Trivia: Ohio-born actor Jim Backus's stage career began in summer stock, where, according to his then-roommate Keenan Wynn, he was as well known for his prowess with the ladies as he was for his on-stage versatility. Backus continued acting in New York, vaudeville, and especially radio in the 1930s and 1940s. He was a regular on radio's The Alan Young Show, portraying Eastern Seaboard snob Hubert Updike III, the prototype for his "Thurston Howell III" characterization on the 1960s TV sitcom Gilligan's Island. In 1949, Backus provided the voice of the nearsighted Mr. Magoo for the first time in the UPA cartoon Ragtime Bear; the actor later claimed that he based this character on his own businessman father. Also in 1949, Backus made his first film appearance in Easy Living, which starred his childhood friend Victor Mature. Backus' most famous screen role was as James Dean's weak-willed, vacillating father in Rebel without a Cause. On television, Backus co-starred with Joan Davis on the I Love Lucy-like 1950s sitcom I Married Joan, and played the leading role of fast-talking news service editor Mike O'Toole on the 1960 syndicated series Hot Off the Wire (aka The Jim Backus Show). In the 1960s, Backus continued to provide the voice of Mr. Magoo in several TV projects, and was seen on-camera in the aforementioned Gilligan's Island, as well as the 1968 TV version of Blondie, wherein Backus played Mr. Dithers. Co-starring as Mrs. Dithers was Backus' wife Henny, who also collaborated with her husband on several amusing volumes of memoirs. Jim and Henny Backus' last two books, Backus Strikes Back and Forgive Us Our Digressions, commented humorously on a deadly serious subject: Parkinson's Disease, the ailment which would eventually cost Backus his life at the age of 76.

Trivia: In her heyday during the '40s and early '50s, singer Dorothy Shay was known as the "Park Avenue Hillbilly." She vanished from film during the '60s and then turned up again the following decade as a character actress. She worked in both feature films and on television.

Trivia: Ever since the '50s, each generation has had its definitive sitcom mom, the one woman who symbolizes the attitudes and ideals of the American household (at least according to the major networks). In the late '50s, it was Barbara Billingsley; Donna Reed ruled the '60s; Roseanne repped the '80s; and Florence Henderson was queen of the '70s. As Carol Brady, she was the polyester-clad personification of the "have a nice day" mentality on the Brady Bunch (1969-1974). Prior to becoming Mrs. Brady, Henderson had worked on television during the '50s, getting her start as the "Today Girl" on Today (1952) and as a regular on Sing Along (1958). She also made frequent appearances on the Tonight Show through the early '60s. Henderson was a successful star of Broadway musicals and in 1970, she starred in the musical feature-film biography of Scandinavian composer Edvard Grieg, Song of Norway (1970). Since the end of the Brady Bunch series, Henderson has basically made her living portraying and sometimes spoofing Carol Brady. There was a blessedly short-lived variety show sequel to the program, The Brady Bunch Hour (1977), and Brady Bunch reunion TV movies, such as The Brady Girls Get Married (1981) and A Very Brady Christmas (1988). The show that wouldn't die also spawned two more sequel series, The Brady Brides (1981) and the downbeat drama The Bradys (1990). In 1995, Henderson played a feisty grandmother, the antithesis of Carol, in the feature-film spoof The Brady Bunch Movie. She continued to appear on TV and in movies such as Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, and the documentary Get Bruce!. In 2006 she was cast in season 6 of The Surreal Life, and in 2010 she returned to the small screen yet again to compete in the eleventh season of Dancing With the Stars. Henderson died in 2016, at age 82.

Trivia: Character actress Ann B. Davis is best known among baby boomers for her alter ego, Alice Nelson, the spinster housekeeper and glue that kept the Brady Bunch family from descending into sitcom anarchy. Among older television viewers she is remembered as Schultzy, Bob Cummings' loyal, love-struck assistant on The Bob Cummings Show (1955-1959; later retitled Love That Bob for syndication). Like the other cast members of The Brady Bunch (1969-1974), Davis has made a living capitalizing on her character and has appeared in all the subsequent Brady Bunch television movies and made a cameo as Schultzy, the wise truck driver who counsels would-be runaway Jan Brady in the Brady Bunch Movie (1995). Other than that last appearance, Davis, a born-again Christian, spent much her last two decades deeply involved in a tiny Christian community led by Bishop William Frey, serving the homeless. Davis also lectured and testified before church groups around the country. She died in 2014, at age 88.

