Barry Williams Highlights Efforts to Diversify 'The Brady Bunch'

Barry Williams, a former star of The Brady Bunch, has shared insights into the show's attempts to diversify its cast during its run. In a recent episode of his podcast, he acknowledged that while the series was predominantly white, there were deliberate efforts by creator Sherwood Schwartz and producer Lloyd Schwartz to include characters of different ethnicities. He highlighted the introduction of Black actress Jere Fields, who played Jan Brady's classmate Shirley in the 1973 episode 'Miss Popularity.' Williams noted that such representation was rare at the time and praised the creators for their commitment to inclusivity. Following this episode, the show aired 'Kelly’s Kids,' which featured a couple adopting children of various ethnic backgrounds, although it ultimately never led to a spinoff. Williams emphasized the significance of these efforts in contributing to broader representation in television.