Jump to content

Barry Williams (actor)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Barry Williams
Williams at the Chiller Theatre Expo in 2017
Born
Barry William Blenkhorn

(1954-09-30) September 30, 1954 (age 70)
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Occupations
Years active1967–present
Known for
Spouses
Diane Martin
​
​
(m. 1990; div. 1992)​
[1]
Eila Mary Matt
​
​
(m. 1999; div. 2005)​
Tina Mahina
​
(m. 2017)​
[2][3][1]
Children2

Barry William Blenkhorn (born September 30, 1954),[4] better known by his stage name Barry Williams, is an American actor. He is known for his role as the eldest of the Brady sons, Greg Brady, on the ABC television series The Brady Bunch (1969–1974), a role he reprised in several sequels and spin-offs including the animated series The Brady Kids (1972–1973), the variety series The Brady Bunch Hour (1976–1977) and the television films The Brady Girls Get Married (1981) and A Very Brady Christmas (1988) and the reality television series A Very Brady Renovation (2019).

He made his Broadway debut in the musical Romance/Romance in 1988. He acted in the films Wild in the Streets (1968) and The Brady Bunch Movie (1995). Williams acted in shows such as Marcus Welby, M.D., Mission: Impossible, Murder, She Wrote, Full House, That 70s Show, and Scrubs. In 2022, he appeared on The Masked Singer, and appeared on season 32 of the ABC reality competition series Dancing with the Stars in 2023.

Early life

[edit]

Williams, the youngest of three boys, was born in 1954 in Santa Monica, California,[4] to Doris May Moore and Canadian-born Frank Millar Blenkhorn, of English, Scottish, and German ancestry.[5] Barry and siblings Craig and Scott Blenkhorn[4] grew up in Pacific Palisades, California, where actor Peter Graves was a neighbor.[6]

Career

[edit]
Cast photo from The Brady Bunch. Back (L-R): Christopher Knight (Peter), Barry Williams (Greg), Ann B. Davis (Alice). Second row (L-R): Eve Plumb (Jan), Florence Henderson (Carol), Robert Reed (Mike), Maureen McCormick (Marcia). Front (L-R): Susan Olsen (Cindy), Mike Lookinland (Bobby).
Williams' most famous role was as oldest son Greg Brady on the 1970s sitcom The Brady Bunch.

Williams decided as a child that he wanted to be an actor, and in 1967 he made his television debut in a Christmas episode of Dragnet 1967. Williams continued to be cast in guest roles on other TV series including Adam-12, The Invaders, That Girl, Mission: Impossible, The Mod Squad, Here Come the Brides, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., Marcus Welby, M.D., and Bartleby, the Scrivener[7] before being cast in 1969 as eldest son Greg Brady on The Brady Bunch. He was also the voice of Greg in the first season of the ABC Saturday morning cartoon The Brady Kids (1972–73).

Following The Brady Bunch's cancellation in 1974, Williams continued to appear in guest roles on television, and became involved in musical theater, touring with productions such as Grease, The Sound of Music, Pippin, and West Side Story.

In 1988, Williams appeared on Broadway in the musical Romance/Romance with Tony Award-nominee Alison Fraser. Williams took over the lead male role of "Alfred/Sam" when Scott Bakula left the production. Years later, Williams was able to capitalize on being typecast as Greg Brady. Amid a procession of appearances in TV and films that played up his famous teen role, he ended up landing a role that was a departure from the Brady image. He was tapped to play English con man Hannibal in 1984, who conspired with Holly Sutton Scorpio (Emma Samms) on the top-rated General Hospital.

Williams has appeared in various Brady Bunch reunions, including the variety series The Brady Bunch Hour (1976–77), the television film The Brady Girls Get Married (1981), the 1988 Christmas film, A Very Brady Christmas, and the drama series The Bradys (1990). In 1989, Williams was honored by the Young Artist Foundation with its Former Child Star "Lifetime Achievement" Award for his role as Greg Brady.[8] He also had a cameo role as a record producer in the 1995 feature film The Brady Bunch Movie. His 1992 autobiography, Growing Up Brady: I Was A Teenage Greg, co-written with Chris Kreski, was a New York Times bestseller and was adapted into a 2000 television film titled Growing Up Brady starring Adam Brody as Williams. In 2000, Williams sang a parody of Eminem's "The Real Slim Shady" called "The Real Greg Brady"; the song was co-written by Williams, comedy writer and radio producer, David Brody of Z100 NY WHTZ, and Jay Gilbert of WEBN Radio in Cincinnati.[9]

