds and was declared the individual winner of Celebrity Fit Club in June 2007.

• McCormick can also be seen in Brad Paisley's video "Online" as the next door neighbor as well as crush for Jason Alexander's geek character.

• In 2008, she became a cast member of the CMT reality show Gone Country. That appearance would lead to a spin-off reality series, Outsider's Inn, in which she opens a bed & breakfast inn in Newport, Tennessee.

• Also in 2008, she was a guest on the Food Network show Paula's Party hosted by Paula Deen.

• She played Mrs. Strawther on Son of the Beach.

[edit] Personal life

McCormick married Michael Cummings on March 16, 1985. They have one child, Natalie Michelle Cummings (born May 19, 1989). The family lives in Westlake Village in Southern California.

In April 2007, McCormick announced that she was writing her autobiography, in which she will discuss her battles with bulimia and drug addiction. The book, Here's the Story, is slated to be published in 2008.^[2]

Also in April 2007, McCormick revealed a family dispute on Dr. Phil, accusing a brother of elder abuse and of alienating their father from his other children to gain control of his financial assets.^[3]

[edit] Dramatic portrayals

• Kaley Cuoco portrayed McCormick in Growing Up Brady. McCormick's character Marcia Brady has been portrayed by Christine Taylor and Autumn Reeser in The Brady Bunch Movies.

[edit] References

Chatty Cathy and her Talking Friends by Schiffer Publishing. schifferbooks.com

[edit] External links

• ETOnline.com: Marcia Brady's Bulimia
• Maureen McCormick at the Internet Movie Database
• The Official Maureen McCormick Fan Club Home Page