Florence Henderson

In the mid-1950s, she was diagnosed with a bone deformation of the inner ear, and she had to have surgery to prevent deafness.

Graduated from Indiana's St. Frances School in 1951, and then studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC. She earned a scholarship to AADA because of her singing talent.

Was a "Today" (1952) girl from 1959-1960, and later went on to co-host the short lived spinoff series "Later Today" (1999) from 1999-2000.

Was the first woman to host "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" (1962).

She flew to New York City every weekend during the run of "The Brady Bunch" (1969) (which filmed in LA) in order to be with her family.

Before "The Brady Bunch" (1969), she was primarily known as a singing actress in stage musical comedy productions. She claims to have performed the role of "Maria" in the Rodger & Hammerstein musical, "The Sound of Music", more than any other actress.

Best known on TV for her starring role as Carol Brady on "The Brady Bunch" (1969).

Her husband, Dr. John Kappas, is a hypnotherapist, and he and Florence met when he helped her battle depression during the mid-1980s.

Florence filed law suits against two companies because of the unauthorized use of her photo - Serial Killer, Inc. had been using her face on a t-shirt with the name "Porn Queen" underneath. A Cotati, Ca., gift shop also used her picture in an ad. [May 1999]

Is portrayed by Rebeccah Bush in Growing Up Brady (2000) (TV).

In a 2006 TV Guide /Bravo poll, her Carol Brady character was named the TV mom that most shaped viewers perceptions of a housewife with 45% of the vote. She topped both June Cleaver and Shirley Partridge for the honor.