It’s been over 40 years since the series finale of All in the Family aired. This groundbreaking sitcom, which tackled controversial social issues and centered on a working-class New York family, aired for nine seasons and became immensely popular. Stars Carroll O’Connor and Jean Stapleton, who portrayed Archie and Edith Bunker, have both since passed away. However, the actress who played their daughter Gloria is still active in the industry. Sally Struthers, who took on one of her first major roles in All in the Family, has had her life profoundly shaped by the experience.
Today, at 74, Struthers remains in the business. Let’s explore her journey since her time on the iconic comedy ended.
Struthers portrayed Gloria from 1971 to 1983, not only on All in the Family but also on its spinoffs, Gloria and Archie Bunker’s Place. Her notable TV roles also include appearances on Nine to Five, General Hospital, and Still Standing. Additionally, she lent her voice to Charlene Sinclair, the teen daughter in the ’90s sitcom Dinosaurs. Struthers has also graced many films and TV movies.
One of her most renowned recent roles was Babette Dell, the eccentric, cat-loving neighbor on Gilmore Girls. She later reprised this role in Netflix’s revival of the series.
For those who grew up in the ’90s, Struthers is also memorable for her commercials with the International Correspondence School (ICS), famously asking, “Do you want to make more money? Sure, we all do.”
Currently, Struthers has two TV series in the pipeline: Very Frightening Tales and In-Security. She also recently lent her voice to an episode of the podcast Around the Sun.
Struthers cherishes her time on All in the Family.
In an August 2021 interview with Closer Weekly, Struthers fondly recalled her experiences with the cast, especially Carroll, who became a father figure to her following the death of her own father three years before All in the Family premiered.
“I was still feeling bad and fatherless when I got this show. Carroll and his wife, Nancy, turned out to be as parental with me as he was in the show,” she shared. “Carroll gave me advice, he laughed at my antics, he hugged me all the time—and he introduced me to my husband [William C. Rader, whom she divorced in 1983]! So I gained a father again by doing that show.”
Struthers has also enjoyed considerable success on stage.
In addition to her extensive film and TV credits, Struthers is a regular performer on stage. One of her notable productions is the musical Always, Patsy Cline, in which she has played the singer’s friend and fan Louise intermittently for several years. Her stage resume includes performances in Wally’s Café, The Odd Couple, and Grease on Broadway, as well as playing Miss Hannigan in a touring production of Annie in 1998.
Reflecting on her live performances, she told Broadway World in 2013, “They fell in love with me as a family member on television 40 years ago. They love to scream when I do something naughty. I’m a little wackadoodle, and they love that.”
Struthers has a grown daughter.
Struthers and her ex-husband, Rader, were married from 1977 to 1983 and share a daughter, Samantha Rader. Unlike her mother, Samantha pursued a career more aligned with her father’s, becoming a clinical psychologist. She even developed her own therapy practice called Source Code Psychology.
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