Barry Williams
Barry Williams (birth name: Barry William Blenkhorn) is a former child star best known for his role as "Greg Brady" on the hit early 1970s family sitcom, The Brady Bunch.
Williams was born on September 30, 1954 in Santa Monica, California. He grew up near actor Peter Graves. As a young child, he constantly asked Graves for show biz advice. At age 11 Williams changed his name from Barry William Blenkhorn to Barry Williams and hired an acting coach. He also took acting classes to learn film and television techniques.
Williams quickly landed a lead role in an educational school film entitled "Why Johnny Can't Read." Williams later made his television debut in an episode of Dragnet in 1967. He followed up with small roles in other television shows, such as "Gomer Pyle" and "The Mod Squad." In 1969 Williams acquired his role as Greg Brady on The Brady Bunch and became a big television star and heartthrob for teenage girls.
The Brady Bunch was a family sitcom about a blended family - a man ("Mike Brady" - played by Robert Reed) with three boys married a woman ("Carol Brady" - played by Florence Henderson) with three girls. After marriage, they moved in together as a big, happy family. Greg Brady was the oldest male child on The Brady Bunch and was an integral character on the show. The show dealt with, among other things, Greg Brady's teenage angst and his chasing of girls.
The child actors on The Brady Bunch sometimes sang songs, in an apparent effort to attract viewers of The Partridge Family, another family sitcom that was popular in the early 1970s. In 1972, Williams and the other child actors from The Brady Bunch appeared on a music album entitled, "The Kids From The Brady Bunch." The album's most popular song was, "It's a Sunshine Day."
The Brady Bunch was a popular show during its original run and remained popular in syndication for many years after the show's cancellation. However, the show's popularity has forever typecast Williams in his Greg Brady role. After the cancellation of The Brady Bunch in 1974, Williams experienced great difficulty in obtaining new acting roles. Williams was apparently so desperate for cash that he agreed to reprise his role as Greg Brady for the 1977 television variety show, The Brady Bunch Hour. Williams later reprised his Greg Brady role in the failed 1990 sitcom, The Bradys.
Williams has also appeared in several made-for-television Brady Bunch movies, including The Brady Girls Get Married (1981), A Very Brady Christmas (1988), and The Brady Bunch Movie (1995). Each of the Brady Bunch movies has been universally derided as being pure crap.
Williams was apparently a horndog in real life, as he tried to hook up with Florence Henderson, who played his mother on the show. In 1992, his autobiography, Growing Up Brady: I Was a Teenage Greg was published. In his book, he claimed to have gone on a date with Henderson and to have hooked up with his Brady Bunch sister, Maureen McCormick. (His romantic exploits appear to have been limited to women - I was unable to find any evidence that Williams ever tried to get with the openly gay Robert Reed, who played his father on the show and actually died from complications due to AIDS in 1992).
Williams also claimed to have been a heavy drug user and was supposedly high on pot during the filming of several episodes of the Brady Bunch. Williams' book was on the New York Times' Bestseller list for three months and was later adapted into the 2000 made-for-television movie, Growing Up Brady.
The 30+ years since The Brady Bunch was cancelled have not been kind to Williams. He actually looks like he is far older than Florence Henderson, the 74-year-old actress who played his mother!
Williams seems to be desperate for cash and attention and will do practically anything to try to get his name back in the spotlight. In 2000 he released the horrible song "The Real Greg Brady," a spoof of Eminem's "The Real Slim Shady." Williams also began touring local clubs, singing various "comedy" songs. He even opened for "The Monkees" at the Hollywood House of Blues during the summer of 2001.
In 2002, Williams appeared on an episode of Celebrity Boxing on the FOX network. Williams fought Danny Bonaduce and basically got his ass handed to him. Although much taller and bigger than Bonaduce, he was pummeled, knocked down five times before the referee finally called the match during the second round.
Williams now operates a fan portal/blog entitled The Greg Brady Project. Williams also hosts "The Barry Williams Show" on Sundays through Fridays on Sirius Satellite Radio's "Totally '70s" channel.
Williams' star has faded dramatically since The Brady Bunch went off the air in 1974. Unable to deal with his loss of fame and decreased cash flow, Williams has basically whored himself out and will do practically anything for money. For this and the fact that he looks a good 15 years older than his biological age, there can be no doubt that Barry Williams is one washed up celebrity!
46 comments:
Peter Gabriel did a song on his album, "Up", titled "The Barry Williams Show." I bet it was about Greg Brady getting gangbanged by Genesis! Do you think Phil Collins took a dump on his chest?
In the bottom photo, he kinda looks like Bob Dylan. VERY SCARRY!!
I know Peter Brady has gotten himself a young hot piece of ass...but I wonder what has become of Bobby Brady, I'm sure he must be pretty washed up these days.
Good One. He seems like a sappy goober doober who can't leave his greg brady character alone since he has absolutely nothing else going for him. Wonder if he really did bone Maureen or Florence or Robert Reed for that matter. God I am rotten. Mooohahah
You should proof-read your work. This is the first new entry in a while, yet there's about 5 grammatical errors and missing words. Your research should have easily found that he was recently on "celebrity rehab" also.
