Florence Henderson, Iconic Mom of TV’s ‘The Brady Bunch,’ Dies at 82

Was the First Woman to Guest Host ‘The Tonight Show’ 

Florence Henderson, who played Carol Brady in TV’s beloved “The Brady Bunch,” has died of heart failure. She was 82. Henderson’s starring role in 117 episodes of the show that ran from 1969-1974, that both assured a rapidly changing America it tried to both portray and offer comfort from, cemented her as an iconic mom in America’s hearts.

But Henderson’s career before “The Brady Bunch” included a roles in Broadway’s “Fanny,” tours of “Oklahoma!” and “The Sound of Music,” and game shows like “The Match Game” and “Password.” As The New York Times notes, Henderson was the first woman to guest host “The Tonight Show.”

Born in Indiana in 1934, Henderson “recalled working from the age of 8, babysitting and cleaning other people’s homes, and sometimes singing a folk or country song in exchange for groceries,” the Times reports.

Director Jerold Franks called Henderson, “one of the most generous stars I have ever worked with,” for helping raise millions for charity.

She was married twice and is survived by four children and five grandchildren.