The cast consisted of Carroll O'Connor who played bigoted Archie Bunker a working-class world war II veteran, his television wife Jean Stapleton who played Edith Bunker a sweet naive woman who stood by Archie despite whatever situation occurred. Their television daughter was Sally Struthers who played Gloria Bunker Stivic who was a very outspoken young woman who despite loving her father was very much against his views on life. Then there was their television son-in-law Rob Reiner who played Gloria Stivic's husband Michael Stivic, a man who was very against Archie in everything Archie believed in such as politics, religion, social, and personal issues. Last but certainly not least was Danielle Brisebois who played Edith Bunker's nine year old niece Stephanie Mills who was introduced later in the show after Gloria and Michael Stivic leaves the Bunker household.
Many have wondered the long asked question of after All In The Family what happened to those television icons? Well I am going to answer that long asked question by focusing only one those main characters and their struggles in the television world after the show officially went off the air.
After All In The Family went off the air at the end of the reinvented titled show Archies Place Carroll O'Connor 'Archie Bunker' went on to act in a television show called 'In the Heat of the Night' where he played a Chief Officer named Bill Gillespie.Carroll's show In the Heat of the Night' last seven seasons when it was cancelled in 1994. After his role in In the Heat of the Night Carroll did five more television appearances his last in 2000. In 2001 Carroll O'Connor passed away due to a heart attack caused by complications of diabetes. He was buried at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery and in memorial to him TV land did a whole weekend line up of episodes of All In The Family with interviews with him and other various cast mates of him during commerical breaks.
Jean Stapleton 'Edith Bunker' went of after All In The Family to be a great Broadway star and remained a television actress as well as adding movie actress to her lengthily resume. Her last role was in television show Like Mother Like Son: The Strange Story of Sante and Kenny Kimes in 2001 as role of Irene Silverman . There is not much said about Jean Stapleton anymore these days for she has retired from the business and lives happily in Manhattan.
Sally Struthers moved on after All In The Family to many other television appearances her most recent in production film is called Monster Heroes where she plays the role of Kripta.
As for Rob Reiner 'Michael Stivic' after he left All In The family at the end of the show season run he moved on to multiple television,movie,producing,writing and political activist positions in the world. His most recent role is in television show 30 Rock in which he plays the role of Rep. Rob Reiner / Stanley the Dog.
Last but certainly not least is Danielle Brisebois little Stephanie Mills Edith Bunker's nine year old niece in the show. After her role in All In The Family she moved on to a very few roles in television and film her last being in 1998 in the television show Stories From My Childhood in which she plays the role of Eliza.
After all the seasons and all the episodes what impact did the show have in the world. Well past president Richard Nixon spoke of the show, and t-shirts,buttons,bumper stickers and other such items showed up around the 1972 election with O'Conner's image and promoting Archie Bunker for president. The famous chairs of Archie and Edith Bunker now sit in a exhibit in the Smithsonian Institution part of a exhibit on American television history in 1978. The hit show was granted a 33 cent stamp, Kingsauce recorded a song called "Working Class Zero" paying homage to Archie Bunker, the hit animated television show Family Guy pays homage to All In The Family in the beginning of their show by having Peter and Lois Griffin playing the piano and singing a verse on the loss of values in the world. The other hit animated television show The Simpson's as well did a homage to All In The Family during a episode titled Lisa's Sax where in the beginning Homer and Marge Simpson are seen playing the piano and singing a modern version of "Those Were The Days". As for the set of the show part of the Bunker kitchen was used in the show "Everyone loves Raymond" more then 25 years later.
Doubtfully anyone will truly understand what made All In The Family such a hit television show but it is a show that will remain in the hearts of all viewers, and will never be forgotten for even when the rest of the cast passes away the memories, and the artifacts from the show will live on in forever.
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