Christopher Knight —The Brady Bunch’s Peter — Didn’t Want to Be a Child Star: ‘Isn’t That Your Parents’ Job to Work?’

Mar. 15, 2025

Christopher Knight as Peter on ‘The Brady Bunch’ in 1969 (left); Christopher Knight in 2021 (right).Photo:ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty

Christopher Knightis opening up about his days as a child actor — and why it wasn’t, for him, a dream come true.

On the Nov. 19 episode ofI Choose Me with Jennie Garth, Knight, who played middle son Peter Brady onThe Brady Bunch, opened up about how he got into acting and the effect being on the hit series had on him.

Knight, 67, told theBeverly Hills, 90210star that the show has had a “pretty significant” effect on his life, in part because he and his costars were “kids” when they filmed it. He was just 10 when he shot the pilot and 16 when the series wrapped. “You’re forming yourself, you’re forming an idea of self,” he said.

CBS via Getty

Knight explained that he started acting because his dad was an out-of-work actor in New York City. He connected Knight and his brother — who was 13 months older — with agents. Knight told Garth that his brother was the “outgoing one” and his mom was surprised when he was the one who booked jobs instead.

The cast of ‘The Brady Bunch.’ Clockwise from top: Robert Reed, Eve Plumb, Maureen McCormick, Susan Olsen, Florence Henderson, Mike Lookinland, Christopher Knight and Barry Williams in 1969.ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

The Brady Bunch, he said, gave him the support his family didn’t give, describing his home life as “chaotic and not abundant.” He remembered that when the family didn’t have enough milk, his father told his mother, “Feed them every other day.”

Still, whenThe Brady Bunchended in 1974 after five seasons, he said, “I was happy.” He explained, “At least initially because I wanted to go to school. It wasn’t my idea to be an actor, though I was getting so much from it and very much appreciated it. I hadn’t decided on what I wanted to do with my life.” He re-entered school halfway through 11th grade, “just in time” to catch up on things he missed.

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source: people.com