Carroll O’Connor is best known for his iconic role as Archie Bunker in the hit comedy All in the Family. His presence was indispensable to the show’s success. However, at the beginning of Season 5, O’Connor was notably absent. Here’s the story behind his temporary departure.
Norman Lear’s Initial Reaction to Casting Carroll O’Connor
All in the Family creator Norman Lear told the Los Angeles Times that his first meeting with O’Connor was exceptional. He knew immediately that O’Connor was perfect for the role of Archie Bunker. After O’Connor’s audition, Lear felt so relieved and grateful that he offered a prayer of thanks.
“Carroll O’Connor walked into my office, we shook hands, we sat down at a table, took out a script and started reading Archie Bunker. And as the character was later wont to say, ‘Case closed,’” Lear recounted. “I looked up to the heavens and said, ‘Thank God, Archie has arrived.’”
The Reason Behind Carroll O’Connor’s Absence in Season 5
Despite the initial excitement, tension soon developed on set. O’Connor and Lear frequently clashed over the show’s creative direction, leading to communication issues.
At one point, O’Connor left the show due to a contract dispute. He demanded a higher salary, but his request was denied. Following his departure, O’Connor also demanded $64,000 in back pay, according to Entertainment Weekly.
O’Connor’s absence was felt in a few episodes of Season 5, particularly episodes 8 and 9, titled “Where’s Archie?” and “Archie is Missing.” These episodes depicted Edith worrying about Archie, who goes missing while traveling to a convention in Buffalo. This storyline was created to cover O’Connor’s absence. Eventually, Lear and O’Connor reached an agreement, and he returned to the series.
In an interview with Lena Dunham at the Sundance Film Festival, Lear revealed that working with O’Connor was challenging, according to The Hollywood Reporter. As All in the Family neared its end, O’Connor was the only cast member who wanted to continue. The rest of the cast was ready to move on, but O’Connor was keen to keep filming.
“The only one who didn’t [want to stop] was Carroll, and he was the most difficult,” Lear told Dunham. “It was very difficult dealing with him as Archie Bunker. I worshipped the ground he walked on; there couldn’t be another Archie Bunker in the history of the world. He inhabited it like no one else could. Having said that, it was very difficult.”
After All in the Family concluded, O’Connor starred in the spinoff Archie Bunker’s Place, which aired from 1979 to 1983.
Sally Struthers Also Left the Show Briefly
Carroll O’Connor wasn’t the only cast member to walk off the show. Sally Struthers, who played Archie’s daughter Gloria, also decided to leave. She didn’t want to be tied to the same character indefinitely, according to The New York Times. After a summer hiatus, she chose not to return.
Lear responded by obtaining an injunction to prevent Struthers from working elsewhere for the remaining three years of her contract. She eventually returned to work after being allowed to miss four of the show’s 24 episodes.
All in the Family faced its share of behind-the-scenes drama, but the show’s legacy and the iconic characters created by Norman Lear and brought to life by actors like Carroll O’Connor and Sally Struthers continue to be celebrated.