^^^ It's easier to criticize than to create. I changed a couple minor things, although I certainly don't see five grammatical errors in this bio.
Williams' role on Celebrity Rehab was very minor and he was only there for one episode, to help Chyna, one of the castmembers on the show last season.
This section is called “comments”, not “just praise”, so I presumed that relevant criticism was welcome. I re-read the piece and found these in less than a minute. I can assure you there are more – much abuse of punctuation also.
So don’t be so defensive. These are exactly as I stated - grammatical errors. And there are lots more in your other posts too. Here are a few examples in just the Barry Williams piece:
“Williams quickly landed a lead role in an educational school industrial entitled…” (industrial what…a film? There’s a missing word)...and if it's educational, why use the term "industrial"? Which is it?
“Why Johnny Can Read” – The title was “Why Johnny CAN’T read”.
“...The Brady Bunch and because a big television star and heartthrob for teenage girls.” – huh? Because a big television star what? Do you mean “Because HE WAS a big television star”?
“...claimed to have been a heavy drug user and was supposedly high of pot during the filming of several episodes of the Brady Bunch.” – Perhaps you mean “high ON pot”??
Otherwise, I enjoy your blog.
^^^ Thanks, I will fix those. FYI, I found the "Why Johnny Can Read" video listed on several different Barry Williams websites, including his IMDB bio. I agree that the video is most likely "Why Johnny Can't Read."
This blog gets more popular every month, so I'll try to proofread better.
I think he looks a lot better now than he did when he was younger. I think he looks good for 54, and I doubt he's had much work done on his face. I think he's had hairplugs or something.
That's quite a sick, twisted imagination you have there wacky gay zacky.
Poor Barry. I am sure he envies Chris Knight now that Chris has a rejuvenated career of sorts. Mind you Celebrity Circus isn't much, but it's something.
For those wondering how long it would be before Dustin Diamond shows up on TV again, you don't have to wait too long.
CMT sets wrestling lineup
By Kimberly Nordyke
June 6, 2008, 01:00 AM ET
Danny Bonaduce, Dennis Rodman and Dustin "Screech" Diamond are heading into the ring to compete in CMT's upcoming reality series "Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling."
Also on board are Todd Bridges ("Diff'rent Strokes"), super-heavyweight boxer ButterBean, Trishelle Cannatella ("The Real World"), Erin Murphy (Tabitha Stephens on "Bewitched"), Frank Stallone, '80s pop star Tiffany and Playboy playmate Nikki Ziering.
He was recently in my hometown signing autographs at a furniture store grand opening
HA HA
Not only washed up but VERY RUDE! I saw Barry Williams in Grease back in 1978 and when he saw fans who asked for autographs, he acted like his you-know-what didn't stink. Very disappointing for a 17 year old then...he really wasn't all that back in the day, but now he's just plain ole ugly as sin.
I gotta thank JewveBeenFramed for all the funny comments!
heard he wears a toupee now. anyone verify that.
This is gonna sound crazy, but an older fellow who was a talent agent back in the 70's who golfs with us revealed this to us. According to him Barry had a bad coke problem in the late 70's and early 80's and began dancing in gay bars for money. Then from there he became a gay male escort this due to the advice of the Brady T.V. dad Mr. Reed said he could make some quick easy money and then introduced him to the San Francisco gay scene. So as it was stated on IMDB he was doing anything for money. I'd sweep the streets or be a Walmart greeter before becoming a gay male escort!
Come on now! The guy is close to 56 years old. He certainly doesn't appear "15 years older" than that. Puleeze.
He looks his age, not older, and is certainly more interesting than you lot.
He was never hot to begin with. He also is pretty mean from what I hear. Now Bobby Sherman, he was hot lol. Here are some more washed up celeb suggestions-David Cassidy, David Soul, Paul Michael Glasier, and the girls from The Facts Of Life (with the exception of Nancy McKeon). Oh yeah, and that Irish chick named Emma something who was on Dynasty. Never liked her.
P.S. That perv Florence Henderson doesn't look 74 cause she's had 10 facelifts rotfl. Wasn't she on that loser show Son of the Beach? Or was that McCormick?
The gay dad's name wasn't Richard; it was Robert.
^^^ You are correct - it was Robert. I fixed it. Thanks.
Ewwww...he looks like E.T. in the last photo!
Its incredible to realise that he celebrated his 1st birthday on the same day that Jimmy Dean snuffed it ! ! !.
He has a show in Branson, MO right now.
The type of people that would go to Branson would get the vapors if they knew about his (supposed) gay sexual escapades.
If Greg Brady is too lazy to get a job as a diesel mechanic, why can't he resurrect Johnny Bravo as a Las Vegas themed show?
Yeah ok, Greg is a douche, but I find it unacceptable he is the only Brady you list here. Everybody know he is only the 3rd worst wash up in the family, at best.
Did you forget Marsha publicly talks about how she was a sex addicted coke whore for about 2 decades?
