Betty Garrett didn’t mind one bit.
Not every character is meant to last an entire series, but that doesn’t mean that they’re any less important. Radar O’Reilly left M*A*S*H before the series had a proper conclusion, but that doesn’t mean we love Gary Burghoff as an actor any less. Furthermore, an actor leaving a project doesn’t always have to be a sad thing, as it gives them a chance to either get some well-earned time off or pursue other projects.
Such was the case with Betty Garrett, who graced our screens from 1973 to 1975 on All in the Family before she was written out of the series. Garrett, however, wasn’t bitter or upset about the way things had turned out. In an interview with The Tampa Tribune, she actually spoke of her departure from the show after a performance of “Betty Garrett and Other Songs.”
The actress wasn’t a bit upset, and said, “I really didn’t have much to do.” She explained, “I was a hi-bye girl. I didn’t really have any good scenes, so it was foolish for them to keep paying me every week.”
Irene was often seen as a foil for Archie with her sharp wit and contrasting viewpoints. Garrett had actually won a Golden Globe for her performance in the role as well.
Still, Garrett, who was well-equipped with a storied career before she entered the cast of All in the Family, was able to recognize the visibility and fame that the series had given her.
She said, “More people know who I was after that series than after all those movies.”
Carroll O’Connor: ”Television producers are cruel”
”They can kill you.”
It shouldn’t shock anyone to learn that Carroll O’Connor was just as outspoken as his role on TV, Archie Bunker. While the actor and his character may not align politically, they have strong convictions in common. The difference is O’Connor learned and changed, while Archie did not. With change, sometimes, comes conflict.
In a 1974 interview with the Baltimore Evening Sun, O’Connor detailed his grievances with the people behind the scenes of All in the Family.
“I’ve been asking the producers for two years for some administrative changes, and they aren’t forthcoming. I’ve got about 92 percent of what I wanted from the show, but time is running out. They can get someone else to by Archie.”
While Archie Bunker was the role that made him instantly famous, O’Connor had a long career in acting prior to All in the Family. He had plenty of experiences to compare with his current lot in life. Before starring in the Norman Lear-developed series, O’Connor had 26 film credits.
“I don’t like the feeling of being owned by producers. Television producers are cruel and they can kill you. Movie producers are much nicer and take better care of you.”
With the clarity of hindsight, we know that at the time of this interview, O’Connor was nowhere near finished portraying Archie Bunker. But at the time, he remained steadfast in the press that his problems weren’t resolved.
“I cannot at this moment plan to go on with All in the Family,” said O’Connor in ’74. He’d continue with the show in its original format through 1979.
