Jean Stapleton has passed away :(

[napkinz]

'All in the Family' star Jean Stapleton dies at 90

By Claudia Luther

June 1, 2013

Jean Stapleton, who played Archie Bunker’s long-suffering wife Edith in the long-running 1970s television series “All in the Family,” died Friday at her New York City home. She was 90.

Stapleton died of natural causes, her family announced Saturday.

She had been a veteran of stage, film and television when she was cast in the CBS sitcom opposite Carroll O’Connor’s loud-mouthed, bigoted Archie Bunker, who often addressed her as "dingbat." She won three Emmys for the role.

“The benign, compassionate presence she developed made my egregious churl bearable,” O'Connor wrote of Stapleton in his 1998 autobiography. He died in 2001.

Born in New York City on Jan. 19, 1923, Stapleton was the daughter of a billboard advertising salesman and an opera singer.

continued: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/la-et-st-jean-stapleton-dies-at-90-20130601,0,5429067.story

[NYC_SKP]

1. She was far more than Edith Bunker, but still... ... the obligatory theme song:

RIP.

[napkinz]

3. There were actually three pilots for the show ...

1968 Pilot

1969 Pilot

1971 Pilot

ABC passed on the show twice. Finally CBS gave it a shot in 1971.

ABC really BLEW IT!

[BeyondGeography]

5. CBS' Saturday night line-up was unreal

If you are old enough, you may recall that back in the television season of 1973-74 the first two hours of CBS’s Saturday night line-up were filled with, in this order, “All in the Family,” “M*A*S*H,” “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “The Bob Newhart Show.”

http://m.deseretnews.com/article/865579715/Saturday-has-gone-from-TV-paradise-to-rerun-wasteland.html

[Elwood P Dowd]

9. I remember dating a certain girl back in those days. Her biggest issue with me was I watched too

television on Saturday Night. It was hard not to watch with that line-up.

[NYC_SKP]

10. Seriously four of the four best series ever. I preferred MTM and Bob to the others, but....

nobody can top these four for best shows of the seventies, or early seventies.

I also liked Hill Street Blues, but that came later.

[Are_grits_groceries]

35. Loved Hill Street Blues.

Remains one of my favorites.

[reformist2]

12. Say what you want about movies and music, but the golden age of TV was the 1970s.

[napkinz]

22. I would say the early 1970s when talking about "the golden age"

The late '70s not so much: The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Charlie's Angels, Happy Days (after jumping the shark), Laverne & Shirley, The Facts Of Life, Three's Company to name a few.

[reformist2]

40. No, no - ALL those shows are EPIC!

I'd even include The Brady Bunch and The Partridge Family. And of course, Eight is Enough.

[napkinz]

41. The Love Boat and Fantasy Island were epic?

I never liked that shows.

But yes, loved The Brady Bunch & Partridge Family!

And the first four seasons of Happy Days.

And Good Times and Maude ... two more classics from Norman Lear.

[niyad]

15. how well I remember that line-up

[dhill926]

20. yup.....

in college then. Always had a crowd, some weed, some beer and just laughed and laughed. If I remember correctly (obviously in doubt), didn't The Carol Burnett show follow?

[napkinz]

21. and "The Carol Burnett Show"!!!!

nt

[BeyondGeography]

33. With my man Harvey Korman!

[napkinz]

39. and Tim Conway!

I loved watching how Tim would make Harvey crack up!

[HiPointDem]

36. best variety show ever. still holds up.

[DebJ]

27. Now there is absolutely nothing on TV Saturday nights.

So that is our reading time.

[napkinz]

28. We still have SNL

I know everyone compares every cast with the original "Not Ready For Prime-Time Players."

But still, it's nice to have a LIVE comedy/variety show on. (Sure beats all those inane "reality" shows.)

[DebJ]

30. I record it and watch some of the skits, but don't like a lot of

the comedy they have anymore.

