Susan Olsen says 'being gay killed' her Brady Bunch father Robert Reed i
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Susan Olsen
jefgg — 13 years ago(April 04, 2013 07:21 AM)
Susan Olsen says 'being gay killed' her Brady Bunch father Robert Reed in a heartfelt online tribute
By Shyam Dodge
Published: 21:53 EST, 31 March 2013 | Updated: 21:53 EST, 31 March 2013
Susan Olsen recently posted to her Facebook page a heartfelt open letter about her onscreen Brady Bunch father, Robert Reed, and his struggles as a gay man in Hollywood.
The online note addressed the current U.S. Supreme Court debate regarding same sex marriage and offered her own take on the issue from a very personal standpoint.
Olsen wrote that 'being gay killed' her TV father, referring to Reed who died in 1992.
Reed, who played Mike Brady on the hit television show, died at the age of 59 from health complications that included his status as HIV positive.
It was only after the actor's death that the public learned he was gay, a secret he had kept hidden throughout his long career - and one that his onscreen daughter believes led to his untimely demise.
Olsen, 51, said on the social networking site: 'As a child, I was BLESSED to have another father figure in my life. He did not replace my own beloved, Norwegian version of Jed Clampett, nor would he have wanted to. He simply harmonized with all of my family values and brought his own heart to our table.'
The actress who was made famous as Cindy, the youngest girl in the Brady clan, explained that the man 'who bottle fed puppies when he wasnt quarreling with the heads of networks' shaped her heart, 'as much as my biological parents did.'
She added, 'So I really can honestly say, "My dad was gay."'
Reed played Olsen's father on their iconic television show from 1969 to 1974.
But the former child star voiced her own heart wrenching perspective on the influential man's death: 'I can also say that being gay killed him.
'Because it was so taboo, he could never make peace with himself. He never allowed himself to have a genuine love. He was forever taunted by his own disdain for the natural inclinations that he was BORN WITH.
'Bob was a family man. Had he been allowed to form a relationship with another man, he would have been the best husband ever and might still be alive.'
Olsen revealed that 'the people surrounding' the television actor, 'shoved their own judgment down his throat and, sadly, he bought into it. He thought he was wrong.'
On Friday, the TV icon noted on her Facebook page that her tribute to her 'gay dad' had stirred an overwhelmingly positive response amongst her online fans.
'Many thanks to all the wonderful people (nearly as many straight peopl5b4e as gay!) who thanked me for expressing my love and respect for Robert Reed and compassion for the LGBT community,' she graciously wrote.
And just a couple days prior, on Wednesday, the author and artist posted a new cover photo to her fan page with the caption, 'Please God, let the Supreme Court know that you think it's OK for gay people to marry.'
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fiatlux-1 — 12 years ago(May 09, 2013 03:03 PM)
OK its great that she loved Robert Reed, even considered him another father figure, but does she really need to say "My dad was gay!"?!
We all know Robert Reed was gay. Why go around trying to g2000et publicity by saying things like these?
A tribute would be great, why put the emphasis on his sexual preferences if not to get MORE attention for yourself, more fans, more money?
It cheapens her so-called tribute, makes her seem like a publicity-hound only.
"I'd say this cloud is Cumulo Nimbus."
"Didn't he discover America?"
"Penfold, shush." -
Monster_A_GoGo — 12 years ago(October 28, 2013 07:50 PM)
You obviousy did not read the entire post and missed the whole point.
She also said:
'I can also say that being gay killed him.
'Because it was so taboo, he could never make peace with himself. He never allowed himself to have a genuine love. He was forever taunted by his own disdain for the natural inclinations that he was BORN WITH.
'Bob was a family man. Had he been allowed to form a relationship with another man, he would have been the best husband ever and might still be alive.'
Olsen revealed that 'the people surrounding' the television actor, 'shoved their own judgment down his throat and, sadly, he bought into it. He thought he was wrong.'
She was making a point. -
rookgaroo — 9 years ago(December 10, 2016 09:29 AM)
She just got canned from her radio gig for this reason.
http://perezhilton.com/2016-12-09-susan-olsen-brady-bunch-la-talk-radio