Susan Olsen, best known for playing Cindy Brady on The Brady Bunch, has revealed that she suffered a serious injury while filming the show’s pilot episode. Speaking on The Real Brady Bros podcast, hosted by her former co-stars Barry Williams and Christopher Knight, Olsen shared details of a frightening accident on the Culver City lot.
A piece of equipment fell from the catwalk above the set, first striking a makeup artist before bouncing and hitting Olsen in the face. At the time, the young actress was standing on a chair having body makeup applied. “It hurt so badly,” she recalled. “I wanted to sob.”
Olsen said her injuries — including a swollen face and two black eyes — were visible in the wedding scene of the premiere episode, where Carol (Florence Henderson) marries Mike (Robert Reed). She noted that her altered appearance can also be seen in early promotional photos. Despite the incident, Olsen returned to work the next day. She credited Henderson for making sure the crew acknowledged the injury, despite initial claims that she was fine. “Everybody was trying to say, ‘It didn’t really hit her,’” she said.
Renowned makeup artist Hal King, who had worked with Lucille Ball, was brought in to conceal the bruises. Olsen, a devoted I Love Lucy fan, recalled being excited to work with him. “Every day, my bruises would be a different color,” she said, joking that she looked like she was in a horror film.
While the actress reflected on her early experience with humour and gratitude, her recent public image has stirred controversy. In late 2024, Olsen claimed a revival of The Brady Bunch was cancelled due to her political beliefs — a claim disputed by sources.
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