Susan Olsen

{{Short description|American actress (born 1961)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Susan Olsen | image = SusanOlsen.jpg | alt =  | caption = Olsen in 2009 | birth_name = Susan Marie Olsen | birth_date = {{Birth date and age |1961|8|14}} | birth_place = [[Santa Monica, California|Santa Monica]], California, U.S. | education = [[William Howard Taft High School (Los Angeles)|William Howard Taft High School]] | known_for = ''[[The Brady Bunch]]'' ''[[The Brady Kids]]'' ''[[The Bradys]]'' | occupation = {{hlist|Actress|radio personality}} | years_active = 1968–present | spouse ={{marriage|Steve Ventimiglia |1988|1990|end=divorced}} {{marriage|Mitch Skelly |1995|2004|end=divorced}} | children = 1 }} '''Susan Marie Olsen''' (born August 14, 1961) is an American actress and former radio personality. Olsen is known for her role as [[List of The Brady Bunch characters#Cindy Brady|Cindy Brady]], the youngest Brady child in the sitcom ''[[The Brady Bunch]]'' for the full run of the show, from 1969 to 1974.

==Early life== Olsen was born in [[Santa Monica, California|Santa Monica]], California, to Lawrence and DeLoice Olsen, the youngest of four children.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Moran |first1=Elizabeth |title=Bradymania: Everything You Always Wanted to Know and a Few Things You Probably Didn't |date=1995 |publisher= Adams Media |isbn=1558504184 |page=107 |edition= 25th Anniversary |chapter=The Cast, Then and Now |quote=Susan Marie Olsen, the youngest of the Brady clan, is also the youngest of the Olsen clan. Born in Santa Monica, California, on August 14, 1961, to Lawrence and DeLoice ("Dee") Olsen…}}</ref>

Olsen graduated from William H. Taft High School in Woodland Hills, California in 1979.<ref>William H. Taft High School Yearbook, Atinian, 1979, Woodland Hills, CA, pg. 40</ref>

==Acting career==

=== Early roles and ''The Brady Bunch'' === Olsen landed a number of supporting roles in television, most notably in ''[[Ironside (1967 TV series)|Ironside]]'', ''[[Gunsmoke]]'', and ''[[Julia (1968 TV series)|Julia]]'', and appeared in the [[Elvis Presley]] movie ''[[The Trouble with Girls (film)|The Trouble With Girls]]'' (1968) as a squeaky-clean singer in a singing contest. [[File:Brady Bunch full cast 1973.JPG|thumb|Cast photo of ''[[The Brady Bunch]]''. Back (L-R): [[Christopher Knight (actor)|Christopher Knight]] (Peter), [[Barry Williams (actor)|Barry Williams]] (Greg), [[Ann B. Davis]] (Alice). Second row (L-R): [[Eve Plumb]] (Jan), [[Florence Henderson]] (Carol), [[Robert Reed]] (Mike), [[Maureen McCormick]] (Marcia). Front (L-R): Susan Olsen (Cindy), [[Mike Lookinland]] (Bobby).]] [[File:The Brady Bunch Susan Olsen 1973.jpg|thumb|Olsen as Cindy Brady, the youngest of ''[[The Brady Bunch]]'']] At just under age eight, Olsen was cast as [[Cindy Brady]] on ''[[The Brady Bunch]]'' (1969–1974). As an adult, Olsen has said that portraying Cindy made friendships difficult for her as a child. She most disliked the season two "tattletale" episode, in which Cindy incessantly [[tattle]]s on her siblings. Because of the episode, she was shunned by real-life peers, who did not understand the difference between actors and their characters.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}} She was also the voice of Cindy in the ABC Saturday morning cartoon ''[[The Brady Kids]]'' (1972–1974). Olsen has appeared in all ''Brady Bunch'' reunion movies and specials with the exception of ''[[A Very Brady Christmas]]'' (1988), which was filmed when she and her first husband Steve Ventimiglia were on their [[honeymoon]]. In that movie, Cindy Brady was played by actress [[Jennifer Runyon]]. Olsen has openly acknowledged that she felt Cindy Brady was presented as too stupid throughout the time she played her, though she could adapt to it, with her mother encouraging her that the role was also cute.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://ew.com/the-brady-bunch-star-susan-olsen-knew-cindy-brady-was-stupid-11720724|title=Brady Bunch star Susan Olsen knew Cindy was stupid: 'It was something I had to accept'|first=Jordan|last=Hoffman|publisher=Entertainment Weekly|date=April 29, 2025|accessdate=May 20, 2025}}</ref>

