Barry Williams on the Brady Bunch legacy and gay -star Robert Reed

brady bunch gay

David Mayer and Keh Kennard's fay is a morn-day Brady Bunch, wh a twist. David, 43, has three sons and a dghter. His partner, Keh, 47, has three boys of his own. Together they are two gay men raisg seven children.

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GAY SECRET KILLED BRADY BUNCH DAD SAYS TV DGHTER

A Shakpearean and Broadway star. Nomated for numero Emmys. But Ameri never knew "The Brady Bunch" Dad was gay until AIDS took him. * brady bunch gay *

When you thk back to Mike Brady and his ltle stepdghter Cdy Brady the last thg that to md is the fight for gay marriage equaly.

But today actrs San Olsen, who played the rgleted ltle blon, says that “beg gay killed” her TV dad Robert Reed bee keepg his secret forced him to live an unhappy, unfulfilled life.

ROBERT REED: GAY ACTOR + 25 FACTS YOU PROBABLY NEVER KNEW

Celebs speak out on gay marriage >>. Olsen posted her support of gay marriage on Facebook, g Reed as an example of what happens when people are treated unequally. “As a child, I was BLESSED to have another father figure my life… So I really n hontly say, my dad was gay, ” she wrote of Reed.

“I n also say that beg gay killed him.

