| Jean Stapleton | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jeanne Murray January 19, 1923 New York, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress, Comedian |
| Years active | 1941-2001 |
| Spouse | William H. Putch (1956–1983; his death); 2 children |
Jean Stapleton (born Jeanne Murray; January 19, 1923)[1][2] is an American character actress of stage, television and film.
She is best known for her portrayal of Edith Bunker, the long-suffering, yet devoted wife of Archie Bunker (played by Carroll O'Connor) and mother of Gloria Stivic (played by Sally Struthers), on the 1970s situation comedy All in the Family.[1] Stapleton was also seen occasionally on the All in the Family follow-up series, Archie Bunker's Place, but, tired of the role, asked to be written out after the first season.[1]
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Born in New York, New York, the daughter of Joseph E. Murray (a billboard advertising salesman) and Marie Stapleton Murray (a singer), she attended Hunter College.[3] She began her career in 1941 in summer stock, aged 18, and made her New York debut in American Gothic, an Off Broadway play.
She was featured on Broadway in several hit musicals, such as Damn Yankees, Funny Girl, Bells Are Ringing, and Juno. She guest starred in many television series, including the role of Rosa Criley in the 1963 episode "The Bride Wore Pink" on NBC's medical drama about psychiatry, The Eleventh Hour.
Her early work on television included roles in Starlight Theater, Robert Montgomery Presents, Lux Video Theater, Woman with a Past, The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse, Dr. Kildare, Dennis the Menace and Naked City. On an episode of The Defenders broadcast on 1 December 1962, Jean Stapleton guest-starred with future TV-husband Carroll O'Connor.
In 1982, Stapleton portrayed Eleanor Roosevelt in a television production of the First Lady's later life. In 1998, and for a few years afterward, Stapleton took her "Eleanor" characterization to live theaters, now adapted as a one-woman show.[4] She co-starred in Bagdad Cafe with Whoopi Goldberg, the TV series based on the movie of the same name.
Her awards for All in the Family include three Emmys[5] and two Golden Globes. She was offered a role in the feature film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory as Mrs. Teevee (the role went to Nora Denney), but she declined because it coincided with the production of the All in the Family pilot.[2]
Stapleton appeared in made-for-TV movies and feature films such as Klute, the comedy Cold Turkey and the Faerie Tale Theatre episode "Cinderella" as the fairy godmother and as the Giant's Wife in "Jack and the Beanstalk". She also had a recurring role on TV's Scarecrow and Mrs. King as a British spy. She appeared in the educational series Beakman's World as Beakman's mother, "Beakmom."
In 1996 she played opposite John Travolta, portraying the eccentric rooming house owner, Pansy Milbank in Nora Ephron's hit Michael. Stapleton also appeared in the 1998 feature You've Got Mail as a close co-worker in whom Meg Ryan's character confides. She is said to have declined the lead on Murder, She Wrote with the role eventually going to Angela Lansbury. Stapleton appeared on the CBS television series Touched By An Angel as an angel named Emma.
In the 1990s, Stapleton played the role of Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, in a children's series of the same name based on the books by Betty MacDonald. The show was created by Shelley Duvall, and lasted only one season. The series is available on video.[6]
In 1996, she appeared in the Everybody Loves Raymond episode "I Wish I Were Gus" playing Ray's Aunt Alda.[7] That same year, she also appeared in the Murphy Brown episode "All in the Family" playing Miles's grandmother, Nana Silverberg.[8] Making a debut in the world of video games, Stapleton was the voice of Grandma Ollie on KinderActive, Turner Pictures, and New Line Cinema's venture "Grandma Ollie's Morphabet Soup." The game won a Teacher's Choice Award from Learning Magazine. In 1998, Stapleton guest-starred in the Jean Smart sitcom, Style & Substance, playing a former television chef who has since "lost her marbles."
She voiced John Rolfe's maid, Mrs. Jenkins in Disney's 1998 direct-to-video animated film Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World. She has not been active in the movie industry since, but today does "tweet" to fans on a Twitter account (@jeanstapleton).
For 30 years, Stapleton's husband William Putch (1924-1983) directed a summer stock theater, Totem Pole Playhouse, at Caledonia State Park in southern Pennsylvania. Stapleton performed occasionally at the theatre with the resident company. Together they had two children: actor/writer/director John Putch and actress Pamela Putch.[9]
Stapleton's brother, Jack Stapleton, was a stage actor. Her cousin is actress Betty Jane Watson.
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