In 2005, [[VH1]] ranked her No. 34 in ''The 100 Greatest Kid Stars'' of television and film.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vh1-names-gary-coleman-the-greatest-kid-star-54607837.html |title= VH1 Names Gary Coleman the Greatest Kid Star | date= June 9, 2005| website= PRNewswire.com| url-status= dead| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101129190824/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vh1-names-gary-coleman-the-greatest-kid-star-54607837.html| archive-date= November 29, 2010 | access-date= June 30, 2020}}</ref> In 2007, Olsen and her fellow cast members were honored with the TV Pop Culture Award on the [[TV Land Awards]], one of the few awards ''The Brady Bunch'' has ever won.

As a teen, Olsen was the spokesgirl for [[Sindy]] doll, made by [[Marx Toys]] from the mid-1970s. As an adult, Olsen moved into the [[graphic design]] business and in 1998 briefly marketed a brand of glow-in-the-dark shoes for [[Converse (shoe company)|Converse]]. She also worked as a [[talk radio|talk show host]] at the Los Angeles radio station [[KNX-FM|KLSX]] from 1995 to 1996 with [[Ken Ober]], and co-hosted and co-wrote another radio show with comedian [[Allan Havey]] at Comedy World in 2000.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}

=== After ''The Brady Bunch'' === Along with ''Brady Bunch'' costar [[Mike Lookinland]], she auditioned for ''[[The_Swiss_Family_Robinson_(1975_TV_series)|The Swiss Family Robinson]]'' television series in 1975. Her role was eventually played by [[Helen Hunt]]. In 1976, she signed on for the variety show, ''[[The Brady Bunch Variety Hour]]'', which lasted nine episodes.

After graduating from high school in 1979, her acting roles were few, save for several ''Brady Bunch'' reunion specials. She reprised her role as Cindy Brady in ''{{sortname|The|Brady Brides|The_Brady_Bunch#The_Brady_Girls_Get_Married_/_The_Brady_Brides}}'' in 1981, and the short-lived CBS drama series ''[[The Bradys]]'' in 1990. An [[urban legend]] claimed that Olsen had become an [[adult film]] star. In a late 1990s television interview, Olsen stated that her "porn" connection was that she created space ship sound effects for a porn film called ''Love Probe from a Warm Planet''.<ref>{{cite tweet| user= susanolsen888| first= Susan| last= Olsen| number= 278932667674800129 | date= December 12, 2012| title= I've always loved the porn rumor. I actually did contribute to the sound track of 'Love Probe From a Warm Planet'| access-date= June 30, 2020}}</ref>

She appeared in episode 26 of [[Cartoon Network]]'s talk show ''[[Space Ghost Coast to Coast]]'', "Switcheroo", with [[Cassandra Peterson]] as "Elvira, Mistress of the Dark". Olsen has also been an advocate for [[migraine]] sufferers since 1998. She described her headaches on ''[[Larry King Live]]''.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[CNN]]|url=https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/lkl/date/2005-04-26/segment/01|title=CNN Larry King Live|date=April 26, 2005}}</ref>

In the fourth quarter of 2008, Olsen appeared on [[Fox Reality]]'s ''Gimme My Reality Show'', in which celebrities compete to win their own reality show. She used this vehicle to make a statement about animal rescue, a cause with which she is deeply involved. On June 6, 2009, Olsen thanked retired game show host and animal rights activist [[Bob Barker]] when the Brady actors accepted an honor at the GSN Awards. An animal welfare advocate, she has served on the board of directors of the non-profit organization Precious Paws, a rescue group.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.today.com/pets/former-brady-bunch-star-helps-animals-need-941349|work=[[Today (American TV program)|Today]]|title=Former 'Brady Bunch' star helps animals in need|date=August 14, 2012|author=Rappaport, Jill|authorlink=Jill Rappaport}}</ref>

On September 1, 2009, Olsen released the [[coffee table book]] ''[[Love to Love You Bradys|Love to Love You Bradys: The Bizarre Story of The Brady Bunch Variety Hour]]'' that celebrates the 1976–1977 television variety show ''[[The Brady Bunch Hour]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.remindmagazine.com/article/26245/brady-bunch-variety-hour-susan-olsen-worst-show/|title='Brady Bunch Variety Hour' Was Voted 4th Worst Show in TV History … And Star Susan Olsen Is Proud (Exclusive)|magazine=[[ReMIND Magazine]]|author=Oates, Barb|date=February 22, 2025}}</ref>

