When Carroll O’Connor accepted the role of Archie Bunker on All in the Family, Norman Lear, the show’s creator, had no idea that some of the character’s stubbornness would manifest in O’Connor himself. This tenacity proved challenging not only for Lear but also for the show’s writers.
O’Connor’s Bold Move: Rewriting the Pilot Episode
In a 1999 interview with the Television Academy Foundation, O’Connor revealed that he was so dissatisfied with the pilot episode that he took it upon himself to rewrite it entirely. He bluntly stated, “I thought it was terrible,” and was prepared to walk away from the role if Lear didn’t approve of his revisions. Lacking a typist, O’Connor recorded himself speaking all the characters’ lines to create his new script.
Lear’s Initial Joy and Subsequent Challenges
Norman Lear recounted in his 2014 memoir, Even This I Get to Experience, the euphoria he felt upon discovering O’Connor. He vividly described his reaction: “When Carroll came to audition… his voice, his eyes, and the attitude of his body shifted; he opened his mouth, and out poured Archie Bunker. Carroll hadn’t reached page 3 before I wanted to run into the street shouting for joy.”
However, this joy quickly gave way to the harsh reality of O’Connor’s intense involvement in the creative process. The actor frequently rewrote scripts, offering constant edits and criticisms, which Lear found challenging. Lear wrote, “Two days after offering him the role, Carroll came to talk further about the script. He’d ‘done a little work on it,’ he said. Actually, he had rewritten the first act entirely.”
The Strained Yet Respectful Partnership
Despite their ongoing conflicts, there was a deep mutual respect between Lear and O’Connor. Lear acknowledged the strain, writing, “For the next eight years, Carroll would continue to dislike every script at the start. It was nothing but fear, and blind anger was his only defense.” Yet, he also admitted, “As difficult and often abusive as Carroll could be, his Archie made up for it and I could kiss his feet after every performance.”
A Touching Tribute
When O’Connor passed away in 2001, the depth of their relationship was poignantly revealed. Lear visited O’Connor’s widow, Nancy, who showed him a letter he had written to O’Connor on his birthday. The letter, filled with admiration and respect, was still on O’Connor’s desk. Lear wrote, “In [the letter], I’d explained how, despite our constant disagreements, I so deeply respected him as a talent and so loved the character he created for the character I’d created.”
Nancy allowed Lear to read the letter, and he was moved to tears. “She told me that Carroll had put it on his desk the day it arrived years earlier. And it was there in the same place the day he died,” Lear wrote.
Conclusion
The relationship between Carroll O’Connor and Norman Lear was a blend of creative conflict and deep respect. Their collaboration, though fraught with challenges, ultimately resulted in one of television’s most iconic characters. Despite their frequent disagreements, their mutual admiration endured, leaving a lasting legacy on and off the screen.