Susan Olsen has been keeping a secret for over five decades! She recently revealed that her first experience filming the pilot episode was far from perfect. The actress shared that it nearly ended in tragedy as she “almost died.” Olsen played Cindy Brady, the youngest of the Brady kids in The Brady Bunch, and her character quickly became a favorite among fans.
During a recent episode of The Real Brady Bros podcast, Olsen joined former co-stars Mike Lookinland, Christopher Knight, and Barry Williams for a rewatch of The Honeymoon, the show’s original episode. Reflecting on the show’s early days, she shared that she suffered a serious injury while filming, one that left her face swollen and bruised.
How Susan Olsen almost died while filming pilot episode of ‘The Brady Bunch’
Susan Olsen explained that the injury happened on the Culver Studios lot while she was getting body makeup applied before a scene. She was standing on a chair when equipment fell from the catwalk above. Unfortunately, it hit the makeup man, bounced off, and landed on Olsen’s face.
While Susan Olsen relived this experience where she almost died, her co-stars were shocked by the incident, with Christopher Knight admitting he had no idea anything had happened. The accident left Olsen with visible swelling, and she noted it was noticeable if anyone looked closely at the wedding ceremony scene.
Olsen also recalled that the injury could be seen in early promo shots, where she looked like an actress in a horror movie. However, she pushed through and continued filming despite almost dying. Her mother took her to a doctor afterward, but the family decided not to sue Paramount, the studio behind the show.
Covering Susan Olsen’s injury
Florence Henderson, who played Carol Brady, ensured everyone on set recognized what had happened to the young actress. Olsen recalled that her mother was also determined not to let the incident be swept under the rug.
Paramount brought in Hal King, the renowned makeup artist who had worked with Lucille Ball, to cover the bruising. He concealed the injury so well that her male co-stars did not even notice. It’s good to see that actors face a lot in delivering their roles, and Olsen’s near-death experience on the set of The Brady Bunch is not an exception.