Carroll O’Connor was an American actor, director, and producer whose career on TV went on for at least four decades. His popularity started growing after he was featured in the 1970 film, Kelly’s Heroes, as Major General Colt.
His fame continued to grow as he played the lead roles in CBS television sitcoms, All in the Family (1968 to 1979), and Archie Bunker’s Place (1979 to 1983).
Carroll O’Connor profile summary
Full name: John Carroll O’Connor
Date of birth: August 2, 1924
Place of birth: Manhattan, New York
Date of death: June 21, 2001
Place of death: Culver City, California
Age at death: 76
Nationality: American
Profession: Actor
Zodiac sign: Leo
Early life
Carroll O’Connor was an Irish American who was born on August 2, 1924, in Manhattan, New York City. His parents were Edward Joseph O’Connor, a lawyer, and Elise Patricia O’Connor. His two younger brothers, Hugh and Robert, were both doctors.
Carroll O’Connor young years were mostly spent in Forest Hills, Queens, and Elmhurst. In 1941, he joined Wake Forest University in North Carolina. However, he dropped out due to World War II.
When the war had ended, he joined the University of Montana-Missoula, where he was also an editor at the Montana Kaimin, the student newspaper.
After a while, he left the university with the intentions of helping one of his younger brothers, Hugh, get into medical school in Ireland. Carroll eventually joined the University College Dublin and completed his studies. After a short while, he began focusing on his acting career.
Career
The start of his acting career entailed performing in theatrical productions in both New York and Dublin in the 1950s. His breakthrough occurred when he was featured in the Broadway adaptation of James Joyce’s novel, Ulysses.
He made his TV acting debut as a character actor on two episodes of Sunday Showcase. This opened up new opportunities for him to be a cast member in numerous TV series. Some of these series are The Fugitive, Armstrong Circle Theater, Bonanza, and The Great Adventure, among many more.
O’Connor was privileged to land more roles in numerous movies and TV shows as he continued becoming a familiar face on the screens to many people.
Carroll O’Connor movies and TV shows
While he was pursuing his acting career, he was cast in several movies and TV shows for different roles, most of which have been listed below.
Starring roles
All in the Family (1971–1979)
Archie Bunker’s Place (1979–1983)
In the Heat of the Night (1988–1994)
Films (feature and made-for-TV)
Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” (1956)
The Defiant Ones (1958)
The Sacco-Vanzetti Story (TV mini-series) (1960)
A Fever in the Blood (1961)
Parrish (1961)
By Love Possessed (1961)
Lad: A Dog (1962)
Belle Sommers (TV) (1962)
Lonely Are the Brave (1962)
Cleopatra (1963)
The Silver Burro (TV) (1963)
Nightmare in Chicago a.k.a. Once Upon a Savage Night (TV) (1964) In Harm’s Way (1965)
The Last Patrol episode of The Time Tunnel (1966)
The Time Tunnel (1966)
What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? (1966)
Hawaii (1966)
Not with My Wife, You Don’t! (1966)
Warning Shot (1967)
Point Blank (1967)
Waterhole#3 (1967)
The Devil’s Brigade (1968)
For Love of Ivy (1968)
Death of a Gunfighter (1969)
Marlowe (1969)
Ride a Northbound Horse (TV)(1969)
Fear No Evil (TV) (1969)
Kelly’s Heroes (1970)
Doctors’ Wives (1971)
Of Thee I Sing (TV) (1972)
Law and Disorder (1974)
The Last Hurrah (TV) (1977)
A Different Approach (1978)
Brass a.k.a. Police Brass (TV) (1985)
Convicted (1986)
The GLO Friends Save Christmas (1986)
The Father Clements Story (1987)
Gideon (1998)
36 Hours to Die (TV) (1999)
Return to Me (2000)
Writing credits
Bronk (TV) (1975)
The Last Hurrah (TV) (1977)
Archie Bunker’s Place (1979)
TV series Brass aka Police Brass (TV) (1985)
In the Heat of the Night (1988–1995) Numerous episodes
Producer credits
Bronk (TV) (1975)
The Last Hurrah Series (TV) (1977)
In the Heat of the Night (TV) (1988–1995)
Director credits
Archie Bunker’s Place (TV) (1979)
In the Heat of the Night (TV) (1988)
Crew
In the Heat of the Night (TV) (1988)
Archive footage featuring Carroll O’Connor
Bruce Lee: A Warrior’s Journey (2000)
The 53rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (2001)
Inside TV Land: African Americans in Television (2002)
The 74th Annual Academy Awards (2002) Memorial tribute
Awards
Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy (1972)
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (1971, 1976, 1977, and 1978)
George Foster Peabody Broadcasting Award (1980)
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (1989)
