Christopher Knight is best known for his role as Peter Brady on the iconic 1970s sitcom The Brady Bunch, which aired on NBC from 1969 to 1974. Knight, who is now 67, was only 11 years old when he landed the role that would make him a household name. However, unlike the wholesome Brady family he depicted on screen, The Surreal Life actor was born into a financially challenged home as his father, Edward, a stage actor, struggled to find steady work, while his mother, Wilma, was an artist, thus making his childhood very difficult.
In a new video, the actor-turned-businessman, who had always been open about his turbulent childhood, gave insights into how his success as a child actor became a lifeline for his struggling family.
Christopher Knight says ‘The Brady Bunch’ role was a lifesaver for his family
While appearing in the trailer for an upcoming episode of The Real Brady Bros podcast, knight described his childhood as wildly chaotic and lacking stability.
He explained that playing Peter Brady contributed significantly to his family’s livelihood, as they all heavily relied on the income from the show to survive. Knight noted that without the iconic show, he believes that his family might not have made it through those difficult years.
Christopher Knight says he was pushed to become a child star to fend for his family
Knight has always been candid about the difficulties he experienced during his childhood. During his 2024 appearance on the I Choose Me With Jennie Garth podcast, while reflecting on the hardships his family faced, he shared that his father once suggested his mother feed him and his brother only every other day to ration their limited resources.
The actor revealed that even though he never dreamed of becoming a child actor as he believed that childhood should be a time for growth and security rather than work, he was forced to begin providing for the family at a very young age, a role he thinks should be that of parents, and not children.