For millions of viewers, Susan Olsen was the lovable Cindy Brady, the youngest daughter on The Brady Bunch. But behind the scenes, life for the young actress was not always as picture-perfect as it seemed. In a new interview with PEOPLE, Olsen admitted that her father once tried to bribe her to leave the hit sitcom, hoping she could have a more normal childhood away from the pressures of fame.
According to Parade, the actress, now 64, joined the show just after her eighth birthday and quickly became a household name. Like many child stars of the era, however, her sudden fame brought challenges. Much like Maureen McCormick experienced as Marcia Brady, Olsen’s overnight celebrity meant constant attention from fans, sometimes even at her family’s home. For her father, who was not fond of Hollywood life, the situation became overwhelming.
Susan Olsen’s Father Wanted Her Out Of The Spotlight
According to Olsen, her dad was not a typical stage parent and pushed back against his children’s Hollywood ambitions. He often worried about the intensity of the spotlight, recalling times when strangers would peer into the family’s dining room window or interrupt their dinners at restaurants. His frustration grew to the point that he tried to persuade Susan Olsen to quit The Brady Bunch altogether.
“He started trying to bribe me,” she revealed. “He thought the whole thing was too unnatural. He’d say, ‘We’ll get you a horse and riding lessons at Foxfield. Just quit this show.’” For a young girl, the offer sounded tempting, but she also realized the reality—without acting, there would be no horse and no career. Like Barry Williams as Greg Brady, Olsen understood the weight of the fame she carried, even at such a young age.
Why Susan Olsen Refused To Leave The Brady Bunch
Although the pressures of fame and the teasing she endured at school sometimes made her consider leaving, Olsen knew deep down she would regret walking away. She explained that after difficult days, she thought about quitting, but would always change her mind by the time she got home. The idea of watching her castmates on television without being part of the family was too heartbreaking.
By age 11, she confronted her father about his concerns. “Dad, do you think my life is unnatural now? Can you imagine if I have to watch The Brady Bunch on Friday nights and know that I’m not on it anymore?” Her reasoning convinced him. In the end, Susan Olsen stayed with the series, ensuring her place in television history alongside her castmates and preserving the memories fans continue to cherish.