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Carroll O'Connor

Actor

"That was Archie. All his preconceptions keeping him from enjoying life. That was my message. Because Archie never enjoyed anything. Something was poisoning life for him. He didn't realize that [it] was from inside of himself."

About This Interview

In his four-hour Archive interview, Carroll O'Connor (1924-2001) talks about being a struggling actor in New York: "Carroll O'Connor from the Gate Theater meant nothing. They did an O'Casey play. I was probably the one actor in New York who really could sound like a Dublin man…. I thought to myself innocently, 'I'll just do my thing and I got to get into this O'Casey play.' Nobody knew what I was doing. Nobody cared. And nobody even wanted to see me." Carroll O'Connor made his mark on television as "Archie Bunker" on the landmark sitcom All in the Family and as "Chief Bill Gillespie" on the police drama In the Heat of the Night. O'Connor speaks about his background and childhood pursuits and outlines his early years studying acting, notably at University College in Dublin. He describes acting at the renowned Gate Theatre in Dublin, "the best experience" he ever had as an actor. He briefly discusses his television debut, in the early 1950s, on the BBC and his American TV debut on Kraft Television Theater. He recounts how he came to be cast in the stage play "Ulysses in Nighttown" and notes how his performance led to increased television work. He also gives his impressions of co-star Zero Mostel and director Burgess Meredith. He speaks about his numerous appearances on television in the 1960s, including: "The Sacco-Vanzetti Story" for Sunday Showcase and multiple appearances on Armstrong Circle Theater. He also discusses how he came to make his feature film debut in "A Fever in the Blood." O'Connor relates how he began to contribute to the writing of the parts he played on television and how, when All in the Family was picked up, he put his stamp on the written material.  Regarding All in the Family, he describes the filming of the series' pilots, talks about his contentious relationship with series developer/executive producer Norman Lear, speaks about his co-stars and directors and discusses his walk off of (and return to) the series during the show's fifth season. He explains how the follow-up series Archie's Bunker's Place came about and recalls how and why the character of "Edith Bunker" died at the start of the show's second season. Additionally, he comments on his co-stars, talks about casting Martin Balsam's real-life daughter in an episode he wrote that mirrored real life and acknowledges how the series came to an end. He discusses his involvement in the spin-off series Gloria, and how, without his knowledge, the show's initial writers and producer were replaced. He then speaks in detail about his work as writer/star of the television movie The Last Hurrah and In the Heat of the Night.  Regarding In the Heat of the Night, O'Connor recalls his early displeasures with the direction of the show, proudly notes the commendation the series received from the NAACP and describes his favorite series episode. Lastly, he touches on various guest appearances he made on television in the 1990s and how he came to write his memoirs. In response to whether All in the Family changed television, O'Connor suggests: "No….  Television got right back into its old habits… the goal of comedy, sitcom, was to make people feel good, get a lot of laughs and get the big ratings. Those were not really our goals.  The goals of all the shows that came after us were that just." Charles Davis conducted the interview in Malibu, CA on August 13, 1999.

Related To This Video

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Shows

  • All in the Family
  • All in the Family: "Sammy's Visit"
  • Archie Bunker's Place
  • Armstrong Circle Theatre
  • Father Clements Story, The
  • Gilligan's Island
  • Gloria
  • In the Heat of the Night
  • Last Hurrah, The
  • Mike Douglas Show, The
  • Play of the Week, The
  • Sacco-Vanzetti Story, The (1960)

People

  • Paul Bogart
  • Norman Lear
  • Rob Reiner
  • John Rich
  • Fred Silverman

Topics

  • Comedy
  • Creative Influences and Inspiration
  • Minorities
  • Pop Culture
  • We Considered
  • We Cried

Professions

  • Performers
  • Representatives

Featured Content

Carroll O'Connor was inducted into the 6th Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame in 1989Emmy Hall of Fame Logo

 

Resources

from the Museum of Broadcast Communications Encyclopedia of Television

Carroll O'Connor

Best known for his portrayal of cantankerous Archie Bunker on the long-running CBS series All in the Family, Carroll O'Connor has been one of television's most recognized actors for over twenty years. For his work on All in the Family and In the Heat of the Night the actor has received five Emmy Awards, eight Emmy nominations, a Golden Globe Award and a Peabody Award.

O'Connor's acting career began while he was a student in Ireland in the 1950s. Following on experiences in American and European theatre, he established himself as a versatile character actor in Hollywood during the 1960s. Between films he made guest appearances on television programs such as the U.S. Steel Hour, Kraft Television Theatre, the Armstrong Circle Theatre and many of the filmed series hits of the 1960s. But O'Connor became a television star with his portrayal of outspoken bigot Archie Bunker, the American archetype whose chair now sits in the Smithsonian Institution.

