Before she became one of America’s most beloved sitcom daughters, Sally Struthers made her primetime debut as a dancer on “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” a variety show renowned for featuring some of the best musical acts of the ’70s. Although the gig wasn’t the flashiest, it was enough to catch the attention of Norman Lear, the burgeoning writer-producer who would soon revolutionize television with “All in the Family.”
In a retrospective interview with Closer Weekly in 2021, Struthers reminisced about the serendipitous circumstances that led to her casting in “All in the Family.” Like many big breaks, it followed a stinging rejection. “I had just come off ‘The Tim Conway Comedy Hour.’ I should have been on all 13 weeks of it, but after the fifth show, the executives said, ‘Get rid of that dancer girl. She makes the show look cheap!'” Struthers recalled. Telling the same story to Newsday, she added that a producer for the show defended her, explaining to “the suits in New York” that her role as the show’s sole dancer was part of a comedic bit about the series having no money.
Despite the producer’s efforts, Struthers was let go. “I was distraught! I adored Tim Conway and wondered what would happen to me next.” Ironically, Conway’s series lasted only one year, while “All in the Family” ran for nine seasons, winning 22 Emmys and securing its place in TV history.
A Memorable Audition
At the time of her audition, “McHale’s Navy” star and future “Carol Burnett Show” player Conway was well-known, but Lear was not. “I went to read for this man nobody knew, Norman Lear,” Struthers explained. “He said it was the role of the daughter, and he gave me a yelling scene.” According to Struthers, she left a lasting impression on Lear due to another fortunate coincidence: an illness that day left her with a distinctive, raspy voice.
“I had laryngitis that day, so my voice was raspy, but I guess it made him remember me,” she said. “He narrowed it down to four young ladies, and I was one of the final four.” Jim Cullins’ book “Those Were the Days: Why All in the Family Still Matters” notes that Struthers’ appearance on “The Smothers Brothers” caught Lear’s attention when “All in the Family” director John Rich recommended her after seeing the show.
“She auditioned with [co-star Rob Reiner] and it was another bolt of lightning,” Lear is quoted as saying in Cullins’ book. He later described the casting of Struthers and Reiner, and their chemistry with Carroll O’Connor and Jean Stapleton, as the “magic” that made the show work. “The gods wanted me to come across Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers,” Lear told Entertainment Weekly in 2021. Struthers shares this sense of serendipity, telling Newsday: “Very few people know that Rob Reiner and I were the third set of kids for that show. Talk about luck.”
She’s right: it was the third series pilot that finally got “All in the Family” on the air. It seems the show might never have happened if Struthers hadn’t been let go from her previous job.
Conclusion
Sally Struthers’ journey from a dancer on a variety show to a beloved sitcom star is a testament to the unpredictable nature of show business. Her talent, combined with a series of fortunate events, brought her to Norman Lear’s attention, resulting in a role that would define her career and contribute to television history. Struthers’ story is a reminder that sometimes, the path to success is paved with unexpected turns and opportunities.
