‘All in the Family’: How the Actors of the Beloved Series Changed through the Years

Do you remember the ultimate patriarch Archie Bunker, his sweet wife, Edith Bunker, and Mr. "Meathead," who never got along with his father-in-law? It's been over four decades since "All in the Family" left our TV screens, but many of us still wonder what became of its iconic cast.

The 1970s were a glorious era for television and movies, and many genres, including sci-fi, crime-drama, and action flicks, gained popularity. One of the most touted shows of that time was a comic series, "All in the Family," centered around a working-class family residing in Queens, New York.

The show became a massive hit and ran for nine seasons, from 1971 to 1979. With Norman Lear and Rob Reiner serving as the writers and a larger-than-life cast, the series enjoyed a number-one spot on Nielsen until 1976. Keep reading to discover how your favorite characters from the phenomenal show have changed over the years.

Carroll O'Connor as Archie Bunker

The world was unfamiliar with Carroll O'Connor when Lear cast him as the cynical, opinionated Archie Bunker who held rather conservative ideas about people and the world around him.

In an interview with Fox News, she fondly looked back on her lovely relationship with her co-stars, including her on-screen dad.

As a former World War II veteran, O'Connor's character was never afraid to speak his mind, and he always had something controversial to say on sensitive subjects such as religion, race, and politics. The audience loved Mr. Bunker so much that O'Connor ended up bagging four Emmy Awards!

Although O'Connor became widely known and loved for his blatant representation of Archie, he was a completely different person off-screen. He was neither narrow-minded nor hot-headed like the blue-collar worker he so brilliantly portrayed and held a relatively liberal outlook toward life.

After "All in the Family" concluded, O'Connor reprised his role in "Archie Bunker's Place" and starred in another famous series, "In The Heat of the Night," along with his son, Hugh O'Connor, who played Officer Lonnie Jamison on the show.

In the late 1990s, O'Connor, who also had minor roles in the films "Cleopatra" and "Point Blank," struggled with health issues and hit an all-time low when his beloved son, Hugh, died in 1995. After receiving his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2000, he passed away at age 76 in 2001, with his loving wife, Nancy Fields O'Connor, beside him.

Jean Stapleton as Edith Bunker

Jean Stapleton's performance as Archie Bunker's rather lively, sweet, and optimistic wife, Edith Bunker, went down in Hollywood's books. Edith emerged as a force to be reckoned with—someone who wasn't afraid to stand her ground in front of her prejudiced husband.

Even more commendable was how Archie and Edith maintained a lovely relationship as husband and wife, despite their differences of opinion and contrasting personalities.

Although Stapleton turned down Mrs. Teevee's role in "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory," the universe conspired in her favor when she starred in "All in the Family."

Stapleton took home two Golden Globes and three Emmy Awards for her iconic role in the famous sitcom. After waving goodbye to Mrs. Bunker, she appeared in the 1990 show, "Bagdad Cafe." She also starred alongside Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks in the 1998 romantic comedy "You've Got Mail."

Stapleton passed away in 2013 at the age of 90. But her fans will never forget her for nailing Edith Bunker's role with such finesse!

Rob Reiner as Michael "Meathead" Stivic

Many people don't know that Harrison Ford was considered to play Michael Stivic, Archie's son-in-law in the CBS comic series. However, he turned down the offer and went on to star in "Indiana Jones" and "Star Wars." Who do you think played Michael's role after Harrison declined it?

It was none other than Rob Reiner, who rose to prominence thanks to his fantastic portrayal of Michael or "Meathead,"—a nickname coined by his not-so-dear daddy-in-law. Michael's warm-heartedness, romantic antics with his wife, and a little pretense and chauvinism made his performance unforgettable!

In addition to his debut performance as "Meathead," Reiner lent his writing expertise to "All in the Family." Later, he went on to direct many spectacular movies, such as "Stand by Me," "When Harry Met Sally," and the 1992 legal drama, "A Few Good Men," which starred Jack Nicholson, Tom Cruise, and Demi Moore.

Reiner will be celebrating his 76th birthday in March 2023. While his career as an actor, writer, and director has been rewarding, his breakthrough performance as Archie's son-in-law will forever stay with him and all his fans!

Sally Struthers as Gloria Stivic

Sally Struthers played Gloria Stivic, Archie and Edith Bunker's daughter and wife of Michael Stivic. She emerged as a carefree character in the series, taking on her father's obstinacy and her mom's gentleness. She also appeared in the spin-off, "Gloria," which only make it to one season.

Struthers won two Emmy Awards for her excellent performance on the show. After bidding farewell to Mrs. Stivic's role, she starred in the series "Nine to Five" before becoming a voice-over artist for notable works including "Dinosaurs" and the "The Jungle Book" spin-off, "TaleSpin."

Struthers, who'll be celebrating her 76th birthday in July 2023, was last seen on TV screens as Babette Dell in "Gilmore Girls," which ran for seven seasons. Despite having starred in movies and taking other roles, playing Gloria earned her worldwide recognition and fame.

In an interview with Fox News, she fondly looked back on her lovely relationship with her co-stars, including her on-screen dad. She said she lost her father in 1968, and after meeting O'Connor and his wife, she felt as if she had gained two parental figures. She added:

"Carroll gave me advice, he laughed at my antics, he hugged me all the time – and he introduced me to my husband, [William Rader]! So I gained a father again by doing that show."

Mike Evans as Lionel Jefferson

Mike Evans was a young college student studying drama with no prior experience of acting on his resume when he received his big break.

Before he was cast as Lionel Jefferson on the show, creator Lear wanted Cleavon Little to portray the role. When that didn't happen, producer John Rich signed Evans.

After playing Lionell for five seasons, the then-young actor went on to portray the same character in the spin-off series, "The Jeffersons," but only did so for one season.

Evans' reason for leaving was to concentrate more on "Good Times," for which he was both the writer and creator. He went on to dabble in the real estate business before he died from cancer at age 57 in 2006.

Danielle Brisebois as Stephanie Mills

Danielle Brisebois brought her childlike innocence and cheerful demeanor to "All in the Family," starring as Stephanie Mills, the daughter of Edith Bunker's cousin, Floyd. After Archie and Edith took her in, the then-nine-year-old child star joined the show as a regular cast member in the last season.

Before turning her eyes on becoming a musician, Brisebois reprised her role as Stephanie in the spin-off show "Archie Bunker's Place," which earned a Golden Globe nomination. In addition to her two solo albums, she was a part of the short-lived band, "New Radicals."

Brisebois and her friend, Gregg Alexander, wrote a song, "Lost Stars," for the 2014 movie, "Begin Again," which was nominated for the 2015 Oscars. The songwriter, who will celebrate her 54th birthday in June 2023, also shares glimpses from her life on her Instagram account.

We hope this feature article will compel you to binge-watch this lost gem of a show and share the joy with your loved ones. After all, some masterpieces deserve to be rewatched and passed on to the younger generations!

Who was your favorite character on the show? Drop your answers in the comments section on Facebook.