FLORENCE Henderson, the wholesome actress who went from Broadway star to television icon when she became Carol Brady, the ever-cheerful mum presiding over The Brady Bunch, has died.

She was 82.

Henderson suffered heart failure on Thursday night at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles after being hospitalised the day before, her publicist David Brokaw and manager Kayla Pressman said.

She died surrounded by family and friends, Ms Pressman said.

Maureen McCormick, who played Carol Brady’s eldest daughter, Marcia, was the first to send tributes to her on screen mother.

Florence Henderson was a dear friend for so very many years & in my <3 forever. Love & hugs to her family. I'll miss u dearly #RIPFlorence — Maureen McCormick (@MoMcCormick7) November 25, 2016

You are in my heart forever Florence💕 pic.twitter.com/PABCuPubA2 — Maureen McCormick (@MoMcCormick7) November 25, 2016

Some of her other on-screen kids also paid tributes, including Barry Williams (Greg Brady) who once confessed to having a crush on his TV mum.

Christopher Knight (Peter Brady) said he was grief-striken by the news.

Susan Olsen (Cindy Brady) asked that Henderson’s real life children be remembered as they mourn their mother. (Henderson had four children with Bernstein - Barbara, Joseph, Bob and Elizabeth.)

Deeply saddened. Florence was one of the most gracious people I have ever known, Proud to call her Mom and life long friend. #RIPFlorence — Barry Williams (@MrBarryWilliams) November 25, 2016

I grieve for the passing of my dear friend, Florence. Privileged to have known her and the kindness of her heart. She will be missed. RIP pic.twitter.com/Wu1ujaycHW — Christopher Knight (@ChrisKnightHome) November 25, 2016

THE SHOW THAT CHANGED IT ALL

Millions loved, and kept on loving, the innocent sitcom about a blended family.

The Brady Bunch, first aired in 1969, returned to television in various forms again and again, including The Brady Bunch Hour in 1977, The Brady Brides in 1981 and The Bradys in 1990. It was also seen endlessly in reruns.

“It represents what people always wanted: a loving family. It’s such a gentle, innocent, sweet show, and I guess it proved there’s always an audience for that,” Henderson said in 1999.

The show was among the first to introduce to television the blended family. As its theme song reminded viewers each week, Henderson’s Carol was a single mother raising three daughters when she met her TV husband, Robert Reed’s Mike Brady, a single father who was raising three boys. The eight of them became The Brady Bunch, with a quirky housekeeper, played by Ann B Davis, thrown into the mix.

Of her time playing Carol Brady, she said on her Facebook page: “I played Carol as the mother I always wished I had, as the mother a lot of people wished they had.”

The blonde, ever-smiling Henderson was already a Broadway star when the show began, having originated the title role in the musical Fanny. But after The Brady Bunch, she would always be known to fans as Carol Brady.

“We had to have security guards with us. Fans were hanging on our doors. We couldn’t go out by ourselves. We were like the Beatles!” she said of the attention the show brought the cast.

EARLY LIFE

Henderson was born on Febuary 14, 1934, in the small town of Dale in Indiana. She was the 10th child of a tobacco sharecropper of Irish descent. After high school she moved to New York, where she enrolled in a two-year program at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, her studies financed by a theatrical couple who had been impressed by her singing when they saw her perform in high school.

She dropped out of the program after one year, however, to take the role in Wish You Were There at age 19.

Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II were so impressed they made her the female lead in a 1952 road tour of Oklahoma! When the show returned to Broadway for a revival in 1954, she continued in the role and won rave reviews.

LIFE AFTER THE BRADY BUNCH

After The Brady Bunch ended its first run, Henderson alternated her appearances in revivals of the show with guest appearances on other programs, including Hart to Hart, Fantasy Island and The Love Boat.

In later years, she also made guest appearances on such shows as Roseanne, Ally McBeal and The King of Queens.

Henderson married theatre executive Ira Bernstein and the couple had four children before the union ended in divorce after 29 years.

Her second husband, John Kappas, died in 2002.

HENDERSON WORKED UNTIL THE END

One of her final public outings is believed to have been an appearance on the finale of the American version of Dancing with the Stars, where she was in the audience to support fellow Brady Bunch cast member, Maureen McCormick, who was a contestant on the dancing show.

I'm about to breathe on Florence Henderson #dwtsfinale pic.twitter.com/RMXZUmLGhh — Lynette Rice (@Lynetterice) November 22, 2016

Last year, an 81-year-old Henderson said she felt “so blessed” to be able to still do what she loved.

“I work all the time, I’m grateful,” she told the Today show in America.

The outpouring of tributes from Hollywood illustrated what a beloved person Henderson was in real life.

R.I.P Florence Henderson. I grew up with the Brady Bunch! https://t.co/dWCQc5t1Zq — Boy George (@BoyGeorge) November 25, 2016

So terribly sad to hear of the passing of the great Florence Henderson. It was a true honor to have known and worked with her. pic.twitter.com/bhgLigHEI4 — Al Yankovic (@alyankovic) November 25, 2016

Broken hearted. She was like a mom to is all. I'm grateful I had the chance to get to know you these past few years. RIP #FlorenceHenderson — Carrie Ann Inaba (@carrieanninaba) November 25, 2016

Such sad news about #FlorenceHenderson. My thoughts and prayers go out to her loved ones. ❤️❤️❤️ — Olivia Munn (@oliviamunn) November 25, 2016

As if 2016 hasn't been hard enough, it needed to claim Carol Brady...a hip and loving mother figure for us in the 70's...#FlorenceHenderson — Melissa Etheridge (@metheridge) November 25, 2016

So saddened to hear of the passing of #FlorenceHenderson what a sweet soul I had the honor of meeting and getting to know. Everyone's Mom!❤️ — lisa rinna (@lisarinna) November 25, 2016

god bless florence henderson. thank you for being such a BIG part of my life - you will be missed pic.twitter.com/sDoRvDI7KR — Belinda Carlisle (@belindaofficial) November 25, 2016

I was so touched by her sincerity & kindness. #FlorenceHenderson was such a class act. My heart goes out to her family during this sad time — Lacey Chabert (@IamLaceyChabert) November 25, 2016

Sad to read about the passing of Florence Henderson, one of the lovliest, most loveable and beloved people in our business — carl reiner (@carlreiner) November 25, 2016

Rest In Peace Florence Henderson, a dear lady with a great sense of humor & a terrific laugh. 'America's mom' has died. — Larry King (@kingsthings) November 25, 2016

I'm deeply saddened by the loss of Florence Henderson. So many of us grew up watching the Brady Bunch!

RIP Carol Brady you will be missed🙏🏼 — La Toya Jackson (@latoyajackson) November 25, 2016

RIP Florence Henderson. "The Brady Bunch" was everything. — Debra Messing (@DebraMessing) November 25, 2016