Jean Stapleton

Stage and television actress, born in New York City, New York, USA. A character actress, she appeared in Broadway shows during the 1950s and 1960s, including The Bells Are Ringing (1956) and The Rhinoceros (1961). Intelligent, liberal, outspoken in real life, she gained her widest fame while portraying a woman who was virtually her opposite, Edith Bunker in All in the Family (1971–9), winning several Emmy awards. She returned to Broadway afterwards and acted in the CBS series, Baghdad Cafe.

Jean Stapleton (born Jeanne Murray on January 19, 1923 in New York City) is an American actress of stage, television and film.

She is best known for her portrayal of the long-suffering, yet devoted wife and mother Edith Bunker on the popular and groundbreaking 1970s sitcom All in the Family, and occasionally in the sequel Archie Bunker's Place.

She began her New York career Off-Broadway in American Gothic.

She has also acted in made-for-TV movies and feature films such as Klute, which starred Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland, and Cold Turkey, which starred Bob Newhart.

Her husband, William H. Putch, by whom she had two children, (actor/writer/director John Putch and actress Pamela Putch), died in 1983.

Stapleton is not related to Maureen Stapleton; she acquired her professional name of Jean Stapleton as many other actors have done, by using her mother's maiden name. Jean Stapleton has numerous relatives in show business, including actress cousin, Betty Jane Watson (born in 1921), who appeared on Winner Take All (1951).