Jean
Stapleton raised money for the August 1977 fight supporting the ERA.
Norman Lear
called his work, "Theatre of Content." Lear said if you want to send a message,
call Western Union!
Norman Lear
saw violence on tv as necessary, but excess was bad.
In Sept
1979, Ron Hendren of the Today Show believed Edith Bunkers character outlived its time.
Jane Pauley
interviewed Jean Stapleton in Nov 1979. Jean stated that homemakers identification with
Edith, enabled her to speak on behalf of women's rights and the ERA.
In Dec 1979,
Martin Balsam (Murray of Archie Bunkers Place)and Jean Stapleton (Edith) starred in a CBS
TV movie entitled, Aunt Mary.
Norman Lear
created a show in March 1980 called Palmerstown; a story of a white & black family
whose two sons were friends.
Lear
believed that tv in the early 1980's, "stunk like pollution!" Lear noted that
the win-at-all-costs mentality needed to be changed.
Carroll
O'Connor supported Edward Kennedy for President and made commercials for him.
The first
public announcement of Edith's death occurred on the Today Show - July 23, 1980.
Johnny
Speight, creator of Till Death us Do Part, had a punk daughter like Alf.
In November
1983, Carroll O'Connor first publicly announced that the character of Archie Bunker was
drawn from people he knew growing up in New York City.
In June
1985, Sally Struthers referred to herself as the "fastidious one" in her play,
"the odd couple" with Rita Moreno.
Norman Lear
was the founder of "The People for the American Way." From 1980 to 1986, this
group compelled the state of Texas to accept textbooks incorporating the theory of
evolution.
In a NBC
interview from Oct 15, 1985 Lear stated that people should not force religious views upon
others.
In 1986,
Sally Struthers first made public that she came from a broken home and felt shame for her
mother. Sally mentioned that she idolized her sister.
In an
interview for the show Gloria, Sally Struthers mentioned she was going to Medical School
when her mother sent an application to the Pasadena Playhouse School.
In the mid
1980's, Sally supported the Christian Children's Fund.
In early
1990, O'Connor stated that he regretted his anger on the set of AITF, his relationship
with Lear and problems of network television.
On March 5,
1992, Lear told reporters that he tried to be as outrageous as possible.
Carroll
O'Connor called former President George Bush, the "apparatchik for right
wingism." O'Connor supported Californian governor, Jerry Brown.
Carroll had
a restaurant which was damaged in the LA earthquake on Jan 19, 1994.
The
Jefferson's cast held a reunion in March 1995.
Carroll
O'Connor's son committed suicide on April 1, 1995.
In an
impromptu press conference, O'Connor stated that a cocaine dealer, Harry Perzigian killed
his son. Legal court battles against O'Connor exist thereafter until O'Connor's
vindication, a year later.
Carroll
O'Connor discussed his biography with Matt Lauer entitled, "I think I'm Outta
Here." Carroll criticized the reviewers of his book.
On March 24,
1998, O'Connor attended the senate hearings on Funding for Medical Research for Drug and
Alcohol Addiction.
In early
1999, Jean Stapleton began touring in a one woman play, entitled "Eleanor".
Carroll
O'Connor received star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on St. Patricks Day, 2000