In September 2010, Olsen made a guest appearance on ''[[The Young and the Restless]]'' playing Mrs. Liza Morton, the owner of a preschool.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2010/07/23/susan-olsen-to-appear-on-the-young-and-the-restless/|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|title=Susan Olsen guests on 'The Young and the Restless'|author=Rice, Lynette|date=July 23, 2010}}</ref>

In 2011, she appeared in season 3, episode 43 of [[The Biography Channel]]'s reality show ''[[Celebrity Ghost Stories]]''.<ref>{{cite episode |credits= |last= |first= |date=December 10, 2011 |title=Celebrity Ghost Stories |url=https://www.aetv.com/shows/celebrity-ghost-stories-classics/season-3/episode-16 |location=United States |series=Celebrity Ghost Stories |series-link= Celebrity Ghost Stories |season=3 |series-no= |issue= |episode-link= |language=English |publisher= |minutes= |time= |network=[[A&E (TV network)|A&E]] |station= |transcript= |transcript-url= |access-date=February 26, 2025 |quote= |trans-quote=}}</ref>

In July 2012, Olsen was one of a limited number of artists and celebrities invited to show their work in ''Art with an Agenda: An Exhibit Inspired by Kelly Thomas'' at the PAS Gallery in [[Fullerton, California]],<ref>{{cite web|date=July 6, 2012|title=Art with an Agenda – Inspired by Kelly Thomas|url=https://www.2pas.org/art/past-exhibits/art-with-an-agenda-inspired-by-kelly-thomas/|access-date=August 12, 2012|website=2PAS.org}}</ref> inspired by the life and circumstances surrounding the [[killing of Kelly Thomas]], a homeless, [[schizophrenia|schizophrenic]], 37-year-old man who was beaten by members of the [[Fullerton Police Department]] on July 5, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bose|first=Lilledeshan|date=June 27, 2012|title=Art with an Agenda: An Exhibit Inspired by Kelly Thomas|url=https://www.kcet.org/arts/artbound/counties/orange/justice-for-kelly-art-show.html|access-date=August 12, 2012|website=[[KCET]]}}</ref> Olsen's piece, "Still Life", showed a half-eaten donut in a puddle of blood beside a lit flashlight.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ponsi|first=Lou|date=June 30, 2012|title=Kelly Thomas' life, death are focus of graphic exhibit|url=http://www.ocregister.com/news/thomas-361336-kelly-officers.html|access-date=August 12, 2012|website=ocregister.com}}</ref>

In December 2016, Olsen was reportedly let go from her radio show, "Two Chicks Talkin' Politics" on LA Talk Radio, after engaging in a [[Facebook]] feud with openly gay actor Leon Acord-Whiting. Responding to comments Acord-Whiting had made about her on another station, Olsen unleashed a profane rant against him, accusing him of cowardice. Acord-Whiting accused Olsen of [[homophobia]] for the remarks (which included repeated use of the word "[[faggot]]") and successfully lobbied to have Olsen fired.<ref name="dailynews">{{cite web | url= http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/actress-susan-olsen-fired-radio-show-homophobic-rant-article-1.2906173 | title='Brady Bunch' actress Susan Olsen fired from L.A. radio show hosting gig after homophobic rant | work=Daily News | date=December 10, 2016 | access-date=December 10, 2016 | author=Bitette, Nicole}}</ref><ref name="usmagazine">{{cite web | url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/brady-bunchs-susan-olsen-fired-as-radio-host-after-homophobic-rant-w455079 | title=Brady Bunch's Susan Olsen fired as radio host after homophobic rant | work= [[US Magazine]] | date=December 10, 2016 | access-date=December 10, 2016 | last= Hautman| first= Nicolas}}</ref> Despite this, Olsen told Fox News in 2019 that she has "been the subject of fake news" and "never got fired".<ref name="foxnews">{{cite web | url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/susan-olsen-a-very-brady-bunch-renovation-trump-radio | title=Susan Olsen talks 'A Very Brady Bunch Renovation,' says voting for Trump got her in trouble on radio show | work= [[Fox News]] | date=September 9, 2019 | access-date=January 18, 2021 | last= Nolasco| first= Stephanie}}</ref>

