NEW YORK — Jean Stapleton, the stage-trained character actress beloved for her role as Edith Bunker, Archie Bunker’s better half in the groundbreaking 1970s comedy “All in the Family,” has passed away at the age of 90.
Stapleton died of natural causes on Friday at her New York City home, surrounded by friends and family, her children announced on Saturday.
Before her iconic role on “All in the Family,” Stapleton was relatively unknown to the public. She co-starred with Carroll O’Connor in the top-rated CBS sitcom, which featured O’Connor as an unrepentant bigot, his endearingly naive wife Edith—whom he churlishly but fondly called “Dingbat”—their daughter Gloria (Sally Struthers), and their liberal son-in-law Mike, also known as Meathead (Rob Reiner).
During her eight-year tenure on the show, Stapleton earned eight Emmy nominations and won three times. The series, produced by Norman Lear, broke new ground on American television with its social and political commentary, ranking as the No. 1-rated program for five consecutive years.
Stapleton also received Emmy nominations for her portrayal of Eleanor Roosevelt in the 1982 film “Eleanor, First Lady of the World” and for a guest appearance on “Grace Under Fire” in 1995. Her film credits included Nora Ephron’s “You’ve Got Mail” (1998) and “Michael” (1996), starring John Travolta.
The theater was Stapleton’s first love. She began her career in 1941 as a New England stock player and moved to Broadway in the 1950s and ’60s. In 1964, she originated the role of Mrs. Strakosh in “Funny Girl” with Barbra Streisand. Her other notable stage credits included “Bells Are Ringing,” “Rhinoceros,” and “Damn Yankees,” where her performance caught the attention of Norman Lear, leading to her audition for the role of Edith.
“I wasn’t a leading lady type,” Stapleton once said. “I knew where I belonged. And actually, I found character work much more interesting than leading ladies.”
Edith Bunker, with her dithery manner, cheerfully high-pitched voice, and unwavering family loyalty, charmed viewers but was seen by Stapleton as “submissive” and somewhat unrealistic. In a 1972 New York Times interview, Stapleton remarked that she hoped Edith was not a typical American housewife, seeing her as bound to a male figure and restricted to the home.
Despite her character’s naivety and lack of education, Edith’s honesty and compassion shone through, often pricking Archie’s inflated ego with her truthful and accepting nature. Stapleton brought depth to Edith as the character faced various milestones, including a breast cancer scare and menopause. She took pride in the show’s political edge, particularly favoring an episode about a draft dodger who clashed with Archie.
To avoid being typecast, Stapleton turned down roles that resembled Edith and refused commercials or variety show sketches featuring similar characters. Despite Norman Lear’s pleas, she left the show, re-titled “Archie’s Place,” in 1980, allowing Archie to continue as a widower.
“My decision is to go out into the world and do something else,” Stapleton said in 1979. “I’m not constituted as an actress to remain in the same role. … My identity as an actress is in jeopardy if I invested my entire career in Edith Bunker.”
Stapleton demonstrated her own resilience when her husband of 26 years, William Putch, suffered a fatal heart attack in 1983 while they were touring with a play he directed.
Born in New York City to Joseph Murray and Marie Stapleton Murray, a singer, Jean Stapleton had two children with Putch, John and Pamela, who both followed their parents into the entertainment industry.