ROBERT {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}AMERIN ACTOR ROBERT REED PLAYED QUTSENTIAL FAY MAN MIKE BRADY THE POPULAR S 'THE BRADY BUNCH' OM 1969 TO {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: MAY 26, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{LE-HEIGHT:1;MARG-TOP:0.3125REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0;}}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}PHOTO: WALT DISNEY TELEVISN VIA GETTY IMAG PHOTO ARCHIV/WALT DISNEY TELEVISN VIA GETTY {FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1932-1992){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO WAS ROBERT REED?AMERIN ACTOR ROBERT REED STUDIED ACTG AT NORTHWTERN UNIVERSY AND THE ROYAL AMY OF DRAMATIC ARTS LONDON. HE LAND A ROLE THE DRAMATIC TV SERI THE DEFENRS 1961. REED MA HIS BROADWAY BUT THREE YEARS LATER BAREFOOT THE PARK. IN 1969, HE BEGAN HIS N AS QUTSENTIAL FAY MAN MIKE BRADY THE ENDURG S THE BRADY BUNCH. WHILE STILL WORKG ON THE BRADY BUNCH, REED NCURRENTLY ACTED THE L.A-BASED TECTIVE SERI MANNIX. AFTER THE BRADY BUNCH WENT OFF THE AIR, REED TACKLED CRILLY ACCLAIMED ROL THE MISERI RICH MAN, POOR MAN (1976) AND ROOTS (1977). HE REPRISED HIS ROLE OF MIKE BRADY SEVERAL TIM OVER THE YEARS, CLUDG THE BRADY BUNCH VARIETY HOUR THE LATE 1970S AND THE BRADYS 1990.EARLY LIFE AND CAREERBORN JOHN ROBERT RIETZ JR. ON OCTOBER 19, 1932, HIGHLAND PARK, ILLOIS, ACTOR ROBERT REED IS BT REMEMBERED AS ONE OF TELEVISN'S MOST ENARG DADS. HE ORIGALLY ASPIRED TO BE A SER ACTOR BEFORE FDG FAME ON THE FAY S THE BRADY BUNCH. REED STUDIED HIS CRAFT AT NORTHWTERN UNIVERSY. MOVG TO LONDON, ENGLAND, HE ATTEND THE ROYAL AMY OF DRAMATIC ARTS FOR TWO YEARS, TURN VELOPG A PASSN FOR SHAKPEARE. RETURNG TO THE UNED STAT, REED JOED AN OFF-BROADWAY THEATRIL GROUP LLED THE SHAKPEAREWRIGHTS, APPEARG SUCH PLAYS AS ROMEO AND JULIET AND A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM WH THE TROUPE. HE MA HIS BROADWAY BUT 1964, TAKG OVER THE LEADG ROLE OM ROBERT REDFORD THE NEIL SIMON EDY BAREFOOT THE PARK. IN ADDN TO HIS STAGE WORK, REED FOUND SUCCS TV ACTG, MAKG HIS SMALL-SCREEN BUT WH A PART AS A YOUNG ATTORNEY ON THE URTROOM DRAMA THE DEFENRS 1961. REED STAYED WH THE SHOW UNTIL S END 1965. AROUND THE SAME TIME, HE HAD A RECURRG ROLE ON DR. KILDARE. THE ACTOR ALSO MA GUT APPEARANC ON SUCH SHOWS AS IRONSIS.'THE BRADY BUNCH'IN 1969, REED WAS ST AS QUTSENTIAL FAY MAN MIKE BRADY ON THE ENDURG S THE BRADY BUNCH. WH A SYPY — ALBE CHARMG — VIEW OF SUBURBAN FAY LIFE, THE BRADY BUNCH (1969-74) BEME A CULTURAL IN OF THE 1970S. OVER S FIVE-YEAR N, THE POPULARY OF THE SERI SWELLED TO A PHENOMENAL LEVEL, BEG CREASGLY WELL-KNOWN THROUGH RE-NS SYNDITN. BEHD THE SCEN, THOUGH, REED WAS UNHAPPY WH THE SHOW. HE BATTLED WH S CREATOR, SHERWOOD SCHWARTZ, OVER S NTENT. IN A 1983 TERVIEW WH THE ASSOCIATED PRS, REED SAID THAT HE AND SCHWARTZ "FOUGHT OVER THE SCRIPTS," AND THAT HE THOUGHT SCHWARTZ FILLED THE SHOW WH "JT GAG L. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN WHAT THE BRADY BUNCH WOULD HAVE BEEN IF I HADN'T PROTTED." DPE HIS TRATN WH THE S, REED VELOPED CLOSE NNECTNS WH HIS FELLOW ST MEMBERS: HE TABLISHED A LIFELONG IENDSHIP WH HIS TV WIFE, FLORENCE HENRSON, AND SERVED AS A SURROGATE FATHER FIGURE TO HIS TV CHILDREN, BARRY WILLIAMS, MREEN MCCORMICK, CHRISTOPHER KNIGHT, EVE PLUMB, MIKE LOOKLAND AND SAN OLSEN. WHILE STILL WORKG ON THE BRADY BUNCH, REED APPEARED ON THE L.A.-BASED TECTIVE SERI MANNIX OM 1969 TO 1975. IN HIS ROLE AS THE DOUR LITENANT ADAM TOBIAS, REED WAS PART OF THE ST FOR THE SHOW'S ENTIRE SIX-YEAR N. THE ACTOR NTUED TO FD SUCCS WH TV PROJECTS, MOST NOTABLY THE MISERI RICH MAN, POOR MAN (1976), ROOTS (1977) AND SCPL (1980). REED RECEIVED THREE EMMY AWARD NOMATNS DURG HIS REER, FOR HIS WORK ON ROOTS; RICH MAN, POOR MAN; AND MEDIL CENTER. RETURNG TO THE ROLE THAT MA HIM FAMO, REED PLAYED MIKE BRADY ON THE SHORT-LIVED THE BRADY BUNCH VARIETY HOUR THE LATE 1970S. HE WOULD REPRISE THE ROLE SEVERAL MORE TV MOVI AND SERI OVER THE YEARS.FAL YEARSREED WORKED ON A NUMBER OF TV SERI THE 1980S, CLUDG NURSE AND HUNTER. HE REPRISED HIS ROLE AS MIKE BRADY FOR THE 1990 TV SERI THE BRADYS, BUT THE SHOW FAILED TO FD AN DIENCE. WHILE HIS ACTG ROL TAPERED OFF AROUND THIS TIME, REED FOUND A NEW PASSN AS A DRAMA TEACHER. HE BEGAN TEACHG SHAKPEARE TO STUNTS AT THE UNIVERSY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGEL TOWARD THE END OF HIS LIFE.DEATH REED DIED ON MAY 12, 1992, AT THE AGE OF 59, PASANA, CALIFORNIA. INIALLY ATTRIBUTED TO LON NCER, HIS ATH WAS LATER REVEALED TO HAVE BEEN HASTENED BY AIDS. REED WAS SURVIVED BY HIS DGHTER, KAREN BALDW, OM A SHORT-LIVED MARRIAGE THE 1950S. AS A GAY MAN, REED HAD STGGLED TO HI HIS SEXUALY DURG HIS HOLLYWOOD YEARS. "HE WAS AN UNHAPPY PERSON," FLORENCE HENRSON SAID. "I THK HAD BOB NOT BEEN FORCED TO LIVE THIS DOUBLE LIFE, I THK WOULD HAVE DISSIPATED A LOT OF THAT ANGER AND TRATN."{BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS

