Brady Bunch star, 69, opens up about marriage secrets after 40 years together

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After celebrating 40 years of marriage, Maureen McCormick revealed the key to her lasting relationship with husband Michael Cummings.

The 69-year-old star of The Brady Bunch said he fell in love immediately when they met, and shared that they’ve worked hard to build a lasting and successful relationship.

At The John Ritter Foundation’s Evening from the Heart Gala in Los Angeles on Friday, McCormick and her husband shared how they navigate disagreements in their relationship.

Her husband shared with People that a good sense of humor is essential. He emphasized not taking life too seriously, letting go of worries, and appreciating the person you’re with, because a relationship is a lifelong commitment.

The actress also stressed the importance of ‘celebrating the differences.’

Just days after being seen on a date with her partner, McCormick was photographed kissing a male friend goodbye on the lips while her husband was present.

The couple said they knew almost immediately when they began dating in the 1980s that they were meant to be together.

Cummings confessed he didn’t recognize her, but he was immediately drawn to her. McCormick added that he found it incredibly refreshing not knowing she was a famous actress, as it meant he didn’t have any preconceived notions about her.

‘It was really wonderful,’ the sitcom TV star added. 

Theater star Cummings, founder of The Scandinavian Theater Company, shared that she was immediately captivated, saying, ‘I saw those eyes and just fell in love.’

McCormick explained that she’s always dreamed of getting married and finding a partner. She vividly remembers knowing he was the one when she made eye contact with him at a concert – it was an instant connection.

The pair also shared that their priorities these days are ‘our daughter, our family, our friends.’ 

The couple added: ‘We love walking together. We love nature.’ 

Regarding their 40th anniversary earlier this year, McCormick explained that they’re still celebrating. He believes reaching this milestone in their relationship required a lot of effort and dedication.

She added, ‘It’s better than ever. We feel very grateful and thankful to have found each other.’ 

She became famous at the young age of 13 when she joined the original cast of The Brady Bunch.

She became famous for playing Marcia Brady, the attractive and well-liked oldest sister on the show, alongside her siblings Peter, Jan, Bobby, and Cindy. She played the role for five seasons before the series ended in 1974.

After the original *Brady Bunch* series ended, she continued to play her character in several spinoffs. She also appeared as a guest star on numerous TV shows and in movies throughout the 1970s and 80s.

However, when the show was canceled, she began struggling with severe substance abuse. This not only harmed her career but also almost led to the end of her marriage.

The couple tied the knot in 1985, at the height of McCormick’s destructive cocaine addiction. 

In her 2008 memoir, she revealed that her life changed when her husband, Cummings, told her she had to get sober or he would divorce her.

In 2008, she published a revealing memoir called Here’s The Story: Surviving Marcia Brady and Finding My True Voice, where she openly shared details about her life after being on The Brady Bunch.

The book detailed her struggles with addiction, including exchanging sexual favors for drugs, as well as severe depression and bulimia.

She decided to change her life and stop using drugs because her husband, Cummings – whom she’s been married to for 40 years, celebrating the milestone in March – told her he would leave her if she ever used drugs again.

The couple, who share a 35-year-old daughter Natalie, now live a quiet life outside Los Angeles.

Michael has had a successful acting career as well, appearing in several well-known TV shows and movies like Criminal Minds, Fresh Off the Boat, Miracle on Ice, and Drop-Out Father, where he acted with Dick Van Dyke.

Recently, McCormick has primarily appeared in smaller roles on television, such as when she competed on Dancing with the Stars in 2016.

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2025-09-15 16:35