It is always hard to lose an acting legend.
However, with the news of Jean Stapleton’s passing today, a little spark from my young adult years was extinguished.
My memories of this gifted actress during her multi-Emmy award-winning role of the character, Edith, in the acclaimed sitcom, “All In The Family“, were many and still bring a smile to my face. Do they even make actresses like this anymore? Or sitcoms?
“All In The Family” will go down in television history as one of – if not the best sitcom ever. It was groundbreaking and producer Norman Lear was an incredible visionary.
This producers of this show took unprecedented risks in their storyline – pushing the barriers and challenging the viewers. It was an incredible body of work.
Jean Stapleton, although known for her light-hearted, naive “Edith the wife” role, displayed incredible depth as the show evolved, adding drama mixed with comedy. She showed many dark sides to her sweet personality – her fight with breast cancer, the episode where she was raped etc.
It was a marvel to see her multi-faceted acting talent and she was in a class of her own. Thank heavens that repeats of the show are still on the air. Memories will still live on!
R.I.P. Jean Stapleton. You were one in a million. And we send our deepest condolences to her family and close circle of friends.
Wasn’t she just the best!!! If only tv could go back to the days of the shows…this was ground breaking tv…Edith Bunker didn’t have to say anything, her expressions over Archie’s rants were hilarious and priceless…but when she did, she was sure to make you laugh!!!
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I don’t know if the TV big wigs even understand how to produce quality television anymore.
It’s all flash in the pan/reality show/pre-recorded stuff. A little of that goes a long way. Actors study long and hard to achieve excellence and are rarely rewarded for their craft anymore.
The same holds true for the writers. There are great writers out there, probably prolific writers, but the industry has to have vision and fortitude to stick through long term investment in quality shows.
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