Maureen McCormick Shares 'Very Special' Moment Celebrating With Her Disabled Brother In Adorable Video

Aug 15, 2023

Trigger Warning: This article contains mentions of eating disorders that may be troubling for some readers.

Maureen McCormick was the epitome of the girl next door when she was in her teenage years, and the appellation has stuck with her decades after she first played the role that got her the designation. Maureen became famous when she played Marcia Brady, the eldest daughter of the Brady family, in the ABC hit series “The Brady Bunch.” The TV series focused on the blended Brady family, headed by Mike Brady (played by Robert Reed) and Carol Martin (played by Florence Henderson), and their six children. 

Maureen was the perfect daughter of the family and enjoyed her role. She had a near-perfect life as Marcia Brady but her life, in reality, couldn’t be farther away from that. Incidentally, the innocence and beauty that her character was known for were the same factors that contributed to Maureen’s issues as she grew older. 

The teenager struggled with the comparisons between herself and her on-screen character and felt she fell short. She wanted to live as the pretty girl next door in real life, so she resorted to upholding Hollywood beauty standards in her everyday life. That soon set her on the path of bulimia. The actress spoke to People about how her eating disorder started after she reentered a public high school at 17.

Thankfully, Maureen was able to recover from her eating disorder. She went on to once again capture the hearts of fans on Aug. 6, 2023, when she shared a video on Instagram that showed her blowing a candle with her brother. The heartwarming interaction between the siblings tugged on the heartstrings of many as they commented on the siblings’ bond. Keep reading to get the full details of the video.

Maureen also had a drug addiction that only stopped after she married her husband, Michael Cummings. The duo met in church, and the actress wrote in her memoir, Here's the Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice,” that she knew she would marry him the first time she saw him. 

“I turned around and saw this guy behind me. I’d never seen him before. He had dark hair, a great build, and chiseled features,” she wrote. “I looked straight into his eyes and thought, ‘This is the man I’m going to marry.’”

The pair had a whirlwind relationship and married one month after their first date. However, they are still together almost four decades after. The couple celebrated their anniversary in 2020, and Maureen marked it with a post on Instagram. 

“Happy 36th Anniversary to my husband Michael 💞 I love you forever 💞,” she wrote. “You are my heart, my home, my love💞 How grateful and thankful I am to be on this journey with you! 💞❤️❤️.”

Maureen and Michael have one daughter, Nathalie Michelle Cummings, who leads a private life, although the actress regularly posts about her online. She posted a throwback picture of her family in 2022 on Instagram and captioned the photo of herself, her husband, and little daughter, “Happy #tbt ❤️❤️❤️ My heart, my hope, my love. ‘You are the reason.’”

Maureen’s family is one of the things that keep her happy and stable through her difficult times. The “Fantasy Island” actress has a brother, Denny McCormick, who was born with an intellectual disability and had to be placed in a care facility after their mom died of cancer. Nevertheless, Maureen ensures to include him in her life as often as possible. 

On Aug. 6, 2023, Maureen posted a video that warmed the hearts of fans. In the video, taken on Maureen’s birthday, Denny tried to blow out a candle as Maureen watched him with love in her eyes. After many unsuccessful attempt, she asked him, “Should we blow it out together?” 

Her brother replied, “Yeah.” The actress responded, “Okay, let’s blow it together.”

The siblings then blew the candle together, after which everyone at the table clapped and cheered for them. 

Several fans commented on the video wishing Maureen a happy birthday. Some also thought it was Denny’s birthday and wrote their wishes to him. However, Maureen clarified under someone’s post and wrote:

“Hey!!!! It was my birthday!!!😂🤣😂But Denny thinks my birthday is his too! 💓💕😘.”

Many also commented on the special bond between Maureen and Denny. 

Another person gushed over the actress: 

“You are very special Maureen. You can see the love in your eyes.”

“I just love how you and Denny love each other! My brother and I have a great relationship…it’s like having a permanent best friend!!!!” someone else wrote. 

Another said, "The sweetest video ever. HBD 👑"

Maureen often shares pictures and clips of herself and Denny on her Instagram. On July 20, 2022, she shared a photo of her hugging Denny as he smiled open-mouthed at the camera. 

“Happy Wednesday ❣️ Seeing inclusion reminds me there is joy and happiness in this world, Maureen captioned the post. Today, join Denny and me in celebrating Champions of Inclusion worldwide. Who is your Champion of Inclusion? Please post a photo and remember to use #SOchallengeaccepted and tag @specialolympics ❤️.”

She also posted a photo of herself and Denny heartily chomping on ice cream on July 10, 2023, on Instagram and captioned the picture, “Happy #SundayFunday ! 💕.”

What do you think of the bond between Maureen McCormick and her brother? Does her story inspire you? Let us know — and be sure to pass this on to friends, family, and fans of Maureen McCormick.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from an eating disorder, please visit Eating Disorder Hope for more information on hotlines and help in your location.