Jean Stapleton

Jean Stapleton (born Jeanne Murray; January 19, 1923 – May 31, 2013) was an American character actress of stage, television and film.

Stapleton is best known for having portrayed Edith Bunker, the long-suffering, yet devoted wife of Archie Bunker on the 1970s sitcom, All in the Family. Stapleton was a three-time recipient of the Prime Time Emmy Award for leading actress in a comedy series, and won two Golden Globes in the same category during the show's run. She also made occasional appearances on the All in the Family follow-up series, Archie Bunker's Place, but, tired of the role, asked to be written out of the show during the first season.

Early life and career

Stapleton was born on January 19, 1923 in Manhattan, New York City, the daughter of Marie A. (Stapleton), an opera singer, and Joseph E. Murray, a billboard advertising salesman. At age 18 she began her career in 1941 in summer stock theatre and made her New York debut in the Off-Broadway play American Gothic.

Stapleton was featured on Broadway in several hit musicals, such as Damn Yankees,Funny Girl,Bells Are Ringing, and Juno. She guest starred in many television series, including the role of Rosa Criley in the 1963 episode "The Bride Wore Pink" on NBC's medical drama about psychiatry, The Eleventh Hour. She recreated her parts in the film musicals of Damn Yankees (1958) and Bells Are Ringing (1960).