My Favorite Dingbat Died!

NYC – Chelsea Market: Carroll O’Connor and Jean Stapleton as Archie and Edith Bunker (Photo credit: wallyg)

My dear friends,

I’m very sorry to inform you of the passing of a great lady, Ms. Jean Stapleton.  She was a marvelous character actress, who started in Broadway, but was best known for her role as the lovable “dingbat”, Edith Bunker, on “All in the Family“.  She passed away at her home, in New York City, on Friday, at the age of 90.

Photo of the Cast of the television program All in the Family. Standing are Sally Struthers (Gloria) and Rob Reiner (Michael); seated are Archie (Carroll O’Connor) and Edith (Jean Stapleton), who is holding the child who played the Bunker’s grandson, Joey. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

She was the loyal, loving wife of Archie Bunker, who usually let him have his way, despite not always seeing eye to eye with the incorrigible ignoramus that he was.  She usually played meek and submissive, but Edith was a lot tougher than Archie ever imagined.  She had a voice like a rusty hinge, but she didn’t shy from belting out her lyrics on the show’s theme song, “Those Were the Days”.  Ms. Stapleton was the queen of the befuddled look.  And, when she finally got what people were talking about, you could actually see the light going on in her head.  And, if it was something a little risqué, you’d see this shy little smile come to her face, and she’d giggle one of the most lady-like little giggles you could imagine.  Her portrayal of Edith was precious.  She won 3 Emmy Awards playing the character.

After “All in the Family” you’d see her in the frequent TV movie and other television shows, and she also had some small parts in the big screen movies, like “Michael” with John Travolta and “You’ve Got Mail” with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.

She will long be remembered, and she will be missed.

—   YUR

Related articles

• Jean Stapleton, best known for playing Edith Bunker in ‘All in the Family,’ dies at 90 (foxnews.com)
• Jean Stapleton, TV’s Edith Bunker, dies at 90 (miamiherald.com)
• Jean Stapleton Dead: All in the Family’s Edith Bunker Dies at 90 (gossipcop.com)
• Actress Jean Stapleton, from ‘All in the Family,’ dies (myfox8.com)
• Jean Stapleton, Edith Bunker on ‘All in the Family,’ dies (usatoday.com)
• Jean Stapleton Dies At 90 (dlisted.com)
• Jean Stapleton, Who Played Edith Bunker on ‘All in the Family,’ Dead at 90 (variety.com)
• Those Were The Days (crankycaregiver.wordpress.com)