Ask any critic what they think of “All in the Family,” and you’re likely to hear the same answer over and over: it changed TV. The Atlantic noted that the series “was the first step on the road toward the Peak TV we are living through today.” NPR called it “groundbreaking.” Time included it on its list of the 100 greatest TV shows of all time.
However, NPR also points out that “All in the Family” is a show that might not work today. The main character, “a blue-collar bigot from Queens,” and the many slurs and sexist jokes that pepper the dialogue aren’t exactly PC. Yet, the plotlines, which typically tackle serious issues like racism, war, women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and rape—topics TV writers are still trying to address—might stand a chance in today’s climate. Still, whether it was the pure luck of hitting the airwaves at just the right time or the brilliance of the writers and producer Norman Lear, who managed to make the characters “lovable” in spite of it all, “All in the Family” was a smash hit.
Airing from 1971 to 1979 (and dominating Nielsen ratings for five of those years), it spawned a number of spin-offs, including “Archie Bunker’s Place,” “The Jeffersons,” and “Maude.” It also made many of its actors household names, but a good number of those performers are sadly no longer with us. From Carroll O’Connor to Sherman Hemsley, these are the “All in the Family” stars you may not know have died.
Carroll O’Connor
Carroll O’Connor is living proof that success can come at any age. O’Connor didn’t find fame until the age of 46 when he landed the role that would make him a star: Archie Bunker, the bigoted patriarch on “All in the Family.” Born in New York in 1924, O’Connor tried his hand at various careers before establishing himself as a reliable character actor in the early 1960s.
But it was as Archie Bunker that O’Connor truly hit his stride. Famed writer and producer Norman Lear created “All in the Family” for CBS, but O’Connor made the series, and the character, a cultural touchstone. The New York Times wrote that O’Connor’s handling of Archie made him “a complex, not-always-wrong sympathetic figure to most of the 50 million weekly viewers in America,” a huge accomplishment considering Bunker was vocal about his hatred for various groups.
O’Connor was so successful in the role that he was given unprecedented “creative control” of the series and its follow-up, “Archie Bunker’s Place.” He was consulted about both storylines and dialogue, penned the show’s closing theme, and made $100,000 each episode (an amount no other TV actor was taking home at the time). Five Emmy Awards later, O’Connor died of a heart attack at age 76 in 2001.
Jean Stapleton
Archie Bunker’s better half—his sweet if slightly dim-witted wife, Edith Bunker—was played by Jean Stapleton. Stapleton’s lead role “made her one of the foremost women in television comedy in the 1970s” and something of a feminist icon, according to The New York Times, especially as her character progressed from housewife to empowered community leader.
Prior to her success on “All in the Family,” which came at nearly age 50, Stapleton appeared in several Broadway productions and supporting roles in movies. In 1979, after growing tired of playing Edith, she departed from the series. She went on to accept roles in various projects, trying to separate herself from the Queens housewife character.
In 2013, Stapleton died at the age of 90. Her kids released a statement that said, “Being the children of a beloved Mother on Television means sharing the spirit of who Jean Stapleton was with her friends and fans. It is with great love and heavy hearts that we say farewell to our collective Mother, with a capital M.”
Bea Arthur
“All in the Family” wouldn’t have worked as well as it did without characters who balanced out Archie Bunker’s bigotry. Maude Findlay, a cousin of Edith’s played by Bea Arthur, was one such foil. An outspoken, liberal feminist, Maude was everything Archie was not—and fans loved it.
In fact, Maude was so popular she wound up getting her own spin-off, “Maude.” The series tackled serious issues like divorce, addiction, LGBTQ+ rights, and women’s liberation. In one memorable episode, Maude decides to abort a late-in-life pregnancy, making her a leading figure in the feminist movement.
Arthur got her start on stage, winning a Tony Award for her role in “Mame” before moving to TV and film. Many fans also remember her as Dorothy Zbornak from “The Golden Girls.” In 2009, she died at age 86 of lung cancer complications.