Did you miss Peter's midlife crisis shown to us in living color by vh1's reality television? He even had a washed up drunk ex-reality star wife as his side kick.
All that kinda makes Greg's pot smoking & him wanting to bang Carol seem pretty lame. Carol Brady was the original American MILF, can you blame him? I wasn't yet born in the late 60's, but wasn't the entire world made outta hemp back then? Who didn't toke on a big flat spliff now & then? Personally I think it was the THC that protected Greg against the curse of tat Tiki Head in Hawaii.
I wonder who has the blue 1970 cuda greg drove on the show. stupid bobby put a hole in the convertible roof.
For those who were asking about Bobby Brady.
Bobby Brady (played by Mike Lookinland) became an alcoholic and was arrested for a 1997 DUI. (I await his entry in this site).
Considering that 3 out of the 6 Brady children developed some form of drug or alcohol problem says something for the show itself. Even some of his fellow child co stars have admitted that Barry was a giant douche who ignored them for the more mature cast.
I credit the Brady bunch (to be more specific Maureen McCormick). Seeing Maureen as a young vivacious sex kitten gave me my first erection. Maureen, you've gotten me through some lonely nights :)
I met Barry last year when he was out with friends at a restaurant. Didn't recognise him at first but he seemed like a nice guy.
I just watched a "Home of the Rich and Famous" on A&E and he just bought a home in Malibu for $3.5mm. HOW?
Did anyone else picture Peter Graves casually asking a young Barry Williams if he's ever been in a Turkish prison?
I think working in Branson is good with how many more stars go greg
This guy is soooo sad. I mean look at that last photo of him. The picture reminds me of the people I see in ads for low rent rehab joints on day time TV. Yeah I'm at home during the day frequently on week days, don't judge... at least I'm not this guy.
Hard to believe these some of these comments were made by adults. Why so much hate for someone you don't even know? A good example of people sitting behind their computers anonymously. If you wouldn't say something to someone's face. Why say it? Cowards!
I just saw the other day on Inside Edition that he recently had a kid with some lady that looks to be about 30 years his junior. He left her to pursue a gig in Branson, MO where he sings at timeshare presentations.
"The Brady Bunch" was one of the worst shows of its time. Sure it was squeaky clean and geared towards preteens. But the show's writing and story ideas was beyond bad.
Robert Reed didn't like the show and often got into heated arguments with the show's executive producer Sherwood Schwartz.
I never liked Barry Williams. He seemed way too smug on camera and acted like a smart ass. His shallow attempts at singing and playing guitar on some of the Brady Bunch episodes was really lame. Now that he's basically a no name in society his old age has left him to "share" his tuneless voice to geriatric audiences in alcoves of kitchy nightclubs here and there.
Robert Reed and Ann B. Davis were waaaaaaay too good to have their brilliant talents wasted on such a rotten show like "The Brady Bunch." The rest of the cast... phooey!
His Branson show "70's Music Celebration" is apparently pretty big and well received. He seems like a fun guy. Here's a promo for the show:
https://youtu.be/34ao9qhYyqU
I saw these comments and thought I should post one in response: the educational film in which Barry Williams appeared was, in fact, "Why Johnny Can Read" (not "Can't"). The reason I know this is that I appeared in the film with him as"Melody Howe"; my character was dubbed "Miss Goody Two Shoes", a part I got because I was able to read clearly at the audition. I was eight, Barry was ten (he landed his "Brady Bunch" part not long after that). I remember that he was lovely, polite and worked hard, which I expect he's continued to do throughout his career. I keep wondering if there are stills from the film out there.
He is on METV network now as a spokes man and definitely looks like an old drunk! He is still calling himself Greg Brady.(so sad). Every time he comes on I go to the kitchen, bathroom, or surf the channels. As far as him looking 15 years older than he is, I'll go for that. He is only 4 years older than me and if I looked like that I'd put a bullet in my head. If anyone from METV is reading this, you might want to ask your advertisers if they really want such a loser aggravating viewers during programs that I'm sure they pay big bucks for.
Many, many years ago I remember someone telling me that Barry Williams performed the electric guitar riffs on the closing theme of The Brady Bunch from seasons 2-5. I know that Williams is an accomplished guitarist, being classically trained, and he did play some of his own music on a couple Brady Bunch episodes. So, I've wondered all these years if Williams did actually provide the electric guitar riffs on the closing theme. Anybody know?
Isn't he dead?
Here's the story of a dead lady named Carol, who brought up three unlovely troubled girls. All of them addicted to drugs and alcohol too, the oldest one a former porn star. Here's the story of a dead man named Brady, who had been busy with three womanizing drunks of his own. They were three men who were crappy actors except for Mr. Reed. Until the one day when the dead lady was reacquainted with her TV fellow, and they knew that it was much more than a hunch. That this group of surviving hasbeens is still trying to cash in on their sappy crappy show; The Brady Bums. The Brady Bums. That's the way we're still The Brady Bums.
Reed=Mr.Gaydy
Why yes he did.
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