Jean Stapleton didn’t like when Edith got too serious on ”All in the Family”

She also knew when her time playing the character had come to an end.

Jean Stapleton became a star on Norman Lear’s series All in the Family and continued to stun and entertain for nine seasons. However, by the time Archie Bunker’s Place had begun filming, Stapleton knew that she was finally ready to leave the character behind.

In an interview with the Christian Science News Service, she explained, “I just don’t want to play Edith all my life.” The actress had left her impact on the series, so much so that audiences had begun to dissolve the division between the actress and character. Stapleton was aware of this, as she said, “I know people will continue to identify me with her, and that’s part of my reason for stopping.”

Even as she was ready to say goodbye, Stapleton was able to reflect on her character’s journey, particularly through the more recent seasons of All in the Family. She said, “I was a little concerned we were using the serious side of Edith too much, and I was not doing the riotous comedy that we used to do in the first three years. If I had decided to invest more years in the show , I would have made a demand for more comedy instead of the melodramatic experiences Edith was having.”

Still, Stapleton spoke highly of her time on the show. She remarked, “For me, it was the highest education in comedy. I was part of a marvelous team and also learned about writing. My mind is so sharpened through that whole experience that now I can analyze a play of whatever length with a clarity and perception I never had before.”

As for the more serious side of Edith Bunker, Stapleton did add that she was always happy with the messaging the show chose to send off to viewers. She said, “I was also proud of the social conscience of the show. Although it was mainly entertainment, it did evoke thought and controversy.”

It’s only natural for people to want to see themselves in television characters. Why else would we all spend hours taking personality quizzes that brag they can accurately deduce which sitcom character you’re most like?

We’re constantly searching for validation that we’re not alone in this world, and finding friends on television that we feel are a kindred spirit is just one way to do that. But sometimes, what you recognize in yourself can be unfamiliar and shocking.

According to an interview with The Star-Phoenix, Jean Stapleton, better known as Edith Bunker, revealed that she had gotten a letter from an All in the Family viewer whose husband found that some of the characters hit a little too close to home.

Stapleton said, “One woman wrote to me that her most glorious moment came when her husband started swearing while doing some work in the yard. He suddenly stopped. ‘Good grief,’ he said, ‘I sound just like that Archie on TV. ‘”

In an interview with the Commercial Appeal-Chicago Daily News Service, Stapleton commented that a show like All In the Family didn’t have to be as heavy-handed with their lessons as an after-school special. The true power, she argued, was in the more understated moments of the series.
Stapleton said, “We don’t try to preach, or change people, or stop bigotry. Our purpose is to be humorous, and we hope that comedy’s the best way to get a subtle message across.”