Susan Olsen opens up about childhood speech struggles & school teasing
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Childhood Speech Struggles
Susan Olsen recently spilled some tea about her Brady Bunch days at a Chocolate Expo event.
The 63-year-old actress, who played pigtailed Cindy Brady, confirmed what many fans wondered for years – that famous lisp wasn’t just for show.
It was something she actually struggled with in real life, making those childhood scenes hit different now.
When TV Meets School Bullies
The Brady siblings reunited at Hofstra University where fans could snag autographs and selfies.
During their panel chat, Olsen opened up about how the show’s focus on her speech impediment made things rough.
“When they made the episode, it’s like, ‘Oh, thank you.
Now, when I go to school, they have more ammo to tease me with,'” she admitted with the kind of honesty that makes you wince.
That Famous Brady Episode
She was likely referring to “A Fistful of Reasons” from season two, where the show really hammered home Cindy’s lisp and the bullying she faced.
Talk about art imitating life in the most uncomfortable way! Watching that episode now feels like peeking into someone’s actual childhood trauma, making those sunny Brady scenes feel suddenly less innocent.
Speech Therapy & Cute Boys
Olsen shared that she eventually sought help at age 19, attending a special “S” clinic at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
But her motivation wasn’t entirely speech-related – “I really only went to the ‘S’ clinic because there was a cute guy going to the clinic as well.”
Hey, whatever gets you through the door, right?
Small Mouth, Big Insecurities
The speech teacher diagnosed her with having “a very small mouth and braces” and helped her improve as much as possible.
Despite the professional help, those childhood insecurities still linger decades later.
“Every time I say an ‘S,’ it sounds like cymbals crashing,” Olsen confessed, showing how childhood TV fame leaves lasting marks.
Friday Night Blessing
Being on a show that aired Fridays had one silver lining for young Susan.
She was grateful kids at school had “a whole weekend to maybe forget about all the stupid things Cindy did while she was in my body on TV.”
The way she separates herself from Cindy speaks volumes about child actors’ complex relationships with their characters.
Brady Bunch Reunion Tour
The Brady siblings – Barry Williams (Greg), Christopher Knight (Peter), Mike Lookinland (Bobby), and Susan Olsen (Cindy) – continue touring together decades after their show ended. They charged 40forautographsorselfies(40 for autographs or selfies (40forautographsorselfies(60 for both) at the Chocolate Expo, proving their enduring appeal with fans who still can’t get enough Brady nostalgia.
Podcasting The Past
Williams and Knight have been unpacking Brady memories on their “Real Brady Bros” podcast for over three years, with Olsen and Lookinland frequently dropping by.
These chocolate expos and fan events keep popping up on their schedule, showing how deeply the Bradys remain embedded in American pop culture consciousness despite the decades that have passed.