What you need to know about the gay marriage bate >>.

The Uned Stat Supreme Court is currently batg the validy of California’s Proposn 8, which banned gay marriag the state after a brief terlu of legaly, and DOMA, a feral law which rtricts natnal marriage benefs and terstate marriage regnn to oppose-sex unns only. Fifteen years ago, when Reed died of AIDS, the world learned that he was gay, which me as a huge shock to many people.

It was later revealed that he had long lived a closeted gay life and was HIV-posive. In a 2000 ABC News terview, Henrson talked about Reed’s homosexualy, which she learned about while filmg the “Brady” pilot, and explaed some of the reasons behd his bad behavr on set. Homosexualy is given a brief, if silent, nod the form of “flamboyant mal d as gay.

THE GAY 'BRADY BUNCH' FAY

Only after he died 1992 did the world fd out that Robert Reed, who played Mike Brady, was gay and HIV-posive. ”The st of 'The Brady Bunch'; Photo: Walt Disney Televisn via Getty Imag Photo Archiv/Walt Disney Televisn via Getty ImagReed was a homosexual real life and kept his sexualy a secretAs Mike, Reed was the level-head patriarch of the Brady fay, dolg out words of wisdom wh a kdly tone and fatherly hugs at the ready.

In real life, Reed, a classilly-traed actor, was a homosexual who kept his private life unr wraps, a not unmon occurrence at the time due to fears the revelatn would impact ongog reer succs.

“I don’t thk The Brady Bunch uld have existed at that time wh the public knowg that Robert Reed was gay. Beg a gay actor.

BARRY WILLIAMS ON THE BRADY BUNCH LEGACY AND GAY -STAR ROBERT REED

Y – Robert Reed was gay and was pretty much forced to hi his secret bee of the tim he lived . In an age of same sex marriage, ’s easy today to fet jt how hard was to be a gay actor durg Robert Reed’s time. The early 1990’s may seem like eons ago terms of gay rights but Reed was as pro-LGBT rights that the tim would allow.

He lived his entire life the closet, although those clost to him knew he was gay.

2 ‘BRADY BUNCH’ ACTORS PLAYED A GAY COUPLE A GROOVY S

As a gay man, Reed had stggled to hi his sexualy durg his Hollywood years. Are raisg childrenAdoptn laws for gay upl vary by state; Florida is only one to ban gays om adoptg (CNN) -- David Mayer and Keh Kennard's fay is a morn-day Brady Bunch, wh a twist.

Together they are two gay men raisg seven children. You don't really hear that our gay muny, pecially wh black men. S., one six gay men has fathered or adopted a child, acrdg to the Williams Instute.

" Adoptg when you're gay For gays and lbians, adoptg children n be tricky bee adoptn laws vary by state.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* BRADY BUNCH GAY

Robert Reed: Gay Actor + 25 Facts You Probably Never Knew! .

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