Other shows Williams has appeared in include Highway to Heaven, Murder, She Wrote, Full House, That 70s Show, and Scrubs. Williams appeared briefly as an audience member in the 2002 music video of Peter Gabriel's song, "The Barry Williams Show". The song is actually about a fictional Jerry Springer-like talk show host, not the actor; Gabriel later revealed that he did not know of the Brady Bunch star when he wrote the song. Williams has made multiple appearances as a paid featured dancer at the World's Largest Disco in Buffalo, New York. Between 2001 and 2002, he played Manager Dean "The Machine" Strickland in 13 episodes of the sitcom, Hollywood 7, which featured the British pop group S Club 7. Williams played himself in the 2003 film Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star. In 2008, Williams appeared in Episode 6 of the VH1 series, Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. Williams participated as a friend of one of the patients, Chyna, and explained to her during a group session how drinking had a negative impact on his own life and career.[10]

Williams performing in Branson, Missouri in October 2014

In January 2010, he took a role in The Asylum mockbuster, Mega Piranha,[11] who played alongside the former teen pop singer Tiffany.[12] With the death of Florence Henderson in 2016, Williams became the oldest living cast member of The Brady Bunch.

As of 2019, he makes Branson, Missouri, his home and tours with the musical group Barry Williams and the Traveliers. He also joined with the other Brady Bunch kids in the 2019 television series A Very Brady Renovation on HGTV.[13] In 2021, Williams starred in the Lifetime Christmas film, Blending Christmas, alongside his Brady Bunch co-stars Christopher Knight, Mike Lookinland, Susan Olsen, and Robbie Rist.[14]

In 2022, Williams, Knight, and Lookinland competed in season eight of The Masked Singer as "Mummies". They were eliminated on "TV Theme Night" alongside Daymond John as "Fortune Teller".[15]

In 2023, Williams was announced to be competing on season 32 of Dancing with the Stars, partnering with Peta Murgatroyd.[16]

Personal life

[edit]

Marriage and family

[edit]

With second wife Eila Mary Matt, he had a son named Brandon Eric Williams in January 2003 With ex-girlfriend Elizabeth Kennedy, he had a daughter named Samantha Rose Williams in April 2012.

[edit]

In January 2001, Williams was fined $52,000 by Actors' Equity Association, the union representing stage actors, for starring as Captain Von Trapp in a non-union tour of The Sound of Music. According to Variety, the production was picketed in several cities. Williams responded by filing a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, arguing that the fine was illegal because he had resigned from the union in September 2000 before the tour began.[17] Equity alleged that Williams, who joined the union in 1974, was still a member when he began contract negotiations for the role.[18]

Williams was reinstated by Actor's Equity as a member in good standing in 2005 after he unionized a non-Equity production of A Christmas Carol in late 2004.[citation needed]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role
1968 Wild in the Streets Young Max Frost
1969 Bartleby Ginger Nut
1974 Goodnight Jackie Barry
1995 The Brady Bunch Movie Music Producer
2004 Santa's Rockin'! Himself
2010 Mega Piranha Bob Grady
2018 Flea Marsh Man

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1967 Run for Your Life Stanley Episode: "The Company of Scoundrels"
1967 Dragnet 1967 John Heffernan Episode: "The Christmas Story"
1968 The Invaders Paper Boy Season 2 Episode 25: "The Pursued"
1968 The F.B.I. Boy Episode: "The Messenger"
1968 Lancer Ben Price Episode: "Blood Rock"
1968 That Girl Autograph Seeker Episode: "7 1/4"
1968 Gomer Pyle, USMC Boy No. 1 Episode: "A Star Is Not Born"
1968 The Mod Newspaper Boy Episode: "The Guru"
1969 Here Come the Brides Peter Episode: "A Kiss Just for So"
1969 It Takes a Thief Herbie DuBois Episode: "A Matter of Grey Matter"
1969 Adam-12 Johnny Grant Episode: "Log 152: A Dead Cop Can't Help Anyone"
1969 Marcus Welby, M.D. Pancho McGurney Episode: "The Chemistry of Hope"
1969–1974 The Brady Bunch Greg Brady 117 episodes
1970 Hastings Corner Junior Fandango TV film
1970 Mission: Impossible King Victor Episode: "Gitano"
1972 The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie Greg Brady Voice, episode: "The Brady Kids on Mysterious Island"
1972-73 The Brady Kids Greg Brady Voice, 17 episodes
1973 The World of Sid & Marty Krofft at the Hollywood Bowl Greg Brady TV film
1976 Police Woman Steve Glass Episode: "Generation of Evil"
1976–77 The Brady Bunch Hour Greg Brady 9 episodes
1979 Greatest Heroes of the Bible Jacob Episode: "Jacob's Challenge"
1981 The Brady Girls Get Married Greg Brady TV film
1982 Three's Company David Winthrop Episode: "Up in the Air"
1984 General Hospital Hannibal TV series
1985 Highway to Heaven Miki Winner Episode: "A Song for Jason"
1986 Rocky Road Wayne Kincaid Episode: "The Wrong Mr. Right"
1987 Murder, She Wrote Nate Findley Episode: "Night of the Headless Horseman"
1988 A Very Brady Christmas Dr. Greg Brady TV film
1990 The Bradys Dr. Greg Brady 6 episodes
1991 Kids Incorporated Ana's Dad Episode: "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do"
1993 Bradymania: A Very Brady Special Barry Williams TV special
1994 Summertime Switch Frederick Egan II TV film
1994 Full House Barry Williams Episode: "Making Out Is Hard to Do"
1997 Perversions of Science Neighbor Episode: "People's Choice"
2001 Hollywood 7 Dean Strickland Main role
2004 The Brady Bunch 35th Anniversary Reunion Special Barry Williams TV special
2006 According to Jim Ben Episode: "Sex Ed Fred"
2006 That '70s Show Jeff Episode: "We Will Rock You"
2009 Scrubs Barry Williams Episode: "My Soul on Fire"
2010 Mega Piranha Bob Grady TV film
2011 A.N.T. Farm Game Show Host Episode: "America Needs TalANT"
2012 Bigfoot Simon Quint TV film
2014 Celebrity Wife Swap
2017 The Loud House Bumper Sr. Voice, episode: "Future Tense"
2019 A Very Brady Renovation Barry Williams 7 episodes
2021 Dragging the Classics: The Brady Bunch[19] Mike Brady Paramount+ TV special
2021 Blending Christmas John TV film
2022 The Masked Singer Himself/Mummy Season 8 contestant; Group costume with Christopher Knight and Mike Lookinland
2023 Dancing with the Stars Himself/Contestant Season 32

