7. Robert Reed
The dad of The Brady Bunch kept a very private life, even from his costars. Reed also liked to keep a low profile when it came to his fans. The reason: his homosexuality, which he always feared would hurt his career, even to the end of his life. He studied acting at Northwestern University and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, planning for a serious career in film. Along the way, he married a woman to disguise his sexuality. The marriage lasted only five years. He loathed working on The Brady Bunch, but enjoyed the paycheck and formed friendships with his costars, in particular Florence Henderson. Henderson knew Reed was gay, but never discussed the subject with him. Just after his death from colon cancer, Reed’s family acknowledged that he was aware he had contracted HIV. He died in 1992.
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