The Brady Bunch wasn’t Ann B. Davis’ first rodeo. The actor had previously starred in The Bob Cummings Show. The actor earned two Emmy awards for her role as Schultzy. The accolade not only won her the respect of her famous peers but also earned her recognition amongst television audiences everywhere.

After The Bob Cummings Show had ended in 1959, Davis went on to star in The Brady Bunch as Alice Nelson, the live-in housekeeper of the Brady Family. The series became a smash success, and Davis again enjoyed the television limelight.

“Whenever I walk down the streets or into a supermarket or a department store, I’m likely to hear someone yell out ‘Hi, Schultzy,’ or ‘Hi, Alice,'” said Davis during an interview with The Atlanta Journal. “Any one of those names suits me fine.”

Watch The Brady Bunch on MeTV!

Sundays at 10 & 10:30 AM

*available in most MeTV markets

But despite her success on television, Davis found most pleasure working in the theater.

“I think stage work is the most satisfying,” said The Brady Bunch actor. “The audience is right there where you can ‘get your hands on them,’ so to speak. You can see that kind of response you’re getting. But it’s difficult to make a living on the stage—  and the same holds true for television too.”

Luckily, Davis was able to make the best of both worlds, keeping busy and happy at the same time. “You sort of have to combine the two,” said Davis. “With Brady Bunch, we film from June through October, then we have the rest of the year off. I usually spend those free months in one touring company or another.”

The arrangement worked out well for Davis, who was able to enjoy the success of television and the creative fulfillment of working on the stage. “I’m happy as a clam when I’m working, so I have no plans whatsoever to call it quits,” said the actor. “I honestly expect to be back next year for The Brady Bunch, and after that series finally comes to a halt, I’ll look for another one...”