Jean Stapleton

Jean Stapleton (born Jeanne Murray; January 19, 1923 – May 31, 2013) was an American character actress of stage, television and film.

She was best known for her portrayal of Edith Bunker, the long-suffering, yet deed wife of Archie Bunker (played by Carroll O'Connor) and mother of Gloria Stivic (played by Sally Struthers), on the 1970s situation comedy All in the Family. Stapleton was also seen occasionally on the All in the Family follow-up series, Archie Bunker's Place, but, tired of the role, asked to be written out after the first season.

Career 

Stapleton was born in New York City to Joseph E. Murray (a billboard advertising salesman) and Marie Stapleton Murray (an opera singer). She attended Hunter College. At age 18, she began her career in 1941 in summer stock theatre, and made her New York debut in an Off-Broadway play.

She was featured on Broadway in several hit musicals, such as Damn Yankees, Funny Girl, Bells Are Ringing, and Juno. She guest starred in many television series, including the role of Rosa Criley in the 1963 episode "The Bride Wore Pink" on NBC's medical dramaabout psychiatry, The Eleventh Hour.

Her early work on television included roles in Starlight Theatre, Robert Montgomery Presents, Lux Video Theater, Woman with a Past,The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse, Dr. Kildare, The Patty Duke Show, Car 54 Where Are You?, Dennis the Menace, and Naked City. On an episode of The Defenders broadcast on 1 December 1962, Jean Stapleton guest-starred with future television husband Carroll O'Connor.

In 1979, she appeared in the original Canadian production of the musical Something's Afoot, which was later broadcast on Showtime. In 1982, Stapleton portrayed Eleanor Roosevelt in a television production of the First Lady's later life. In 1998, and for a few years afterward, Stapleton took her "Eleanor" characterization to live theaters, now adapted as a one-woman show. She co-starred with Whoopi Goldberg inBagdad Cafe, the television series based on the movie of the same name and made a guest appearance on The Muppet Show.

Stapleton with Carroll O'Connor (left) and guest star James O'Rear, in a 1973 episode of All in the Family

Her awards for All in the Family include three Emmys[6] and two Golden Globes. She was offered a role in the feature film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory as Mrs. Teevee, but she declined because it coincided with the production of the All in the Family pilot (the role went to Nora Denney).

Stapleton appeared in made-for-TV movies and feature films such as Klute, the comedy Cold Turkey and the Faerie Tale Theatre episode "Cinderella" as the fairy godmother and as the Giant's Wife in "Jack and the Beanstalk". She also had a recurring role on television'sScarecrow and Mrs. King as a British spy. She appeared in the educational series Beakman's World as Beakman's mother, "Beakmom".

In 1996, she played opposite John Travolta, portraying the eccentric rooming house owner, Pansy Milbank in Nora Ephron's hit Michael. Stapleton also appeared in the 1998 feature You've Got Mail as a close co-worker in whom Meg Ryan's character confides. Stapleton appeared on the CBS television series Touched by an Angel as an angel named Emma. On May 14, 2000 in the "Mother's Day" episode of the TV series Touched by an Angel she played one of the angels named Emma who came to help Celine who was taking care of her late best friend's mother.

In the 1990s Stapleton played the role of Mrs. Piggle Wiggle in a children's series of the same name based on the books by Betty MacDonald. The show was created by Shelley Duvall and lasted only one season. 

In 1996, she appeared in the Everybody Loves Raymond episode "I Wish I Were Gus" playing Ray's Aunt Alda. That same year, she also appeared in the Murphy Brown episode "All in the Family" playing Miles's grandmother, Nana Silverberg. Making a debut in the world of video games, Stapleton was the voice of Grandma Ollie on KinderActive, Turner Pictures, and New Line Cinema's venture "Grandma Ollie's Morphabet Soup." The game won a Teacher's Choice Award from Learning Magazine. In 1998, Stapleton guest-starred in the Jean Smart sitcom, Style & Substance, playing a former television chef who has since "lost her marbles".

Stapleton voiced John Rolfe's maid, Mrs. Jenkins, in Disney's 1998 direct-to-video animated film Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World.

She reunited on-camera with O'Connor on Donny and Marie Osmond's talk show on April 24, 2000, a little over a year before O'Connor's death. When the show's hosts asked her to perform in Edith Bunker's voice, she jokingly told them that she only does so "for pay". Stapleton later told the Archive of American Television that she does not like to replicate in casual settings the voices and mannerisms of characters whom she has created, as she feels that it trivializes and detracts from the characters as originally created.

Personal life 

For 30 years, Stapleton's husband William Putch (1924–1983) directed a summer stock theater, Totem Pole Playhouse, at Caledonia State Park in southern Pennsylvania. Stapleton performed occasionally at the theatre with the resident company.

Together they had two children: actor/writer/director John Putch and actress Pamela Putch.

Stapleton's brother, Jack Stapleton, was a stage actor. Her cousin is actress Betty Jane Watson.

She was active in the Christian Science church.

Death and reaction 

Stapleton died on May 31, 2013 in New York City of natural causes, surrounded by family and friends. She was 90 and is survived by her two children, John, a TV director, and Pamela, a TV producer.

Norman Lear said "No one gae more profound 'how to be a human being' lessons than Jean Stapleton." Fellow US sitcom legend Roseanne Barr said her range was "unbelievable, deep and majestic." Co-star and BAFTA- and Oscar-nominated director and producer Rob Reiner said, "Working with her was one of the greatest experiences of my life."