Lost Love: The Brady Bunch Stars' Almost Romance

by : Ta-Nehisi Coates

Christopher Knight, famously known for his role as Peter Brady, recently opened up about a potential romance with his 'Brady Bunch' co-star Eve Plumb. Plumb, who played his stepsister Jan, had revealed details of their brief, unsuccessful date in her memoir. Knight shared his perspective on their nearly blooming relationship, highlighting how his immaturity and the show's ending prevented their on-screen chemistry from translating into a real-life romance. He expressed that despite the missed opportunity, they have maintained a close friendship over the years, a bond that might not have endured had they pursued a romantic path.

The Unfolding Story of a Near Romance Between Brady Bunch Stars

In a candid interview with PEOPLE, actor Christopher Knight, renowned for his portrayal of Peter Brady in the iconic 1969-1974 sitcom "The Brady Bunch," reflected on a long-lost romantic possibility with his on-screen stepsister, Eve Plumb, who played Jan Brady. This revelation follows Plumb's recent memoir, "Happiness Included: Jan Brady and Beyond," where she recounted a "sweet" but ultimately unsuccessful date with Knight during their teenage years, shortly after the show concluded. Knight acknowledged Plumb's early maturity and her subtle interest in him, stating, "Eve was more mature than me very early [and] always had, from the earliest I can remember, her claim on me, but I wasn't there." He admitted to not being ready for such a connection at the time, and by the time he was, their individual paths had already begun to diverge. "And right as, all of a sudden, I'm now ready perhaps to turn around and recognize this attention and maybe give some of my own, we're off the air," Knight lamented. He expressed a sense of gladness, however, believing that had they pursued a relationship, their enduring friendship might not have been possible. "Because surely, you know, exes aren't somebody you normally stay very close to. So we never had a chance to be an item, to find a distance in one another." Knight vividly described the moment as "getting a kiss on two different trains right as they separate." Today, both Knight, married to Cara Kokenes since 2016, and Plumb, wed to Ken Pace since 1995, maintain a strong bond. Plumb shared that she and her husband regularly participate in monthly Zoom calls with Knight and his wife, a testament to their lasting friendship. Meanwhile, their fellow co-star, Barry Williams, who played Greg Brady, also reminisced about the romantic connections that blossomed on the set, noting that several cast members, including himself and Maureen McCormick (Marcia Brady), had dated at various times, indicating a vibrant social dynamic among the young cast members.

This narrative serves as a poignant reminder that life's timing often dictates our romantic trajectories. The story of Christopher Knight and Eve Plumb's almost-romance underscores the complex interplay between personal growth, professional circumstances, and the fleeting nature of opportunity. It also highlights the rare beauty of friendships that survive and thrive even when romantic paths are not taken, suggesting that some connections are perhaps best preserved outside the realm of romantic entanglement.