Theatre

[edit]
Year Title Role Venue Ref.
1988 Romance/Romance Alfred Von Wilmers / Sam Helen Hayes Theatre, Broadway

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Association Category Project Result Ref.
1994 CableACE Award Performance in a Comedy Special 1993 MTV Movie Awards Nominated
2003 TV Land Awards Favorite Fashion - Male The Brady Bunch Nominated
2004 Nominated
2005 Favorite Siblings Nominated
2007 Pop Culture Award Won

Book

[edit]
  • Growing Up Brady: I Was A Teenage Greg (1992) - ISBN 9780060965884 (with Chris Kreski)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Silverman, Stephen M. (January 28, 2005). "In Brief". People. Archived from the original on March 20, 2008. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
  2. ^ Dam, Julie K.L.; Miller, Samantha (December 13, 1999). "The Family Still Matters". People. Vol. 52, no. 23. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  3. ^ "Experience Matt". Seawinds Asset Management. Archived from the original on June 3, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2015. Note: Some sources erroneously give first name as "Ella"
  4. ^ a b c "Barry Williams". TV Guide. Archived from the original on January 24, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  5. ^ "Family Tree". Archived from the original on November 6, 2007. Retrieved March 19, 2007.
  6. ^ Williams, Barry. "Greg's Story". The Greg Brady Project. Archived from the original on August 15, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  7. ^ "Bartleby the Scrivener". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  8. ^ "10th Annual Youth in Film Awards". YoungArtistAwards.org. Archived from the original on July 16, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  9. ^ "Please Stand Up" (PDF). Gavin Report. August 25, 2000. p. 12. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
  10. ^ Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, Season 1, Episode 6. VH1. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  11. ^ "First Pics From Megapiranha Stink Like Fish". Dread Central. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
  12. ^ "Megapiranha Artwork Everything You Could Have Hoped For". Dread Central. January 29, 2010. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  13. ^ Lee, Luaine (September 8, 2019). "Bradys go 'home' again for HGTV". The Baltimore Sun. p. A&E 4.
  14. ^ Jones, Marcus (May 19, 2021). "Lifetime reunites High School Musical, Brady Bunch stars for holiday movies". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 19, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  15. ^ Huff, Lauren (October 6, 2022). "'The Masked Singer' Mummies revealed as 'Brady Bunch' brothers". EW.com. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  16. ^ "'Dancing with the Stars' season 32: Celebrity cast revealed". ABC News. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  17. ^ "Sound of Music 's Barry Williams Says Equity's $50K Fine Is Political". Playbill. February 6, 2001. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  18. ^ Jones, Chris (June 25, 2001). "Williams battles fine by Equity". Variety.
  19. ^ D'Addario, Daniel (June 30, 2021). "'Dragging the Classics: The Brady Bunch' Delivers a Satisfying Twist on a Beloved Sitcom: TV Review". Variety. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://wiki.riteme.site/w/index.php?title=Barry_Williams_(actor)&oldid=1263690062"