Days Of Our Lives
Soap World Shares Their Sorrow On The Passing Of Florence Henderson
Photo Credit: HutchinsPhoto.com
The entertainment world is a little less brighter today following the news on Thanksgiving evening that America’s mom Florence Henderson, best known and beloved for her role as Carol Brady on the 70’s sitcom, The Brady Bunch, had passed away at age 82.
Henderson died of heart failure at Cedar-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles surrounded by her children and loved ones. Her manager, Kayla Pressman said that her death was unexpected. Henderson had not been sick and earlier this week, she attended a taping of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars to cheer on Maureen McCormick, who played her TV daughter Marcia Brady.
For decades and revivals of The Brady Bunch, she was the mom we all wished we had, and even Florence herself had noted on a TV interview: “I created the kind of mother that I wished I’d had, and I think everyone longs for.” Florence’s enduring career started with her first big break in 1951 when she was offered a starring role in the musical Oklahoma! Her voice carried her to a successful Broadway career, and eventually she began landing high-profile television gigs. In 1959 she was on set as the first NBC “Today Girl”, and in 1962, she became the first woman to guest host the Tonight Show.Â
Over the last 24 hours, the soap opera world has been shocked and saddened with the news of Henderson’s passing. Here are a just a sampling of some of the stars and more who took to social media to share their grief.
Y&R’s Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki) and husband Ed Scott (B&B producer) : “We will miss our good friend  FlorenceHenderson. So charming and gracious and funny. RIP Flo. Xo”
Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images
DAYS Bill Hayes (Doug): “Deeply saddened to learn that my sweet friend Florence Henderson passed away. Yes, Florence Henderson and I worked together a lot, 1954, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962. We had a terrific act. You’d have loved it! For three years, Florence and I did all the commercials for Oldsmobile. They were musical and FUN!!!”
B&B’s Sean Kanan (Deacon): “Florence Henderson helped raise my generation. When I finally met her she was such a warm person. She will be so missed.”
OLTL’s Robin Strasser (Ex-Dorian): “Florence Henderson Was at ‘DWTS’ Days Before She Died  …A true hottie-She didn’t “sit it out” Brava RIP”
GH’s Kathleen Gati (Liesl): “My heart is broken! Grew up watching & loving #RIP FlorenceHenderson @ItsFloHenderson @TODAYshow Sending love to her family, friends & fans.”
NATAS (Daytime Emmys): “NATAS would like to extend our condolences to the family of Florence Henderson. We have lost one of the truly great entertainers. From Broadway to films and Daytime to Primetime, Florence was not only America’s Favorite TV Mom, but television royalty as the first Today Show Girl on NBC to her own Daytime talk show and, of course, the iconic role of Mrs. Brady on The Brady Bunch as well as being one of the first women to have her career recognized by The Smithsonian in DC as a ‘Legendary Lady of Stage and Screen.’ Florence will miss you tremendously!”
Susan Olsen (Guest starred on Y&R and played Cindy Brady on The Brady Bunch): “Of course we are all devastated by the loss of our TV Mom, but four magnificent human beings are proof that Florence was a wonderful mother in real life. It is for them that my heart is aching.”
Knots Landing’s Donna Mills (Ex-Abby): “Today we lost one of my most favorite people and closest friends. You were such a fiery light in my life and you will be so greatly missed. Forever in our hearts rest peacefully dear Flo.”
On-Air On-Soaps heart goes out to all of Florence’s family, and in particular, her wonderful daughter, Barbara Chase, who all of us in daytime have had the pleasure of knowing and working with in her position at the Television Academy.
Now, share your condolences, remembrances and thoughts on the passing of Florence Henderson in the comment section below.
It’s very sad and shocking. I just saw her in the DWTS audience.
RIP Flo
Years ago, in a special edition of “Soap Opera Digest,” I read that Florence Henderson had been a fan of “Days of Our Lives.”
Florence and Bill Hayes (Doug Williams, DAYS) were billed as “The Singing Sweethearts” in singing tours. Their partnership began with a series of Oldsmobile commercials. Here is one commercial:
4ever DAYS…loved your link. What a classic find, ( the jingle aka The Music Man…so you say you got trouble…) thanks!
This is such sad news, especially to everyone old enough to remember when “The Brady Bunch” was on ABC every Friday night. It is sad to think we just recently saw her in the audience of “Dancing With the Stars,” looking beautiful as ever. There have been so many celebrity deaths (Bowie, Prince, Leonard Cohen, Natalie Cole) and ones that impact the soap world (Claire Labine, Agnes Nixon, Larkin Malloy).
