Mike Lookinland Says he Went "Off the Rails" after "The Brady Bunch" Ended - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 03-31-2026, 07:51 PM

"The Brady Bunch" Star Mike Lookinland Says he Went "Off the Rails" after Show Ended
by Raechal Shewfelt
March 31, 2026

Mike Lookinland needed a break after playing youngest brother Bobby on five seasons of the squeaky clean family sitcom "The Brady Bunch". And he took it.

"I lived my childhood in my 20s, because I couldn't when I was a child," Lookinland said Monday on The Real Brady Bros podcast. "And in my 20s, I had a car and money and freedom. I was fully off the rails."

The actor was all of eight when the sitcom premiered on ABC in 1969. When it ended five seasons and five years later, he was just beginning his teenage years.

"I'm just thankful that not every man, woman, and child had a high-def camera in their pocket when I was 25, like they do now," Lookinland said, "because it would have ruined my life."

Christopher Knight, who portrayed middle brother Peter, said that their TV parents — Robert Reed and Florence Henderson — were a deterrent to the cast in behaving badly.

"We didn't wanna disappoint Florence and Bob," he said. "I mean, that was the beginning of it. It's like there's certain people that you just don't wanna disappoint. I think that was stronger with me with those two than it was my own parents."

Lookinland has struggled with alcoholism, but said in 2013 that he had gotten sober.

He now leads a small business that makes decorative countertops, fireplaces, benches, and other concrete items.

https://ew.com/brady-bunch-star-mike...itcom-11938639

Tankeryanker · 04-20-2026, 09:44 AM

I wonder what causes some shows kids to go nuts and others none of the kids have issues.

stevea · 04-20-2026, 10:01 AM

I had never heard this one.

Rusty Hamer committed suicide, and Jay North had a lot of issues--as did a lot of other child stars. Mostly because of their parents.

Tankeryanker · 04-20-2026, 10:35 AM

and yet none of the walton's kids had big issues. Little house had some.

03-31-2026, 07:51 PM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,005	Mike Lookinland Says he Went "Off the Rails" after "The Brady Bunch" Ended *"The Brady Bunch" Star Mike Lookinland Says he Went "Off the Rails" after Show Ended* by Raechal Shewfelt March 31, 2026 Mike Lookinland needed a break after playing youngest brother Bobby on five seasons of the squeaky clean family sitcom "The Brady Bunch". And he took it. "I lived my childhood in my 20s, because I couldn't when I was a child," Lookinland said Monday on The Real Brady Bros podcast. "And in my 20s, I had a car and money and freedom. I was fully off the rails." The actor was all of eight when the sitcom premiered on ABC in 1969. When it ended five seasons and five years later, he was just beginning his teenage years. "I'm just thankful that not every man, woman, and child had a high-def camera in their pocket when I was 25, like they do now," Lookinland said, "because it would have ruined my life." Christopher Knight, who portrayed middle brother Peter, said that their TV parents — Robert Reed and Florence Henderson — were a deterrent to the cast in behaving badly. "We didn't wanna disappoint Florence and Bob," he said. "I mean, that was the beginning of it. It's like there's certain people that you just don't wanna disappoint. I think that was stronger with me with those two than it was my own parents." Lookinland has struggled with alcoholism, but said in 2013 that he had gotten sober. He now leads a small business that makes decorative countertops, fireplaces, benches, and other concrete items. https://ew.com/brady-bunch-star-mike...itcom-11938639

04-20-2026, 09:44 AM	#2
Tankeryanker Do you like my monkey picture? Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 22, 2014 Posts: 3,043	I wonder what causes some shows kids to go nuts and others none of the kids have issues.

04-20-2026, 10:01 AM	#3
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,331	I had never heard this one. Rusty Hamer committed suicide, and Jay North had a lot of issues--as did a lot of other child stars. Mostly because of their parents.

04-20-2026, 10:35 AM	#4
Tankeryanker Do you like my monkey picture? Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 22, 2014 Posts: 3,043	and yet none of the walton's kids had big issues. Little house had some.