Allan Melvin
A 2013 book titled “The Greatest Sitcoms of All Time” called Allan Melvin “one of the finest and most recognized character actors in the history of American television.” Melvin got his start in NBC radio’s sound effects department and went on to appear in numerous TV shows and movies over five decades.
On “All in the Family” and “Archie Bunker’s Place,” Melvin played Barney Hefner, Archie’s neighbor and best friend. In 1983, he retired from on-screen acting, focusing on voice acting work and family life. In 2008, Melvin died of cancer. He’s buried not far from his former co-star and on-screen pal, Carroll O’Connor, at the Westwood Memorial Park.
Sherman Hemsley
As a character, Archie Bunker is largely defined by his whiteness. In contrast, his neighbor, George Jefferson, played by Sherman Hemsley, is largely defined by his Blackness. Born in Philadelphia in 1938, Hemsley didn’t begin to pursue acting until he was discharged from the Air Force in the ’60s. Norman Lear cast him as George Jefferson after seeing him in a Broadway musical.
After “All in the Family” and its spin-off “The Jeffersons,” Hemsley worked on other TV projects. In 2012, he died of a lung mass at age 74.
Isabel Sanford
While Archie Bunker and George Jefferson were never exactly friends, Edith Bunker and Louise Jefferson, George’s wife, most certainly were. Isabel Sanford didn’t begin acting professionally until later in life. She became a household name with “The Jeffersons,” winning an Emmy Award for best actress in a comedy series in 1981.
After “The Jeffersons,” Sanford only landed guest-star parts on other sitcoms. In 2004, she died at age 86.
Mel Stewart
On “All in the Family,” Mel Stewart played Henry Jefferson, George’s brother. Born in Ohio in 1929, Stewart started acting in the ’50s and went on to land bigger roles. He was also a celebrated saxophone player and a drama professor. In 2002, Stewart died of Alzheimer’s disease complications at age 72.
Mike Evans
Lionel Jefferson, the son of George and Louise, was more laid back than his father and uncle. Mike Evans, who played Lionel, was a drama student when he won the part. Evans also helped create and write “Good Times.”
In 2006, Evans died of throat cancer at age 57.
Betty Garrett
Another liberal foil to Archie Bunker was Irene Lorenzo, a neighbor and co-worker. Betty Garrett, who played Irene, trained at NYC’s Neighborhood Playhouse and went on to work in Broadway shows, movies, and TV series. In 2011, Garrett died at age 91.
Vincent Gardenia
Irene Lorenzo’s husband, Frank, was played by Vincent Gardenia. Born in Naples, Italy, Gardenia got his professional start on stage and moved to TV and movie work, earning Academy Award nominations and an Emmy Award. He was reportedly unhappy with his role on “All in the Family” and left the show after one season. In 1992, he died of a heart attack at age 72.
Billy Halop
Bert Munson, owner of Munson’s Cab Company, was played by former teen actor Billy Halop. Born in Brooklyn in 1920, Halop became famous as a member of “The Dead End Kids.” Later in life, he became a nurse. In 1976, he died in his sleep at age 56.
Bob Hastings
Tommy Kelsey, the bar’s proprietor, was played by Bob Hastings. Hastings’ career began in earnest after WWII. He worked on various TV shows and animated series. In 2014, Hastings died of prostate cancer at age 89.
Jason Wingreen
Harry Snowden, a popular bartender at Kelsey’s Bar, was played by Jason Wingreen. Wingreen’s career began after WWII, and he went on to appear in many TV shows and movies, including voicing Boba Fett in “The Empire Strikes Back.” In 2015, Wingreen died at age 95.
Burt Mustin
When Burt Mustin made his debut on “All in the Family,” he was 89 years old. Acting was a second career for Mustin, who began performing in amateur theater productions after retiring from his first career. He appeared in over 400 TV shows and 70 movies. In 1977, Mustin died at age 92.
Gloria LeRoy
Mildred “Boom Boom” Turner, a waitress at Kelsey’s Bar, was played by Gloria LeRoy. LeRoy got her start as a nightclub singer-dancer before transitioning to theater and film. In 2015, she made her last
