Sally Struthers captured America’s heart as Gloria Stivic in the groundbreaking sitcom “All in the Family,” and years later, she played the sassy Babette Dell in “Gilmore Girls.”
Born on July 28, 1947, in Portland, Oregon, Struthers pursued acting after high school, eventually landing the role that would define her early career but also give her a chance to meet her husband.
Over the years, she’s transformed from a young actress to a seasoned performer, wife, and mother.
Despite the passage of time, fans still admire her vibrant personality and enduring charm, proving that Struthers has indeed aged like fine wine.
Between 1971 and 1978, Struthers played Gloria Stivic, née Bunker, on CBS’s landmark show “All in the Family.” At 22, she was still finding her footing in the industry.
The actress could’ve been described as insecure as well as someone who had yet to outgrow the nickname her mother gave her, “Samantha Featherhead.”
But she persevered in the television industry and hasn’t slowed down since the 1970s. Gloria became a beloved character, but despite the character’s popularity, Struthers felt she had little in common with her.
In an interview with Closer Weekly, she explained, “Other than being young and female, I didn’t feel like I had a lot in common with her. I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, and Gloria was an Astoria, New York, girl. I was raised devoutly Lutheran, and Gloria had no religion.”
Her Husband
Struthers’ on-screen father, Carroll O’Connor, played a significant role in her personal life. The actress had lost her real dad in 1968, so Carroll and his wife, Nancy, became her surrogate parental figures.
Carroll gave her advice many times, showed her fatherly affection, and eventually, introduced her to Dr. William Rader, a Los Angeles psychiatrist.
Her connection with Rader was instant. As she told People, “By the end of our first date, I was madly in love.” Struthers even took the initiative in opposition, saying, “Pretty brave of me. I didn’t come to him with alimony and three children.”
They got married on December 18, 1977, and welcomed their only daughter shortly after. Sadly, the couple divorced in 1983, and Struthers never remarried.
Becoming a Mother
The actress and her then-husband welcomed their daughter, Samantha, in the late 1970s, but motherhood was not initially part of Struthers’ plan.
She admitted to People, “Before I met Bill, I never wanted a baby. I was always the first one to say that it wasn’t going to make me fulfilled, that I didn’t need a carbon copy of myself.”
However, love changed her perspective. “Then you fall in love with someone, and you want to be the mother of a child that is part of that man, the result of your loving each other,” she added.
Back then, Struthers was being offered a return to the world of “All in the Family,” something that didn’t seem possible to the actress since she had spent some time searching for other projects.
In an interview with Leta Powell Drake in 1982, the actress revealed that the first thing she “got going” after the show was becoming a mother.
Drake even commented how Struthers had named her child using the same nickname her mother had always adopted. But the actress said all the nicknames came from love.
In the end, she returned to “All in the Family” in a spin-off called “Gloria,” which didn’t include Robert Reiner and first aired in 1982. It was canceled in 1983 after only one season.
Life after the Show: A Divorcee Working “Nine to Five”
Following her divorce, Struthers continued to work in television as one of the best comedic characters. She joined the cast of “Nine to Five” in 1982 and made guest appearances on shows like “Charles in Charge,” “Sister Kate,” and “Murder, She Wrote.”
She also found success in voice acting, lending her distinctive voice to various animated series. Struthers gave life to characters in “Yo Yogi!” in 1991, “Tiny Toon Adventures” in 1990, “TaleSpin” in 1990, and notably, Jim Henson’s “Dinosaurs” in 1991, where she played “Charlene Sinclair.”
Not Afraid to Change Her Looks or Be Serious
In 1992, Struthers appeared in the TV movie “In the Best Interest of the Children,” alongside Sarah Jessica Parker, where she showcased her versatility as an actress by taking on a more serious role and a drastic brunette look.
But she changed back to her iconic blonde and used her raspy voice in more cartoons throughout the rest of the 1990s. The actress was part of shows like “Droopy, Master Detective,” “Duckman,” and “The Wild Thornberrys.”
Becoming an Iconic Part of Stars Hollow
The new millennium brought Struthers back to regular on-screen appearances. She had a recurring role as Babette Dell in the beloved series “Gilmore Girls,” which aired between 2000 and 2007, endearing herself to a new generation of viewers.
