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Jean Stapleton (born Jeanne Murray on January 19, 1923 in New York City) is an American actress of stage, television and film.
She is best known for her portrayal of Edith Baines-Bunker, the long-suffering, yet devoted wife of Archie Bunker (played by Carroll O'Connor) and mother of Gloria Bunker-Stivic (played by Sally Struthers), on the popular and groundbreaking 1970s situation comedy All in the Family. She was also seen in the All in the Family sequel Archie Bunker's Place, but left that show after one season. In 1982, Jean portrayed Eleanor Roosevelt in a television production of the First Lady's later life. Critics noticed the slight physical resemblance between the two women, which worked to the program's advantage. In 1998, and for a few years afterward, Stapleton took her "Eleanor" characterization to live theaters, now adapted as a one-woman show.
Stapleton's awards for All in the Family include three Emmys and two Golden Globes. Jean was offered a role in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, but declined because it coincided with the production of the All in the Family pilot.
She began her New York career in American Gothic, an Off Broadway play. She has been featured on Broadway in several hit musicals, such as Damn Yankees, Funny Girl, Bells Are Ringing, and Juno.
Stapleton has also acted in made-for-TV movies and feature films such as Klute, which starred Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland, the zany comedy Cold Turkey and the Faerie Tale Theatre episode Cinderella as the fairy godmother. She also had a recurring role on TV's Scarecrow and Mrs. King as a British spy. Stapleton appeared in the 1999 movie You've Got Mail as a close co-worker in whom Meg Ryan's character confides.
Stapleton's husband, William H. Putch, with whom she had two children, (actor/writer/director John Putch and actress Pamela Putch), died in 1983. Her husband directed a summer stock theater, Totem Pole Playhouse, at Caledonia State Park in Pennsylvania for 30 years. Stapleton performed occasionally at the theatre with the resident company. Stapleton is not related to the late actress Maureen Stapleton. Stapleton is Jean's mother's maiden name. Jean Stapleton has relatives in show business, including actress cousin Betty Jane Watson.
Cousin of Betty Jane Watson. Other relatives in show business were her uncle Joseph E. Deming, a vaudevillian; and her brother Jack Stapleton, a stage actor. Her parents were Joseph E. Murray (a billboard advertising salesman) and Marie Stapleton Murray (a singer). Graduated from Wadleigh High School, NYC, 1939; attended Hunter College. Worked as a secretary before becoming an actress. Made her stage debut at the Greenwood Playhouse, Peaks Island, Maine, in the summer of 1941. Made her New York stage debut in "The Corn Is Green" (1948). Appeared on Broadway in the musicals "Damn Yankees" (1955) and "Bells Are Ringing" (1956), and later repeated her roles in the movie versions (Damn Yankees! (1958), Bells Are Ringing (1960)). Other Broadway roles include the original companies of "Rhinoceros" (1961) and "Funny Girl" (1964). She also played Abby Brewster in the 1986-87 revival of "Arsenic and Old Lace".