In 1968, ABC Television, which had the first rights to the series, financed production of two pilot episodes of All in The Family (then under the title Those Were the Days). But the network's trepidation about the program's socially controversial content led ABC to reject the show. Producer Norman Lear sold the series to CBS, where All in The Family was broadcast for the first time on 12 January 1971 with O'Connor as Archie Bunker. By using humor to tackle racism and other sensitive subjects, All in The Family changed the style and tone of prime time programming on television. It may also have opened the door for political and social satires such as Saturday Night Live and other controversial programs.

Throughout its thirteen seasons the show gained immense popularity (in its heyday, it was said to have reached an average of fifty million viewers weekly), and maintained a groundbreaking sense of social criticism. Archie Bunker's regular stream of racial epithets and malapropisms catalyzed strong reaction from critics. All in the Family was attacked by conservatives who thought that the show made fun of their views, and by liberals who charged that the show was too matter-of-fact about bigotry. The show's successor Archie Bunker's Place, was broadcast on CBS from 1979 TO 1983, and the earlier show also begat two successful spinoffs, Maude and The Jeffersons, one of television's longest-running series about African Americans.

From 1988 to 1994 O'Connor starred in and served as executive producer and head writer for the hit prime time drama In the Heat of the Night. Set in fictional Sparta, Mississippi, but shot on location in Covington, Georgia, In the Heat of the Night may be seen as a continuation of O'Connor's association with television programs designed to function as social commentary by addressing issues of racism and bigotry. O'Connor plays Bill Gillespie, a Southern police chief whose top detective (played by Howard Rollins) is African American. In its 1993 season, the show also featured the marriage of Chief Gillespie to an African American city administrator. The series has received two NAACP Image Awards for contributing positive portrayals of African Americans on television. When the series version of In the Heat of the Night ended, O'Connor produced several made-for-television-movies using the same locations and characters. In 1995, O'Connor's son and co-star on In the Heat of the Night, Hugh O'Connor died of a drug overdose. O'Connor chose to speak out publicly about his grief and his views on the legalization of drugs, and gave a number of well-publicized interviews on these topics on television. He continues to devote much of his time to the social problems surrounding drug addiction.

-Diane Negra

 

FURTHER READING

Bennetts, Leslie. "Carroll O'Connor as Detective Chief." The New York Times, 20 March 1985.

Du Brow, Rick. "Thriving in the Heat of Adversity Despite Heart Bypass Surgery and the Personal Problems of his Co-Star Howard Rollins, Carroll O'Connor is Happy in his Work." Los Angeles Times, 17 March 1990.

Farber, Stephen. "An Actor Stands In As Writer." The New York Times, 9 January 1989.

Lamanna, Dean. "Carroll O'Connor: These Are the Days." Ladies' Home Journal (New York), October 1991.

CARROL O'CONNOR. Born in New York City, U.S.A., 2 August 1924. Died 21 June 2001. Educated at the University of Montana; National University of Ireland, B.A., 1952; University of Montana, M.A., 1956. Married: Nancy Fields, 1951, child: Hugh (deceased). Stage actor in Ireland, 1950-54; substitute teacher in New York, 1954-56; appeared in plays Ulysses in Nightown, 1958, and The Big Knife, 1959; appeared as a character actor in numerous motion pictures, 1961-71, including Fever in the Blood, 1961, Cleopatra, 1963, and Kelley's Heroes, 1970; star of television series All in the Family, 1971-79; star of Archie Bunker's Place, 1979-83; co-executive producer and star of In the Heat of the Night, 1987-94. Recipient: Golden Globe Award; Emmy Awards for best actor, 1973, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1989; George Foster Peabody Award, 1980; named to Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame, 1990. Address: Lionel Larner Ltd., 130 West 57th St., Suite 10A, Culver City, California 10019.

