- Jan Brady from "The Brady Bunch" turned 65!
- She shared her new look with short gray hair before her birthday.
- Now Plumb is happy in her marriage of nearly 30 years with her husband.
Former child actress Eve Plumb is popularly known for her iconic role as Jan Brady in the legendary ABC sitcom, "The Brady Bunch," which aired from 1969 until 1974.
In an April 2018 interview, Plumb reminisced about her memorable role and its effect on her successful acting career that turned her into a household name.
"It just happened," the California native said about her sudden rise to superstardom as a child. "A children's agent moved next door to me when I was a kid, and I got a commercial, then I kept getting more. I shot TV pilots, appeared on 'The Big Valley,' then 'Lassie,' then 'The Brady Bunch' came," Plumb explained.
As a kid, success came in abundance for her. "But once you age out of being the cute kid, then what? If you're not ready for it, it can be very difficult," said Plumb.
Eve Plumb as Jan Brady in "The Brady Brunch" in the episode "Getting Davy Jones," aired on December 10, 1971 | Source: Getty Images
Luckily, she had caring parents who supported her journey, as her father was in charge of her career and invested the money she made. On the other hand, Plumb's mother accompanied her on set daily. She revealed:
"They never took a cent from me!"
Eve Plumb as Jan Brady during Season 1 of "The Brady Bunch" on September 26, 1969 | Source: Getty Images
When "The Brady Bunch" ended, Plumb attended as many auditions as possible but failed to get the parts. However, that did not deter her. "I will audition for anything! Whatever comes my way!" she said.
Despite attaining immense success even after "The Brady Bunch" wrapped, Plumb is still widely recognized as Jan Brady to this day, but that does not bother her – more because the role helped launch her career:
"If it gets me in the door [for jobs,] then fine! If you're surprised to learn I can do other things, then great!"
Plumb Has a New Life after the Success of "The Brady Bunch"
Although Plumb and her fellow co-stars on "The Brady Bunch" considered each other as family, they lost contact after the show ended, but only for a while.
They all eventually reunited for the special "The Brady Girls Get Married," which served as a pilot for the "The Brady Brides" spin-off in 1981.
The original cast returned, including Ann Davis, Florence Henderson, Robert Reed, and the kids. However, the focus this time was on Jan and Maureen McCormick (Marcia Brady). Plumb said this about the reunion after losing touch:
"When you work together, it's like picking up the threads of friendship right where you left off."
It has been four decades since "The Brady Bunch" and its spin-offs graced the big screen. Plumb, born on April 29, 1958, is now 65 years old and recently marked her life milestone.
The TV star now dabbles as a painter and has shown off some of her artwork in an October 2022 Instagram post. Plumb shared a photo of herself smiling alongside a drawing on the table and wrote, "I created some Lithographs of paintings I did for the HGTV Brady house renovation. [...] It was such a fun project."
Besides her love for painting, Plumb also owns a brand called, PlumbGoods, which she promoted on her Instagram page on February 10, 2023. The brand includes coffee mugs, pet items, handbags, purses, totes, stationery, games, coffee collection, pillows, decor, kitchen products, accessories, bag tags, candle collections, and ornaments.
According to the business website, PlumbGoods sells products that are "Functional, serve a purpose, and deliver a smile to make your life better by making everyday better." In addition, the company website states, "We believe that happiness is the ideal state of mind, and the objects around you contribute to your happiness."
Apart from what she's up to nowadays, Plumb has also experimented with her hair over the years. As a child, she had long blonde hair, and she ditched that for a short purple hairstyle in March 2020.
The Hollywood star's most recent social media upload shows her rocking gray hair in yet another short hairdo. Plumb shared a snapshot of her beaming while wearing glasses outside the New York Transit Museum.
Instagram followers commented on the post, and one person said, "Beautiful." While another penned, "I love your glasses!" It appears Plumb is not shy to show off her gray hair.
Plumb Reveals Her Love Story of Nearly 30 Years
As for her love life, Plumb has been married twice. Several years after "The Brady Bunch" ended, she wed her first husband, Rick Mansfield, in 1979.
However, not much is known about Mansfield or his marriage to "The Bradys" alum, including why they called it quits in 1981.
After the dissolution of her first union, Plumb took her time in the dating game. She dated someone after her divorce, but the relationship was unsuccessful. The "Blue Bloods" star revealed:
"I wasn't looking to get married, but I was looking to be in a relationship with someone who liked me equally."
The "Murder She, Wrote" star later decided to heed her mother's advice about assessing a relationship after three months to determine whether it was good enough to pursue.
That was when she met her now-second husband, business consultant Ken Pace – who, thankfully – approached their romance with his own rule in mind.
Pace refrained from asking for Plumb's hand in marriage until they had been an item for a year. The "Monsoon" star said of the approach, "That's a good cycle of getting to know someone and what their family's like and all of the holiday things that go on."
Plumb and Pace eventually tied the knot in 1995 and have been happily married ever since. The couple does not have children together, and the "Grease Live!" star explained why she decided not to have kids.
Eve Plumb and her husband, business consultant Ken Pace, at the New York premiere of RADiUS-TWC's BLUE RUIN at BAM Rose Cinemas on April 22, 2014 in New York City | Source: Getty Images
In a December 2015 radio interview, Plumb admitted, "It's just not something that appeals to me, and I know that it is a really hard job, and it's not something that I was willing to take on."
ncG1vNJzZmimlazAb63MqKSapZFjsLC5jm1nbWlkbXqrrc1mmauZlK56p77OpmStoJVir7Otw7Jkm62emLVur9StZKielmO1tbnL