By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek)
Davis suffered a fall Saturday at a home in San Antonio she shared with retired bishop, Bill Frey and his wife. She died Sunday at University Hospital without gaining consciousness.
For five years (1969 – 74) Davis played housekeeper Alice Nelson on the hit ABC sitcom, The Brady Bunch. In her blue and white maid’s uniform Alice was the glue to the Bradys and was considered a member of the family. Davis would reprise her role for several TV-movies, and three spin-off series.
Before her Brady days, Davis struggled as a comedienne in an underground beer and wine bistro on Hollywood’s Sunset Blvd. Under the show name ‘Typhoid Mary’ Davis earned about a couple of dollars a night.
But her act would get her far more notice than the six years of little theater, summer stock and travelling musicals in the bush leagues.
Eventually she was noticed and cast as Charmaine “Schultzy” Schultz on The Bob Cummings Show. Davis’ character was as an unattached secretary who was secretly in love with her bachelor boss. She won two Emmy awards in 1958 and 1959 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She was nominated in 1956 and 1957.
Davis received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960.
Ann Bradford Davis was born 1926 with a twin sister in Schenectady, New York. Davis attended the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor where she was enrolled as a pre-med major but switched over to drama after seeing her older brother perform in the stage musical Oklahoma! She graduated in 1948 with a degree of drama and speech.
Davis was never married.
“I could have married for love once and once for money,” she told the Blytheville Courier News “But I would have had to give up acting – and that I can’t do.”
Credit(s): The Globe and Mail, CBC News, Blytheville Courier News, NEA, and Erskine Johnson.
R.I.P. "ALICE" Brady Bunch star Ann B Davis dies http://t.co/UbdhWvdbTV
— Lord Jamar (@lordjamar) June 2, 2014
Spent many a childhood afternoon with the Brady family. Here's to Ann B. Davis, the heart and soul of the Bunch. pic.twitter.com/gnBskk0rJ2 #RIP
— Josh Gates (@joshuagates) June 2, 2014
Alice doesn't live here anymore… R.I.P. Ann B. Davis pic.twitter.com/fl64SHM8cO
— David Steven Cohen (@CohenDS) June 2, 2014
Thoughts going out to the family of Ann B Davis who played Alice on the Brady Bunch. :-(
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) June 2, 2014
RIP Ann B Davis. Met her once, truly a class act! #alwaysalice
— Jordan Hembrough (@jordanhembrough) June 2, 2014
Alice- i'm sure Sam the butcher is excited to see you!! RIP Ann B Davis
— John Stamos (@JohnStamos) June 2, 2014
Rest in peace, Ann B. Davis. #alovelady pic.twitter.com/v6nzNrzILU
— Cat Staggs (@CatStaggs) June 1, 2014
Before Alice, she was Shultzy. RIP great comic actress Ann B Davis. http://t.co/ev3LJruLUC
— Harry Shearer (@theharryshearer) June 1, 2014
RIP #AnnBDAVIS – Best housekeeper ever. #BradyBunch Ann B. Davis, Alice on 'Brady Bunch,' dies http://t.co/0b3M8gaGAX
— Nicole Burke (@nicoleburkeAD) June 1, 2014
The SAG Awards mourns the loss of actress Ann B. Davis-http://t.co/wIXcAhVxhN
— SAG Awards® (@SAGawards) June 2, 2014
The only maid I ever had. : ( RT @WHAS11Brooke: Sad news! RT @WHAS11: Ann B. Davis, Alice on 'Brady Bunch' dies :http://t.co/AczHaMoMh9
— Andy Treinen (@WHAS11Andy) June 2, 2014
RIP to the best & funniest TV housekeeper! Ann B. Davis, The Brady Bunch's Alice, Dead at 88 http://t.co/OiFGzm8eL5 via @TVLine
— Slim K (@slimk) June 1, 2014
RIP Ann B. Davis, 'Brady Bunch' Star, Dead at 88 http://t.co/HCZWYadvLG pic.twitter.com/QYS8eEEbkX
— Tom McAuliffe (@TomMcAuliffe) June 2, 2014
RIP Ann B. Davis pic.twitter.com/EVbQ1dPjzJ
— Steve Niles (@SteveNiles) June 2, 2014
Friday nights growing up were all about the Brady Bunch RIP Ann B. Davis. Thnx for keeping me company.
— Richard Horvitz (@RichardHorvitz) June 2, 2014
RIP Ann B. Davis, the original inspiration for Pepper Potts in IRON MAN.
— Kurt Busiek (@KurtBusiek) June 1, 2014
#RIP Ann B. Davis. We'll miss you.
— hulu (@hulu) June 1, 2014
RIP to Ann B. Davis, the woman who took care of the Brady kids better than their housewife mom and work-from-home dad.
— Scott Weinberg (@scottEweinberg) June 1, 2014
SO SO SAD… R.I.P. Ann B. Davis — Alice from 'The Brady Bunch' Dies at Age 88 http://t.co/ZkZHEC2v1n #Legendary
— Greg Grunberg (@greggrunberg) June 1, 2014
Ohh RIP Ann B Davis “@BobbyRiversTV: Ann B. Davis "Alice" Dead At 88; Alice From 'The Brady Bunch': http://t.co/upRDByGfB9”
— Martha Quinn (@MarthaQuinn) June 1, 2014
RIP Ann B. Davis. The Brady Bunch was my everything growing up. You were like a member of my family. I hope you're God's maid now!
— Robert Mills (@Millsy11374) June 1, 2014
RIP ALICE!!
THE BRADY BUNCH'S ALICE, ANN B. DAVIS HAS DIED
I have just received confirmation. Sad day to all… http://t.co/gnpWPJqXWa
— Marshall Jay Kaplan (@THEFAMECAFE) June 1, 2014
