How Each All in the Family Cast Member Died

did you grow up watching the classic american sitcom all in the family it was a groundbreaking sitcom not afraid to be controversial it took a bold step at the time to mix comedy with many serious issues of the day these issues included women's rights race relations american culture war homosexuality and much more no doubt the writers and creators norman lear and bud yorking are to be given credit but the biggest heroes are the members of the all and the family cast sadly many of them are no longer with us let's learn more about the members of the all in the family cast and reflect on their amazing careers all in the family revolved around the cantankerous archie bunker a working-class everyday american who navigated through life and the social changes in the country no one could have played the role better than carol o'connor o'connor had begun his career working on stage he later played bit parts in tv shows television films and a few feature films while he received regular work in film and tv he hadn't yet made his big break it seemed he'd continue to be a working actor but never become a household name then after mickey rooney was passed for the role norman lear offered the role of archie bunker to carol o'connor and the rest is history part of the show's charm was archie's irratible behavior he often made off-color remarks and had ideological clashes with his wife edith and son mike in the hands of a lesser actor the character of archie bunker could have easily been one of the most hated characters in sitcom history but carol o'connor managed to show archie's humanity behind his often harsh temperament he managed to do what few actors can mix crudeness and sympathy together carol continued to act in film and tv following all in the family however it was his work on the show that he's most remembered for though he was as a person very different from archie bunker he stated in later interviews he loved playing the character and it was his most fulfilling role carol o'connor died at age 76 from a heart attack in 2001. hey if you're enjoying this video so far make sure you give it a like and subscribe to facts first if you haven't already and stick around to find out how each all in the family cast member died archie's wife was the naive and sweet edith played by jean stapleton as with her on-screen husband jean stapleton struggled to achieve stardom her career consisted of bit parts in tv shows and the occasional minor film role as with carol it seems as if she'd be a working actress but would never make an impact but her fate changed when she was cast as edith and all in the family she was seen as the perfect opposite to archie unlike him she was sweet and innocent usually thinking the best of everyone she didn't have the cynicism archie had she became one of the most loved characters on the show and jean stapleton would forever solidify her place in american sitcom history she did eventually tire of the character and didn't want to continue in the spin-off archie bunker's place in the spin-off sitcom edith's character had been killed off with the explanation that she had died she continued to get regular work and film and tv after all in the family in fact she was the original choice for the lead role in murder she wrote which eventually went to angela lansbury she passed away from natural causes at age 90 in 2013. one of the great aspects of all in the family is that it also showed families and characters outside the bunker family one of those was the jeffersons who would later get their own sitcom the son of the jefferson family was lionel jefferson played by actor mike evans he began his career in all in the family and became a great recurring character he would later reprise this role on the jeffersons mike evans had a few bit parts in film and tv and tv movies following all in the family and the jeffersons one of his greatest contributions to american tv is that mike evans was one of the creators of the sitcom good times sadly he didn't live long and passed away from throat cancer at age 57 in 2006. the jefferson family also consisted of the mother louise jefferson played by isabelle sanford isabelle spent much of her early career with minor roles in tv shows tv movies and the occasional film her most notable work in her early career was a regular role on the carol burnett show she also had a notable role in the classic drama guess who's coming to dinner she catapulted to stardom when she won the role of louise jefferson in all in the family she was a strong independent woman which was rare to see in those days on american television her character was so loved she continued her role in the sitcom the jeffersons even in real life isabelle sanford had the reputation of having a commanding presence she was often referred to as the queen on any set and had the sunny personality to light up a room she became an icon among black american actresses and was always in demand even after the jeffersons ended she passed away in 2004 due to complications from heart disease louise jefferson's husband george jefferson was played by sherman hemsley sherman began his career working on stage in smaller plays his only tv experience had been a short stint in the show joey and dad norman lear approached him to play george jefferson on all in the family audiences immediately loved sherman's portrayal as the loudmouth and often pretentious george jefferson his chemistry with isabelle sanford was impeccable just like the relationship between archie and edith sherman hemsley further increased his stardom on the jeffersons just like isabelle sanford he became an icon among black american actors he continued to receive regular work appearing in the sitcom amen and having guest appearances on shows like the fresh prince of bel air and sister sister he continued acting until 2011 one year before he passed away he died at age 74 due to complications from lung cancer another great character from the show was barney hefner who was archie's best friend this role was played by actor alan melvin melvin had years of experience working on tv he was perhaps best known as the voice of magilla the gorilla he'd also acted on shows like the flintstones gomer pyle usmc the andy griffith show and the brady bunch he was already a household name and as such was a welcome addition to all in the family he continued to get regular work after the show ended while he was more versatile than his fellow cast members his work as barney hefner is arguably some of his greatest he passed away from cancer at age 84 in 2008. and of course we didn't just see archie's close friends one of edith's close friends from the show was irene lorenzo played by betty garrett she was a veteran actress who appeared in famous musicals like on the town and my sister eileen she had a few years of difficulty finding more work in films due to her husband larry parks he was blacklisted by hollywood due to his communist sympathies for several years the couple would perform on stage and in nightclubs betty would occasionally find minor roles in tv shows when she was cast as irene lorenzo in all in the family she once again was launched into stardom she continued to receive regular work in tv after the show ended her final role was in the film dark and stormy night in 2009. she passed away two years later at 91 while many of the main all in the family cast members have left us three of the main cast members survive most notably is rob reiner who played mike bunker he made his name as one of hollywood's most sought after directors he's directed classics like this is spinal tap when harry met sally a few good men and many others sally struthers played gloria and continued receiving regular roles in film and tv after all in the family most notably she had a recurring role in gilmore girls she continues to act and dedicates much of her life to activism particularly her work with save the children danielle brisbois played stephanie mills the bunker's upstart niece she eventually left acting and pursued a career as a singer she's also produced albums and written songs for a variety of artists including adam levine kelly clarkson and alanis morissette as we look back at reruns of all in the family let's raise our glasses to the great cast that made the show possible are you a fan of all in the family do you think the current generation remembers the great actors and actresses that brought the show alive or do we need to promote the show to newer generations let us know in the comments below and before you go make sure you give this video a like and subscribe to facts first for more click the bell icon to stay updated on all our latest content you

Channel: Facts Verse

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Id: D-9-14ZOLJY

Length: 8min 59sec (539 seconds)

Published: Sun Apr 18 2021