[napkinz]

32. And the few good cast members they have just announced they are leaving

Bill Hader, Fred Armisen, Jason Sudeikis and Seth Meyers won't be back next season.

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler left a couple of years ago.

Next season doesn't look very promising.

[hfojvt]

38. those were the days

I was 11-12.

[Baitball Blogger]

2. Rec this up! Jean Stapleton was a good woman and a great actress.

[napkinz]

4. Jean Stapleton Filmography

Complete list at

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0822958/

[choie]

6. All in the Family

was the best show ever on tv - and no one else could have played Edith. Bless you, Jean...

[Bobbie Jo]

8. Agreed.

Absolute classic.

....and Edith

[xchrom]

7. An American Great...

[Summer Hathaway]

11. I remember an interview with Norman Lear

many, many years ago, where he talked about each of the characters in All In The Family.

He said that Edith represented the Christ-like figure in the show, a woman who actually lived the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount every day of her life.

A brilliant actress, Jean Stapleton captured that essence perfectly in her portrayal of Edith Bunker - a woman who was often cowed by her overbearing husband, often manipulated by her daughter and son-in-law, often challenged by a changing world in which long-held attitudes needed to be re-evaluated. And in the end, Edith always saw the truth of things, and those Sermon on the Mount principles were invariably applied to whatever situation she was met with.

While Ms. Stapleton consistently brought her many, many on-stage and on-screen characters to life with incredible perfection, her portrayal of Edith will always remain the crowning achievement in a long and successful career as an actress.

Godspeed, Jean - and thank you for making Edith a part of all of our families.

[monmouth3]

13. What a lovely tribute. Many thanks..n/t

[reformist2]

14. I'd love it whenever she'd come out of nowhere with a point that shut everyone up.

And it wasn't just good for the entertainment value - the way they would argue things, and the way things came to light were just so true to life. That's how families argued back then (maybe even now a little bit, too.) The show was funny, but more important - it was REAL.

[napkinz]

25. this moment with Mike, at four minutes and twenty seconds ... so touching

[malaise]

16. I so loved Edith

Rest in peace dear sister

[niyad]

17. requiescat in pacem, dear lady. you brought so much pleasure to so many.

[DesertFlower]

18. i always wonder what does "natural causes mean".

[Zoeisright]

23. Probably organ failure not caused by a specific disease.

Our organs are really only meant to last 70-80 years.

[ruffburr]

19. I will always remember-

All the laughs i got out of all in the family, Thank you Jean R.I.P.

[chuckstevens]

24. Aunt Mary: Hallmark Hall of Fame Movie!

One of her best performances. She play the true life story of a Baltimore women who coach little league in the 1950's and fought for integration. It really is a cute movie for your kids! Anyone remember it?

[TNNurse]

26. Natural Causes

She was 90. You do not need to be sick to die at 90. You can just wear out. I am always apppalled (the three Ps are for emphasis) when an obituary for an elderly person (in my book 80 or greater) says cause of death unknown or not released. I know that they died because we all die and that should not be a surprise or a secret. I think it is wonderful if someone who has lived a long life can just die....no need for long drawn out illness or suffering.

[life long demo]

29. Yes, remember "Edith" fondly.

Rest in peace Jean.

[justiceischeap]

31. RIP, Jean

I'll always remember her for her off-key rendition of "Those were the days."

[William769]

34. She will be missed.

[Are_grits_groceries]

37. "My compliments to the chief."

I always have remembered this line when Edith tried to give props to a chef.

Stapleton was a classy lady with many talents. She will be missed on many levels. I will miss her personaly. I still smile when I think of her. She leavened All In The Family with her kindness. If she hadn't, the show would have had a very mean edge. She was it's conscience.

RIP Edith.
My compliments to you. Your life was a bravura performance.
I wish there was an encore, but we will have to do with reruns.

Love you!

[napkinz]

42. last appearance Carroll O'Connor and Jean Stapleton made together ...

-- aired on April 24, 2000