Christopher Knight Tribute to Jennifer Runyon: What He Said

Q: How did Christopher Knight know Jennifer Runyon?

They first worked together on the NBC soap opera Another World in 1980–81. They reunited in the 1988 TV movie A Very Brady Christmas, where she played his sister, Cindy Brady.

Christopher Knight’s Tribute to Jennifer Runyon

Christopher Knight, who played Peter Brady, paid tribute to Jennifer Runyon on Instagram after her death on March 6, 2026, at age 65. He praised her as a kind friend and a dedicated actor he had worked with more than once. Parade

Quick Facts

Who: Christopher Knight (Peter Brady) and Jennifer Runyon (Cindy Brady in A Very Brady Christmas)
Where the tribute appeared: Knight’s Instagram, with a photo of the two from the 1988 TV movie
Her death: March 6, 2026, at age 65, surrounded by family
Cause: Cancer, described by her representative as a six-month battle. The type has not been made public.
How they met: The NBC soap Another World (1980–81), then A Very Brady Christmas (1988)
Survivors: Husband Todd Corman and their children, Wyatt and Bayley

What Knight said in his tribute

Knight shared a photo of himself with Runyon from one of the final scenes of A Very Brady Christmas. He wrote that he was saddened to hear of her passing and felt lucky to have worked with her several times. In his words, there was “never a sweeter person to befriend.” He also called her a conscientious actor, mentioned her smile, and ended by sending his thoughts to her family and friends. Parade

The message, as Parade reproduced it, is short and personal. It reads like a note from a colleague who genuinely liked her.

How Knight and Runyon knew each other

Knight said he worked with Runyon a number of times. The two projects that reporting actually documents are these:

Year	Project	Roles
1980–81	Another World (NBC soap opera)	Knight as Leigh Hobson, Runyon as Sally Frame
1988	A Very Brady Christmas (CBS TV movie)	Knight as Peter Brady, Runyon as his younger sister Cindy

Runyon later joked in an interview that they played boyfriend and girlfriend on the soap and then ended up as brother and sister. Parade

She landed the Brady role because the original Cindy, Susan Olsen, had skipped the movie. Olsen said she turned it down over a pay dispute. Runyon said she met with the producers and director, and they hired her. parade

Other tributes after her death

Knight was one of several people who spoke publicly.

Olsen wrote on Facebook that Runyon should always be called “Christmas Cindy,” unlike the stand-ins for Marcia and Jan in other reunions. She said the two met by chance years later at a Burger King, both with their kids, and became friends. They even co-hosted a podcast for a while. parade

Erin Murphy, the Bewitched actress, called Runyon a close friend. She said Runyon died after a brief battle with cancer. Runyon’s family described a “long and arduous journey” that ended with her surrounded by loved ones. Her daughter Bayley wrote that “all of the best parts of me came from you.” ‘Ghostbusters’ actor Jennifer Runyon dies at 65 +2

What’s confirmed about her death

Runyon died on March 6 with her husband and children at her side, after a six-month battle with cancer, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed. That was a Friday. Her family announced it in a social media post, and her representative shared the timeline with outlets. The Hollywood Reporter

Here is what has not been shared: the type of cancer, its stage, and details of her treatment. No place of death appears in the reports cited here, so treat any location you see online as unconfirmed.

Who Jennifer Runyon was

Runyon made her film debut in the 1980 slasher To All a Good Night. Her busiest year was 1984. She appeared in the comedy Up the Creek and in Ghostbusters, where she played the student Bill Murray’s Dr. Venkman tests for ESP in the opening scene. That year she also took the role of Gwendolyn Pierce in the first season of Charles in Charge. Later credits included the lead in The In Crowd and a part in the Quantum Leap pilot, both in 1988. Variety

Then she stepped back. After her son Wyatt was born, she wanted time to be a mom. The family moved to Idaho and later Oregon, and she volunteered in her kids’ schools, teaching improv games to help students get past stage fright. She married college basketball coach Todd Corman in 1991. Parade NBC News

FAQs

Did Christopher Knight pay tribute to Jennifer Runyon?
Yes. Knight posted a tribute on Instagram with a photo from A Very Brady Christmas. He called her a conscientious actor and said he was saddened by her passing. Parade reported and quoted the post. Parade

How did Christopher Knight know Jennifer Runyon?
They first worked together on the NBC soap opera Another World in 1980–81. They reunited in the 1988 TV movie A Very Brady Christmas, where she played his sister, Cindy Brady. Parade

How did Jennifer Runyon die?
She died on March 6, 2026, at age 65, after a six-month battle with cancer, according to her representative. The type of cancer has not been made public. The Hollywood Reporter

Who played Cindy Brady in A Very Brady Christmas?
Jennifer Runyon. She stepped in for original Cindy actress Susan Olsen, who had declined the role over pay. parade