She MATTERED!
Wow this is so sad, Florence was a classy sassy lady. Loved her on the Brady Bunch. RIP my dear lady.
R.I.P. FLORENCE HENDERSON
Florence Henderson was an icon, may she rest in peace.
I always admired how energetic and alive she was well into her 80s. So sad to hear this news.
So sad to hear she passed away, awesome lady, I saw her in Illinois @ one of her outings, she was a breath of fresh air, couldn’t go a week without watching her on Brady Bunch, what a great mom she was on the show, will miss her smiling face, prayers to her family
…a lovely lady, indeed. RIP
Beautiful, hard-working, faith-based (which she shared in her memoir), joyfully talented, she seemed as if she’d be with us forever–her vibrant nurturing spirit surrounds us, always. #LovelyLady
Flo was a great actress I always watch the Brady Bunch you will be missed RIP
I’m sad but she will live on forever as carol Brady and people will discover that show and love her as their fave tv mom and how great is that?
OH, MY GOD!!!!! I am VERY, VERY SHOCKED AND EVEN MORE SADDENED by the sudden death of Florence Henderson!!!!! She was such an A+ CLASS ACT ALL THE WAY!!!!! I was such a BIG FAN of Miss Florence. You will be TRULY MISSED, Miss Florence. Rest In Peace.
Amen.
Like many people I was shocked to hear of Florence Henderson’s passing. She was such a youthful, pretty woman and so very alive! Saddened to hear it…I can see her smiling face/apple cheeks…
Our beloved TV mom is gone. Who will remind us not to play ball in the house? Bless the Henderson family.
Florence Henderson’s life truly was “the story of a lovely lady!” She will be missed….
My generation lost one of the best TV moms one could ever hope for – RIP, Ms. Henderson and thank you.
Ms. Henderson should have been a bigger celebrity. She had more talent than most. The early 50s Florence was chosen lead in “Oklahoma ‘ the musical by great Rogers and Hammerstein. Her voice was operatic but also comical and theatrical. God bless you and your family.
I hope they dim the theater lights on Broadway for her soon.
Days Of Our Lives
Stephen Schnetzer Talks On His Return to Days of our Lives and Working with Susan Seaforth Hayes In Emotional Episodes
Who says you can’t go home again? In the case of Another World favorite, Stephen Schnetzer (ex-Cass Winthrop), he has proven that it is true, and you can go back to your soap roots and where it all started for you.
Last week on April 11th, Schnetzer, along with several other key returns were on set at Days of our Lives taping all-new episodes of the Peacock streaming soap opera, centering on the funeral of Doug Williams (the late Bill Hayes), and as part of the iconic soap opera’s 15,000th episode.
Stephen is reprising his first daytime role as Steve Olson, the brother of Julie Williams (Susan Seaforth Hayes). The last time Schnetzer appeared on a DAYS set was during his one and only run on the show from 1978 to 1980. Clearly, viewers will be in for some very emotional scenes when Steve returns to Salem to be there for his sister, Julie in her time of need. In real-life, Susan has been going through her own grief, having just lost Bill back on January 12th at the age of 98.
Photo: NBC
Michael Fairman TV caught up with Stephen during the 15K episode celebration ceremony, and during a break from taping the gut-wrenching funeral scenes, to get his thoughts on being part of these highly-anticipated moments that will air later this year in December. Here’s what he shared with us below.
What has this been like for you to work with Susan Seaforth Hayes after all of these years?
STEPHEN: She’s a dream and she’s so bright. We ran lines yesterday and we ended up just visiting for about 45 minutes and just catching up and telling tales about each other’s career. She even dropped off the autobiography that she and Bill did. And being back here at DAYS, every time I turn a corner, there’s another familiar face. When I was on the show 40 more years ago, a bunch of the guys, played softball on a team together. This is really a trip down memory lane as I knew it would be.
Photo: JPI
Taping Doug’s funeral must be a hard day for Susan. Are you checking in with her to help hold her up through this?
STEPHEN: I am and I’m checking in with Amy Shaughnessy (Susan’s assistant), and she’s holding her up more than anybody. We’re there for each other.
There will obviously be some major hankie-inducing moments when Steve comes back to Salem to console his sister.
STEPHEN: Oh, wait till you see it in December. It’s going to be great.
Were you surprised you got this call to come back to the show decades later?
STEPHEN: It was out of the blue! I was completely surprised. They should have called me decades ago! That’s what surprised me. When Another World went down, I thought I’d land somewhere else and it never happened. That was more of a surprise.
