BRADY BUNCH CHILD ACTRESS SUSAN OLSEN ON SHIRLEY TEMPLE

Susan Olsen as Cindy Brady

There was a generation who didn't grow up watching Shirley Temple films, but everyone still knew who she was: An adorable, talented child starlet who sang songs and made the whole world smile...

So it took another cute little actress, this one from a popular television series, to teach and/or remind us of Shirley Temple... And that's Susan Olsen as Cindy Brady, the youngest one in curls on THE BRADY BUNCH...

In the episode THE SNOOPERSTAR, a curious, troublesome Cindy is paid back for peaking into her older sister Marcia's diary... The revenge-minded teen writes a mock entry about a talent scout searching for the next Shirley Temple... Cindy, believing this very tall tale, "auditions" for lovey herself, Natalie Schafer from GILLIGAN'S ISLAND... And in memorial to Shirley Temple's passing, here's an interview selection with Susan Olsen taken from a Cult Film Freak archive...

Brady Bunch meets Gilligan's Island

Was there any particular BRADY BUNCH episode that was difficult for you? 

The embarrassment of the Shirley Temple episode. I was too old for it. It had been an idea for me to do when I was 8 or 9 but at 12 I looked and felt like a dork singing Goodship Lollypop.

Were you already a Shirley Temple fan?

I loved Shirley Temple when I was really little... like five. As I said above I felt very stupid playing a 12 year old who wants to be like her. I truly adore her now as a woman who grew up as a true example of how great a former child star can be.

This is why you never hear of her. She had a wonderful attitude and far more of an adult career than most people know. I read her memoir and she is just so very classy and smart and forgiving of any misdeed ever done to her, a woman of true grace and dignity. She's very willingly put family first and then went on to become a diplomat and Cancer survivor. She ROCKS! I'm definitely a fan of hers NOW.

Rest in Peace Shirley Temple