Intimate Portrait

Florence Henderson (11x1)

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Florence Henderson: America's Favorite Mom Florence Henderson was born on February 14, 1934, in Dale, Indiana, the youngest of 10 children. The family was nearly destitute during the Great Depression, but Henderson managed to keep her relatives' spirits up and even sang at the local grocery in exchange for food. When she was 12, her mother left home. The young Henderson escaped from some of her emotional turmoil with a sponsorship to St. Francis Academy, a private school in Kentucky, where she blossomed as a performer. After graduation, the aspiring actress headed for the Big Apple to attend the American Academy of Dramatic Arts on a scholarship. In 1952, the 18-year-old nabbed the lead in the national production of ""Oklahoma."" Two years later she landed the musical ""Fanny"" on Broadway. She also captured the heart of young casting director Ira Bernstein. They married in 1956 and welcomed daughter Barbara less than a year later. In 1959, Henderson segued to television as a Today Girl o