Olsen joined with the other surviving main cast members of ''The Brady Bunch'' in the 2019 television series ''[[A Very Brady Renovation]]'' on [[HGTV]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Lee, Luaine|title=Bradys go 'home' again for HGTV|work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|date=September 8, 2019|page=A&E 4}}</ref> In 2021, she starred in the [[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]] Christmas movie ''[[Blending Christmas]]'' alongside her ''Brady Bunch'' co-stars [[Christopher Knight (actor)|Christopher Knight]], [[Mike Lookinland]], [[Barry Williams (actor)|Barry Williams]], and [[Robbie Rist]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Jones|first=Marcus|date=May 19, 2021|title=Lifetime reunites High School Musical, Brady Bunch stars for holiday movies|url=https://ew.com/tv/lifetime-holiday-movies-reunite-high-school-musical-brady-bunch-stars/|access-date=December 22, 2021|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Filmography==

===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- |1969 |''{{sortname|The|Trouble with Girls|The Trouble with Girls (film)}}'' |Auditioning Singer | |- |1995 |''{{sortname|The|Brady Bunch Movie}}'' |Mailwoman |Scenes deleted |- |2009 |''Zombo'' |Frumpy Woman |Short |- |2015 |''Mama Claus, Deck the Halls with Guts'' |Mama Claus | |}

===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- |1968 |''[[Ironside (1967 TV series)|Ironside]]'' |Tracy Richards |"Barbara Who" |- |1968 |''[[Julia (1968 TV series)|Julia]]'' |Pamela |"Paint Your Waggedorn" |- |1968–69 |''[[Gunsmoke]]'' |Marianne Johnson |"Abelia", "A Man Called 'Smith'" |- |1969–1974 |''{{sortname|The|Brady Bunch}}'' |[[List of The Brady Bunch characters#Cindy Brady|Cindy Brady]] |Main role |- |1970 |''{{sortname|The|Boy Who Stole the Elephant}}'' |Lucy Owens |Disney TV film |- |1972 |''{{sortname|The|ABC Saturday Superstar Movie}}'' |Cindy Brady (voice) |"The Brady Kids on Mysterious Island" |- |1972–74 |''{{sortname|The|Brady Kids}}'' |Cindy Brady (voice) |Main role |- |1976–77 |''{{sortname|The|Brady Bunch Hour}}'' |Cindy Brady |Main role |- |1981 |''{{sortname|The|Brady Girls Get Married|The_Brady_Bunch#The_Brady_Girls_Get_Married_/_The_Brady_Brides}}'' |Cindy Brady |TV film |- |1990 |''{{sortname|The|Bradys}}'' |Cindy Brady |Main role |- |1999 |''[[Pacific Blue (TV series)|Pacific Blue]]'' |Cindy Russell |"Stargazer" |- |2010 |''{{sortname|The|Young and the Restless}}'' |Liza Morton |2 episodes |- |2012 |''{{sortname|The|Great Halloween Puppy Adventure|nolink=1}}'' |Rachel |TV film |- |2013 |''Holiday Road Trip'' |Edna |TV film |- |2013–2016 |''Child of the '70s'' |Nickel Laundry |TV series |- |2019 |''[[A Very Brady Renovation]]'' |Susan Olsen |TV series |- |2021 |''[[Dragging the Classics: The Brady Bunch]]'' |Margie |[[Paramount Plus]] TV special |- |2021 |''[[Blending Christmas]]'' |Valerie |TV film |}

== Book == *''[[Love to Love You Bradys|Love to Love You Bradys: The Bizarre Story of The Brady Bunch Variety Hour]]'' (2009) - {{ISBN|9781550228885}} (with Ted Nichelson and Lisa Sutton)

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} * [http://www.susanolsen.net/ Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217142633/http://www.susanolsen.net/ |date=February 17, 2017 }} * {{IMDb name|0001582}} * {{cite web| url= http://www.frankmurphy.com/2009/08/youngest-one-in-curls.html | date= August 29, 2009| title= youngest one in curls| website= frankmurphy.com| first= Susan | last= Olsen| interviewer= Frank Murphy| access-date= June 30, 2020}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Olsen, Susan}} [[Category:1961 births]] [[Category:20th-century American actresses]] [[Category:21st-century American actresses]] [[Category:California Republicans]] [[Category:Actresses from Santa Monica, California]] [[Category:American child actresses]] [[Category:American radio personalities]] [[Category:American television actresses]] [[Category:American voice actresses]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:William Howard Taft Charter High School alumni]]