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Barry Williams (actor)

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Barry Williams
Williams at the Big Apple Convention in Manhattan, October 1, 2010.
Born
Barry William Blenkhorn

(1954-09-30) September 30, 1954 (age 70)
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1967–present
Spouse(s)Diane Martin (1990–1992)[1]
Eila Mary Matt[2][3] (1999–2005)[1]
Children2

Barry William Blenkhorn (born September 30, 1954),[4] known professionally as Barry Williams, is an American actor best known for his role as the eldest of the Brady sons, Greg Brady, on the ABC television series The Brady Bunch.

Early life and career

Williams, 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] Williams decided as a child that he wanted to be an actor, and in 1967 he made his television debut in an episode of Dragnet.

Williams' most famous role was as oldest son Greg Brady on the 1970s sitcom The Brady Bunch.

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 and Bartleby, the Scrivener[7] before being cast in 1969 as Greg Brady on The Brady Bunch.

Later career

Following the cancellation of The Brady Bunch 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, 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 movies 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 TV movie reunions, including the 1988 Christmas movie, A Very Brady Christmas.

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]

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 TV movie titled Growing Up Brady starring Adam Brody as Williams.

In 2000, Williams sang a parody of the Eminem hit single, "The Real Slim Shady", called "The Real Greg Brady" co-written by comedy writer and radio producer, David Brody, and Jay Gilbert of Froggy Radio in Cincinnati, Ohio and he sang the same song at Kings Island in Cincinnati in 2008. In 2001–2002, he played Manager Dean "The Machine" Strickland in 13 episodes of the sitcom, Hollywood 7, which featured the British pop group S Club 7.

Barry Williams signing autographs in 2003 at "Barry Williams Disco Night"

In 2002, Williams participated on the FOX television show Celebrity Boxing, in a boxing match between him and former Partridge Family star, Danny Bonaduce. He lost to Bonaduce who holds a black belt in martial arts.[which?]

Williams played himself in the 2003 film Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star.

In December 2007, he launched a fan portal named "The Greg Brady Project". The site features ongoing conversations with Barry, fans and other celebrities.

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 her drinking had a negative impact on his own life and career.[9]

In January 2010, he took a role in The Asylum mockbuster, Mega Piranha,[10] who played alongside the former teen pop singer Tiffany.[11]

Williams has also created a cabaret act that pays tribute to his past and hosts the satellite radio trivia show, The Real Greg Brady's Totally '70s Pop Quiz starring Barry Williams, broadcast Saturdays on Sirius Satellite Radio's "70s on 7" channel.[12]

In late 2011, Williams started appearing in a show at the Yakov Smirnoff theater in Branson, Missouri, where he resides. He then moved to the Americana Theatre in Branson, where he performs his 70s Music Celebration! musical variety show, which showcases his singing and guitar playing ability along with clips, videos, and stories from his time on The Brady Bunch.

On September 4, 2016, Williams performed the national anthem at the NASCAR Sprint Cup 2016 Bojangles' Southern 500,. The TV announcer said Williams was in "full Johnny Bravo mode!"

With the death of Florence Henderson on November 24, 2016, Williams became the oldest surviving cast member from The Brady Bunch.

Williams performing in Branson, Missouri, October 2014

Actors' Equity Association dispute

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. Equity alleged that Williams, who joined the union in 1974, was still a member when he began contract negotiations for the role.[13]

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

Film and Television
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 Boy on Bike Episode: "The Pursued"
1968 The F.B.I. Boy Episode: "The Messenger"
1968 Wild in the Streets Young Max Feature film (uncredited role)
1968 Lancer Ben Price Episode: "Blood Rock"
1968 That Girl Autograph Seeker Episode: "7 1/4: Part 2"
1968 Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. Boy #1 Episode: "A Star Is Not Born"
1968 The Mod Squad 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" (Parts 1 & 2)
1969 Adam-12 Johnny Grant Episode: "Log 152: A Dead Cop Can't Help Anyone"
1969–74 The Brady Bunch Greg Brady Main cast (117 episodes)
1969 Marcus Welby, M.D. Pancho McGurney Episode: "The Chemistry of Hope"
1970 Hastings Corner Junior Fandango TV pilot episode
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) Main cast (17 episodes)
1973 The World of Sid & Marty Krofft at the Hollywood Bowl The Brady Bunch Kids TV special
1974 Goodnight Jackie Barry Feature film; aka Games Guys Play
1976 Police Woman Steve Glass Episode: "Generation of Evil"
1976–77 The Brady Bunch Hour Greg Brady Main cast (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 Daytime drama
1985 Highway to Heaven Miki Winner Episode: "A Song for Jason" (Parts 1 & 2)
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 Main cast (6 episodes)
1991 Kids Incorporated Ana's Dad Episode: "Breaking Up is Hard to Do"
1994 Summertime Witch Frederick Egan II TV film
1995 The Brady Bunch Movie Music Producer (cameo) Feature film
1997 Perversions of Science Neighbor Episode: "People's Choice"
2000 Growing Up Brady Himself / Narrator TV film (also co-executive producer)
2001–02 Hollywood 7 Dean Strickland Main cast (13 episodes)
2006 According to Jim Ben Episode: "Sex Ed Fred"
2006 That '70s Show Jeff Episode: "We Will Rock You"
2010 Mega Piranha Bob Grady TV film
2011 A.N.T. Farm Game Show Host Episode: "American Needs TalANT"
2012 Bigfoot Simon Quint TV film
2015 The Comeback Kids Himself Episode: "Child Star Support Group: Part 2"
2016 Flea Marsh Man Feature film

References

  1. ^ a b Silverman, Stephen M. (January 28, 2005). "In Brief". People. 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. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help) Note: Some sources erroneously give first name as "Ella"
  4. ^ a b c "Barry Williams". TVGuide.com. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  5. ^ Family Tree
  6. ^ Williams, Barry. "Greg's Story". The Greg Brady Project. Archived from the original on August 15, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ "Britannica Classic: Herman Melville's Bartleby the Scrivener". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  8. ^ "10th Annual Youth in Film Awards". YoungArtistAwards.org. Retrieved 2011-03-31.
  9. ^ Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, Season 1, Episode 6, VH1.com, accessed February 28, 2011.
  10. ^ "First Pics From Megapiranha Stink Like Fish". Dread Central. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  11. ^ "Megapiranha Artwork Everything You Could Have Hoped For". Dread Central. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  12. ^ Sirius "Totally '70s" home page
  13. ^ Jones, Chris. "Williams battles fine by Equity", Variety, June 25, 2001
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