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Jean Stapleton (born Jeanne Murray on January 19, 1923 in New York City, New York) is an American popular character actress of stage, television and film. The naturally red-headed Stapleton 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. |