Photo: JPI
Cass is such an identifiable character for you. As well, you and Linda Dano (ex-Felicia Gallant) are so synonymous together as best friends Cass and Felicia from Another World. When fans heard you were reprising your role as Steve Olson on DAYS, they are now hoping there will be more of you on the show to come.
STEPHEN: Steven Olson is a real “Cassian “character. I cut my teeth on Steve Olson and that’s how Cass was introduced. He was kind of a roguish charmer. And then when the character stuck for Another World, they rehabilitated me, and turned me into one of the shows heroes. And that’s what would’ve happened if I stayed as Steve Olson probably. So, Steve is the ‘pre-Cass’, Cass.
Photo: JPI
As the story goes, you originally decided to leave Days of our Lives?
STEPHEN: I was never on contract. I was doing a day and a half a week and I got a Broadway play directed by Franco Zeffirelli starring Joan Plowright and Frank Finlay. I was able to it as I didn’t have to break a contract or anything. I cut loose and went back to New York for that.
How well did you get to know Bill Hayes during your first time around on DAYS?
STEPHEN: My first episode was with Bill and Susan, as her long lost brother coming into Salem. They were so good to me. They were so kind. I had been doing eight years of classical repertory theater, never been in front of a camera. I tell everybody, it took me longer than any other actor I’ve ever seen to get comfortable in front of a camera. And they were very supportive at that time in my career. Coming back to honor Bill now in 2024, and to be see Susan, I am just so happy to be here.
Looking forward to seeing the scenes between Stephen and Susan Seaforth Hayes come December and Doug’s funeral and surrounding episodes? Do you hope that DAYS might bring the character of Steve Olson back for a longer stay? Comment below.
Breaking News
51st Daytime Emmys: Outstanding Daytime Drama Series Nominations
On Thursday, the 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards revealed nominations in several key categories via four entertainment news programs: Access Hollywood, E! News, Extra and Access Hollywood.
Three of the four announcements were major categories in the field of Daytime Dramas.
The nominees in the Outstanding Daytime Drama Series category are: The Bay, The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of our Lives, General Hospital, Neighbours and The Young and the Restless.
Photo: JPI
General Hospital won this category last year, and has the most all-time wins for a series in this category. For the first time, the beloved Australian-based soap opera, Neighbours is now eligible for competition due to its reboot which streams on Amazon Freevee.
Photo: AmazonFreevee
The 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards will be handed out in ceremonies in Los Angeles and broadcast live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+ on Friday night, June 7th.
Previous categories announced tonight via the entertainment news outlet included: Lead Actor and Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
So, what do you think about this year’s nominee for the Outstanding Daytime Drama Series? Who do you think should win? Comment below.
Breaking News
51st Daytime Emmys: Tamara Braun, Finola Hughes, Katherine Kelly Lang, Annika Noelle, Michelle Stafford, Cynthia Watros Score Lead Actress Nominations
The nominations were revealed for the 51st annual Daytime Emmys. in the prestigious Lead Actress in a Drama Series category by Entertainment Tonight.
This comes ahead of tomorrow’s full list that is set to be unveiled at 12noon/9am PST on Friday.
In the running for this year’s Outstanding Lead Actress are Tamara Braun (Ava, Days of our Lives), Katherine Kelly Lang (Brooke, The Bold and the Beautiful), Annika Noelle (Hope, The Bold and the Beautiful), Finola Hughes (Anna, General Hospital), Cynthia Watros (Nina, General Hospital) and Michelle Stafford (Phyllis, The Young and the Restless).
Photo: Getty
Previous winners in this category include GH’s Finola Hughes, Cynthia Watros and Y&R’s Michelle Stafford. Days of our Lives nominee had won in the Supporting Actress category twice in her career.
Earlier, the Lead Actor nominees were revealed and you can find them here.
Make sure to be with us Friday night, April 19th for the Michael Fairman Channel’s 10th annual Daytime Emmy Nominations Special beginning at 5 pm PT where we chat live with some of this year’s nominees.
So, what do you think about this year’s Lead Actress nominees? Comment below.
Stephen Schnetzer Talks On His Return to Days of our Lives and Working with Susan Seaforth Hayes In Emotional Episodes
51st Daytime Emmys: Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa Receive Talk Show Host Nominations
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51st Daytime Emmys: Tamara Braun, Finola Hughes, Katherine Kelly Lang, Annika Noelle, Michelle Stafford, Cynthia Watros Score Lead Actress Nominations
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