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Barry Williams, now 66, played Greg Brady, the Brady family’s oldest son, for five seasons on ABC’s The Brady Bunch from 1969-1974.

The ABC family sitcom was known as a wholesome, kid-friendly show that tied up life lessons in neat bows. But Williams showed a different side to The Brady Bunch in his 1992 New York Times bestselling memoir, Growing Up Brady: I Was a Teenage Greg (written with Chris Kreski).

There has long been a rumor that Williams dated Florence Henderson, who played his mother, Carol Brady, behind the scenes. Williams revealed the truth – and lack thereof – behind that rumor in his autobiography.

Barry Williams, Florence Henderson, and Christopher Knight in 2014
Barry Williams, Florence Henderson, and Christopher Knight in 2014 | Gabe Ginsberg/FilmMagic

Williams had a crush on Henderson from the beginning

Williams addressed the dating rumors head-on in his autobiography with the cheekily titled chapter β€œDating Your Mom.” Almost as soon as he was cast in the role of Greg Brady, Williams admitted, he had a huge crush on Henderson.

While many viewers thought of Henderson as β€œthe quintessential television mom,” Williams admitted he couldn’t believe that more people didn’t see what a β€œwhite-hot babe’ she was. He also raved about her wicked, often innuendo-laced sense of humor, as well her β€œsharp, sassy” energy.

From the beginning, Williams was smitten with his TV mom. β€œTo put a woman like that in close daily proximity to a normally sex-obsessed teenage guy is to drive that poor young man wild,” Williams wrote. β€œAt least that’s what happened to me. Almost from day one, my feelings toward Florence were more carnal than maternal.”

Barry Williams in 1977
Barry Williams in 1977 | Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives

He finally asked her out on a date

The Brady Bunch star was hooked on Henderson from their very first meeting. Eventually, he worked up the courage to ask her out on a date. He was just barely 16 years old, and she was already a married mother. Still, she said β€œyes” to spending a night out on the town with Williams.

Although he was shocked to win a date with his longtime crush, Williams was suddenly terrified. After all, he wrote in Growing Up Brady, he didn’t even have a driver’s license – just a learner’s permit. The teen had no idea what a formal date might actually look like.

Still, Williams took great pains to prepare for his night with Henderson at the Coconut Grove, a Los Angeles hotspot. From making reservations to trying out different colognes and even buying a new sport coat and tie, he was β€œall in” when he came to his date with Carol Brady.

The Brady family
The Brady family | Hulton Archive/Getty Images
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The night went wrong – but Williams still couldn’t believe his luck

When Williams picked Henderson up for their date night, he couldn’t believe his eyes.

β€œFlorence had arrived in the lobby and looked absolutely beautiful – sexy, sophisticated, and not at all like Carol Brady,” the Brady Bunch actor remembered, adding that he was β€œdumbstruck by the fact that this amazing creature had actually consented to a date with [him].” He was more determined than ever to impress her (and to not let her know that he’d never actually been on a real date before).

From there, though, the night included a series of mishaps. Williams backed his brother’s car into a wall almost as soon as they started to their destination. Later, Henderson had to let him know that he should offer the host a tip if he wanted to get a decent restaurant table.

Still, Henderson allowed her young co-star to give her a quick, innocent kiss (possibly on the cheek) at the end of their β€œdate.” Their long-rumored romance might have been little more than a one-sided teen crush, but Williams said he still felt like a β€œmajor stud” after his evening with Henderson.