Much like his character on The Brady Bunch Robert Reed also had a passion for architecture
A frequent criticism of The Brady Bunch is that the series is a neverending parade of niceness - too smooth around the edges to ever be considered realistic. Strangely enough, this was a criticism that Robert Reed, best known for playing family patriarch Mike Brady, shared. Reed's disapproval only grew as the series continued, and as the show leaned into its more off-the-wall plotlines.
But, while Reed frequently gets a reputation for being the bad egg of The Brady Bunch, there were just as many things that he enjoyed about the series. Reed became great friends with his costars, including his on-screen wife, Florence Henderson, who he remained close with after the show wrapped. Many of Reed's on-screen children considered him a father figure in their lives.
Moreover, there were elements of Mike Brady that Reed not only enjoyed but identified with. In an interview with the Daily News, Reed explained that he had an interest in architecture, the very occupation of Mike Brady. "I would have enjoyed being an architect," said Reed when asked what he'd like to do if he wasn't an actor.
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Perhaps Mike Brady and Robert Reed could have worked together at the same architecture firm, if Reed hadn't been an actor, and Mike hadn't been, you know, a fictional character.
Even though his career path went in another direction, Reed was a self-made man who preferred getting things done himself. This was obvious when he bought a property and did much of the landscaping work himself.
"I bought a house and the property needed a great deal of work," said Reed. "So I found that it was good for me to get out and dig a few holes and believe me it was a heck of a lot cheaper."
As a celebrity with seemingly no shortage of funds, it seems strange that Reed would be focused on the cost of things. However, Reed stressed that the point of working on his landscaping wasn't the price point; it was the enjoyment he got out of it.
"It's nice to plant things and watch them grow, but in order to do a good job, you have to learn something about it and I figured it was interesting so I said, 'Why not?' I have really enjoyed it."
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