Trivia: While known primarily for her role as Marcia Brady, the eldest child on the girls' side of The Brady Bunch clan, Maureen McCormick has gone on to become a reality-show participant (VH1's Celebrity Fit Club) and recording artist, as well as having continued her career as an actress. McCormick has made multiple appearances on sitcoms (Happy Days, Scrubs, and The Amanda Show, to name a few), and portrayed the role of Rebecca Hotchkiss for ten episodes of NBC's Passions. McCormick has also written an autobiography chronicling her life experiences before, during, and after The Brady Bunch. In addition to returning to various Brady-related projects over the years, McCormick competed on the fifth season of the reality series Celebrity Fit Club.

Trivia: Though best known for her portrayal of middle child Jan Brady on the long-running sitcom The Brady Bunch, Eve Plumb continues to act and has made numerous film, television, and stage appearances since the end of the 1970s television staple. Ironically, one of these roles includes a one-episode stint as the original Pam Burkhart of That '70s Show; however, aside from several 1980s made-for-TV reunion and holiday specials, Plumb has made an effort to distance herself from the era and all things Brady.

Trivia: Was 14 months old when she began doing commercials. Appeared in the Elvis Presley movie The Trouble With Girls (1969). Once helped a friend create science-fiction sound effects for an outer-space-themed porn film. Has acted as a spokesperson for Migraine Awareness Month. Worked as a graphic designer for 10 years. Started her own firm called Man in Space and developed a line of glow-in-the-dark sneakers for Converse. Began a career as a radio talk-show host in 1995. Is active in animal-welfare causes.

Trivia: Though California native Barry Williams is best known for wooing far-out, groovy chicks as Greg Brady on the '70s television sitcom The Brady Bunch, he has made a multitude of appearances on the stage and in television since the end of the show in 1974, including a brief role alongside fellow Brady alumni Christopher Knight on an episode of That '70s Show. Growing Up Brady, Williams' biography, made a strong showing on the New York Times best-seller list. Williams has not made the same efforts to distance himself from The Brady Bunch as several of his former co-stars, and hosts The Brady Bunch with Barry Williams for Sirius Satellite Radio. In the years to come, Williams would also remain active on screen, appearing in TV movies like Bigfoot and Mega Piranha.

Trivia: Started auditioning for commercials at age 7; appeared in spots for Toyota, Tide and Cheerios. Began working in the computer industry in 1988; cofounded Visual Software, Kidwise Learningware and Eskape Labs. Diagnosed with attention deficit disorder in 1997 and served as a spokesperson for the National Consumer League's AD/HD campaign. His first girlfriend was Eve Plumb (who played Jan Brady on The Brady Bunch) and he was the best man at the wedding of Barry Williams (who played Greg Brady). Became engaged to model Adrianne Curry on the first-season finale of their reality series My Fair Brady.

Trivia: Appeared in more than 30 commercials prior to being cast in The Brady Bunch. Was offered the role of Eddie in The Courtship of Eddie's Father at the same time that he was asked to join The Brady Bunch. He chose the Bradys because he thought it would be more fun to be on a TV set with other kids. Dyed his hair black for The Brady Bunch. Became a big fan of the Grateful Dead after The Brady Bunch went off the air, eventually attending more than 100 of their concerts. Started working as a cameraman on such TV series as Promised Land and Everwood. Moved on to a non-showbiz career in the late 2000s: making decorative-concrete countertops, vanities and showers. A self-described "camping nut"; also an avid skier.

Trivia: A classically-trained lead actor, Robert Reed appeared onscreen from 1958. His most famous role was as the father on the TV series The Brady Bunch.