Mitch Markwell: Marriage, Life, and the Secret Story of Susan Olsen’s Ex-Husband

Whenever someone mentions the name Mitch Markwell, he is usually associated with his ex-wife, Susan Olsen, who was the actress who played the role of Cindy Brady in the classic TV show The Brady Bunch. While Susan had her early years under the limelight, Mitch had a much more private and quiet life. However, his role as Susan’s husband through nearly a decade of her life and father of her sole child entitles him to a position in her story. For the audience who always wondered about the man in the shadows, Mitch Markwell is still an interesting character.

Little has been said about Mitch’s career or achievements per se, but his marriage to Susan Olsen granted him some level of public identity. Married in 1995, the couple had a son, Michael, in 1997 before they split up in 2004. Their relationship acts to highlight the intersection of a private individual with one who grew up under the glare of Hollywood stardom. From looking at what is known about Mitch Markwell, we catch a glimpse of a fairly uncommon person who stayed out of the limelight but played an important role in the personal life of a favorite TV star.

Quick Bio

Who is Mitch Markwell?

Mitch Markwell is best remembered as being the second husband of Susan Olsen. Their relationship began in the mid-1990s, and after a period of short dating, both were married in 1995. With her, Mitch had a son, Michael, born in 1997. Mitch’s name may not appear on marques of Hollywood films or on bills of live shows, but his life intersected with that of one of the world’s best-known child TV stars. That alone has made him a point of interest for The Brady Bunch fans.

Unlike his ex-wife, Mitch led a very more low-key life. He never pursued a career in show business and has remained very much out of the limelight in terms of both his private and professional life. That has made him somewhat of a mysterious figure in show business history, someone that people remember less for accomplishments through public achievement and more for the husband and father he was through Susan Olsen’s adult years.

Early Life

Data about the early life of Mitch Markwell is limited. Unlike Susan Olsen, whose early life was documented through her life as Cindy Brady, Mitch’s early life remained relatively unknown outside the spotlight. There are no widely acknowledged records available that touch on his childhood, education, or upbringing. It is certain, however, that he did not seek fame or public recognition in his early life.

This love of privacy carried over into adulthood, since even after marrying a well-known actress, Mitch was able to keep his life free from Hollywood rumors and tabloids. To some, this is a sign of an intense love of a more earthy and normal existence, built around family and not celebrity.

Career Beginnings

As with his early life, Mitch Markwell’s career is largely unreported. There are no confirmed reports of him being employed in the entertainment industry, and it appears that his working life was entirely unrelated to Susan Olsen’s world of Hollywood. This is true to form, given his persistent shunning of public scrutiny and absence of media presence.

Although it is frustrating for fans to have so little to look back upon in the way of his career accomplishments, it also serves to solidify his reputation as a person who lived for privacy more than for recognition. His history is in stark contrast to that of Susan Olsen, who was working in television at a very early age. Mitch’s less flamboyant career path makes him a poster child for one who stayed well in the background even when paired with a celebrity partner.

Who is Mitch Markwell’s ex-wife?

Mitch’s most famous relationship is, of course, with Susan Olsen. Born in 1961, Susan was a television household name playing Cindy Brady, the youngest of The Brady Bunch brothers and sisters. The show, which aired from 1969 to 1974, made her television history and gave her a well-known face for many decades. When the series ended, Susan continued working in show business, along with branching out into radio presenting and art.

Susan got married to her then-boyfriend in 1995, when she was balancing career and family. Two years after, a son Michael, one of the happiest moments in both their lives, was born to them. The marriage lasted until 2004, when Susan and her husband separated. Though the relationship ended, Susan would often talk about her son, whom she named Michael in honor of her TV brother Mike Lookinland, which shows the enduring influence of her Brady Bunch family.

Mitch Markwell’s Physical Appearance

While Mitch Markwell was never widely photographed in public, there is at least one public photograph of him with Susan Olsen. In it, he has light-colored hair and beard, relaxed clothing, and sits next to his wife. His style was similar to the simple, unpretentious man that he seemed to be in life. Unlike such celebrities who package their public images so deliberately, Mitch’s style conveyed a picture of a man comfortable with normalcy and simplicity.

Because he kept off the limelight, there is no credible information on his weight, height, or any other distinctive features. Rather, what one gets is from those pictures that give a natural and spontaneous version of him. Such lack of intentionally created image can only leave us grasping the contrast between Mitch and Hollywood culture that surrounded Susan Olsen.

Net Worth

Information on Mitch Markwell’s net worth is not available. While most celebrity husbands get careered in similar fields or leverage their exposure to develop business ventures, Mitch appeared content to remain financially independent and low-key. With no overt public works or high-profile projects evident, it’s difficult to estimate his individual financial standing.

Whereas Susan Olsen’s television, radio, and art life has not been so open, with her earnings being reported year by year, Mitch did not follow the same degree of financial openness in career, though his career as a family man and husband highlights a different type of legacy, one from private life and not prosperity.

Future Prospects and Vision

Since Mitch Markwell has spent most of his life living a private life, little is known about his future goals or career objectives. He is a person who does not get spotted, make statements, or give interviews to the media. For that very reason, his “vision” seems more intimate—focused on family and living a private life and not on public goals

It is conceivable that Mitch remains supportive of his son Michael, who is now a grown man, and that his primary concern remains family life. Although there might never be sensational news regarding his professional and project lives, his dedication to keeping his life private and independent says a lot about his character and what he values.