Carroll O’Connor delighted audiences for eight seasons as Archie Bunker. Ever wondered how much he earned for his iconic role on All in the Family? Let’s dive into the details of his career and compensation.
Carroll O’Connor’s Early Theatre Aspirations
Before becoming a household name, O’Connor had dreams of a thriving theatre career. In his memoir I Think I’m Outta Here, he recounted his aspirations for the stage, which were dashed after a harsh review from The San Francisco Chronicle for the play A Certain Labor Day. The critic’s scathing review misunderstood the play’s premise, leading to poor ticket sales and the play’s failure.
This disheartening experience dampened O’Connor’s enthusiasm for theatre, leaving him disillusioned about making a significant impact as a stage actor. Despite this setback, he had notable theatre performances, including Ulysses in Nighttown (1958) and the Broadway production God and Kate Murphy (1959), as well as roles in Brothers, Home Front, and Candide.
Carroll O’Connor as George Roberts
Interestingly, O’Connor didn’t always use his birth name professionally. In an interview with the Television Academy Foundation, he revealed that he once went by the stage name George Roberts, in honor of a deceased friend. However, after joining a performing arts company where all the actors had Irish names, he reverted to Carroll O’Connor to better fit in.
Earnings from All in the Family
For his role on All in the Family, O’Connor earned $30,000 per episode, as reported by The New York Times. However, he often felt the contract negotiations were skewed against actors. He criticized these agreements, stating they were binding for actors but not for producers. “Everybody knows it’s an unfair arrangement; that’s why there are these negotiations every year,” he remarked in a 1975 interview.
O’Connor emphasized that determining a fair salary was straightforward arithmetic. He suggested that anyone could estimate a show’s revenue and calculate their worth based on the earnings they helped generate. “Any actor can do arithmetic as well as Bob Wood,” O’Connor explained. “An actor can figure out how much a show is grossing, and if he can’t, his agent or his business manager can.”
In essence, O’Connor believed actors should negotiate their pay based on the significant profits they contribute to, much like a successful salesperson expects a proportionate commission. “It’s just like selling Ford cars. If a salesman sells $1 million worth of Ford cars, he expects a big profit,” he noted.
Despite his initial setbacks in theatre, Carroll O’Connor’s success on television, particularly as Archie Bunker, solidified his legacy and earned him well-deserved financial rewards.