Robert Reed
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- This article is about Robert Reed, the actor. For Robert Reed, the author, see Robert Reed (author).
Robert Reed (October 19, 1932 - May 12, 1992) was an American actor.
Born in Highland Park, Illinois, Reed studied Shakespeare and was not a comic actor, originally gaining fame in the early 1960s for his leading role on the drama The Defenders. After winning the role of Mike Brady on The Brady Bunch, he became unhappy with his part. He wanted out of the show but was under contract. He was happy when the show ended, but he did return for the Brady Bunch Variety Hour and the two made-for-TV movies that reunited the Brady cast.
After the end of the Brady Bunch in 1974 he made limited appearances as guest stars on other television shows and in made-for-tv movies, including Pray for the Wildcats (1974).
Reed died from cancer in Pasadena, California at the age of only 59. However, he was also HIV-positive which, according to his death certificate, was a contributing factor to Reed's death. Like many gay actors of his generation, Reed never publicly revealed his homosexuality during his lifetime and was reportedly very conflicted about being gay.