R.I.P. Jean Stapleton
 

NEW YORK (AP) — Jean Stapleton, the stage-trained character actress who played Archie Bunker's far better half, the sweetly naive Edith, in TV's groundbreaking 1970s comedy All in the Family, has died. She was 90.

Stapleton died Friday of natural causes at her New York City home surrounded by friends and family, her son, John Putch, said Saturday.

Little known to the public before All In the Family, she co-starred with Carroll O'Connor in the top-rated CBS sitcom about an unrepentant bigot, the wife he churlishly but fondly called "Dingbat," their daughter Gloria (Sally Struthers) and liberal son-in-law Mike, aka Meathead (Rob Reiner).

Stapleton received eight Emmy nominations and won three times during her eight-year tenure with All in the Family. Produced by Norman Lear, the series broke through the timidity of U.S. TV with social and political jabs and ranked as the No. 1-rated program for an unprecedented five years in a row. Lear would go on to create a run of socially conscious sitcoms.

Stapleton also earned Emmy nominations for playing Eleanor Roosevelt in the 1982 film Eleanor, First Lady of the World and for a guest appearance in 1995 on Grace Under Fire.

Her big-screen films included a pair directed by Nora Ephron: the 1998 Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan romance You've Got Mail and 1996's Michael starring John Travolta. She also turned down the chance to star in another popular sitcom, Murder, She Wrote, which became a showcase for Angela Lansbury.

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Jean Stapleton, Edith Bunker on 'All in the Family,' dies

"Ohhhhhh, Arrrrchie!"

RIP "Edith"

What an amazing actress.....

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.......you will be missed Ms. Stapleton......

RIP Jean.

Edith Bunker reminded me of my mom. Not that my dad was like Archie, although he did share some of the same views.

I remember watching them and then The Jeffersons on Sunday nights with my dad.

She was lovely, RIP.

Edith has finally been stiffled.

RIP.

Another icon of her generation. RIP.

RIP. Grew up loving that show.

My favorite all time show..... The world needs more Archie and Edith Bunkers and fewer meatheads.

Wow, thank you for the great times watching your shows. R.I.P. Jean.

Funny lady.

Very funny lady...RIP

It always blew me away when she talked normal out of Edith's character. Few actors could have handled her more famous role.

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