Borderstone
06-01-2013, 06:30 PM
The woman who gave us the great gift of female TV character Edith
Bunker,passed away of natural causes Friday,she went quitly in her sleep at age 90.
Jean Stapleton (along with Sally Struthers),on "All In The Family" taught me a lot as a boy, about what females go through in real life. Being raised by my mother and grandmother,it seems only fitting.
Mostly,I learned about the ways that men take the wome in their lives for granted in relationsships,feeling the males are superior.
Edith and Archie themselves were a window into the
genration just born before my parents generation. The children of the depression.
Jean emersed herself into that role and turned Edith into one of the most memorable female characters in TV history. Being both funny,dramatic and poignant at the same time.
So popular was Edith,that long time fans/viewers were actually sad (and
a bit angry) that Stapleton left the show and plainly told Norman Lear to just kill her off.
Reaching the pinnacle with the role (in my opinion)
with the episode where Edith survives an attempted rape in her own home.
Jean was not just a no nonsense pro,she was pretty fearless in
making a character honest,instead of what "female roles were supposed to be.
Long before All In The Family,Jean had already
logged 20 years in TV in smaller guest roles and parts.
In the movies (of which she only made 11) she can be found in
"Damn Yankees" in 1958 and the early 1970s comedy "Cold Turkey" w/ Bob Newhart.
She's one residet in a town of many that try
to give up smoking cold turkey. It's a very funny film.
Jean made only one other attempt at a sitcom after leaving All In The Family ,
she and Whoopi Goldberg starred in CBS's 1990-1991,2 seaason wonder "Bagdad Cafe'",based on the 1987 movie of the same name.
It too was a well acted and funny show but didn't get the ratings it deserved.
Her last two sitcom apearances were on Everybody Loves Raymond
as "Aunt Alda" and Jean Smart's quickly cancelled "Style & Substance".
(See her IMDB page for more of her works).
RIP Miss Stapleton and may I say...Bravo!
Bunker,passed away of natural causes Friday,she went quitly in her sleep at age 90.
Jean Stapleton (along with Sally Struthers),on "All In The Family" taught me a lot as a boy, about what females go through in real life. Being raised by my mother and grandmother,it seems only fitting.
Mostly,I learned about the ways that men take the wome in their lives for granted in relationsships,feeling the males are superior.
Edith and Archie themselves were a window into the
genration just born before my parents generation. The children of the depression.
Jean emersed herself into that role and turned Edith into one of the most memorable female characters in TV history. Being both funny,dramatic and poignant at the same time.
So popular was Edith,that long time fans/viewers were actually sad (and
a bit angry) that Stapleton left the show and plainly told Norman Lear to just kill her off.
Reaching the pinnacle with the role (in my opinion)
with the episode where Edith survives an attempted rape in her own home.
Jean was not just a no nonsense pro,she was pretty fearless in
making a character honest,instead of what "female roles were supposed to be.
Long before All In The Family,Jean had already
logged 20 years in TV in smaller guest roles and parts.
In the movies (of which she only made 11) she can be found in
"Damn Yankees" in 1958 and the early 1970s comedy "Cold Turkey" w/ Bob Newhart.
She's one residet in a town of many that try
to give up smoking cold turkey. It's a very funny film.
Jean made only one other attempt at a sitcom after leaving All In The Family ,
she and Whoopi Goldberg starred in CBS's 1990-1991,2 seaason wonder "Bagdad Cafe'",based on the 1987 movie of the same name.
It too was a well acted and funny show but didn't get the ratings it deserved.
Her last two sitcom apearances were on Everybody Loves Raymond
as "Aunt Alda" and Jean Smart's quickly cancelled "Style & Substance".
(See her IMDB page for more of her works).
RIP Miss Stapleton and may I say...Bravo!