TELEVISION SERIES

1971-79 All In the Family
1979-83 Archie Bunker's House
1987-94 In the Heat of the Night
1994 Party of Five

MADE-FOR-TELEVISION MOVIES

1969 Fear No Evil
1985 Brass
1986 Convicted
1987 The Father Clements Story
1994 In the Heat of the Night: A Matter of Justice
1995 In the Heat of the Night: Grow Old with Me
1995 In the Heat of the Night: By Duty Bound

TELEVISION SPECIALS

1972 Of Thee I Sing
1973 Three for the Girls
1977 The Last Hurrah
1981 Man, Myths and Titans (writer)
1991 All in the Family 20th Anniversary Special

FILMS

Fever In the Blood, 1961; By Love Possessed, 1961; Lad a Dog, 1961; Lonely are the Brave, 1962; Cleopatra, 1963; Not With My Wife, You Don't, 1966; Warning Shot, 1967; What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?, 1968; Marlowe, 1969; Death of a Gunfighter, 1969; Kelly's Heroes, 1970; Doctors' Wives, 1971; Law and Disorder, 1985

STAGE

Ulysses in Nightown, 1958; The Big Knife, 1959; Brothers, 1983; Home Front, 1984

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Highlights

  • Carroll O’Connor on how <i>All in the Family</i> didn't change television, as its breakthroughs remained one-of-a-kind<BR/>Carroll O’Connor on how All in the Family didn't change television, as its breakthroughs remained one-of-a-kind
    Clip begins at: 14:49, Duration: 00m 41s
  • Carroll O’Connor on “Archie Bunker” as the best part he ever played, even next to <i>In the Heat of the Night</i>'s "Chief Bill Gillespie"Carroll O’Connor on “Archie Bunker” as the best part he ever played, even next to In the Heat of the Night's "Chief Bill Gillespie"
    Clip begins at: 10:25, Duration: 00m 22s
  • Carroll O’Connor on “the best experience” he ever had as an actor, performing at Dublin’s Gate TheatreCarroll O’Connor on “the best experience” he ever had as an actor, performing at Dublin’s Gate Theatre
    Clip begins at: 05:16, Duration: 01m 57s
  • Carroll O’Connor on learning how to play comedy from Micheál MacLiammóir, at the Gate Theatre, which he later used in his characterization of Archie BunkerCarroll O’Connor on learning how to play comedy from Micheál MacLiammóir, at the Gate Theatre, which he later used in his characterization of Archie Bunker
    Clip begins at: 08:37, Duration: 02m 29s
  • Carroll O’Connor on the creation of the <i>All in the Family</i>  spin-off <i>Archie Bunker’s Place</i>  and deciding on the death of Edith (in season two)Carroll O’Connor on the creation of the All in the Family spin-off Archie Bunker’s Place and deciding on the death of Edith (in season two)
    Clip begins at: 23:27, Duration: 05m 39s

Interview

  • Part 1
  • On his background and childhood pursuits, including: reading, sports, movies, and radio
    Clip begins at: 0:22
  • On his first appearances on stage; on his mentor at University College in Dublin (UCD); on his studies at Wake Forest College in North Carolina
    Clip begins at: 10:20
  • On serving in the United States Merchant Marines; on his post-WWII studies at the University of Montana
    Clip begins at: 17:25
  • Part 2
  • On traveling with his brother Hugh to Dublin in 1950; on taking the stage name George Roberts until Cyril Cusack insisted take back his own name; on appearing at Dublin's Gate Theatre
    Clip begins at: 0:5
  • On his television debut on the BBC
    Clip begins at: 11:06
  • On returning to New York as a struggling actor; on his American television debut on Kraft Television Theater: "A Bit of Love"; on quitting acting and teaching drama; on his return to acting
    Clip begins at: 16:26
  • On appearing in "Ulysses in Nighttown" which put him on the map in the New York theater; on Burgess Meredith
    Clip begins at: 23:12
  • Part 3
  • On Zero Mostel and the role he played in "Ulysses in Nighttown"; on the reception of "Ulysses in Nighttown" abroad; on his take of the James Joyce source material and production
    Clip begins at: 0:29
  • On landing a part in the dramatic television production Sacco-Vanzetti, which led to his screen debut in A Fever in the Blood; on TV appearances in the 1960s, including Armstrong Circle Theatre and That Girl
    Clip begins at: 10:18
  • On contributing as a writer to his television roles; on Desi Arnaz, who cast him in a pilot; on the claim that he'd been up for the role of "The Skipper" in Gilligan's Island; on his initial involvement with All in the Family
    Clip begins at: 19:24
  • Part 4
  • On collaborating on the characterization of Archie Bunker with Norman Lear; on his contentious working relationship with Norman Lear; on "Archie Bunker"
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On All in the Family co-star Jean Stapleton; on filming the All in the Family pilots; on the perception of "Archie Bunker" by the viewing public
    Clip begins at: 12:40
  • On working with All in the Family co-stars Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers; on "Archie Bunker's" malaprops and character nicknames; on why he re-wrote the material he was given
    Clip begins at: 22:55
  • Part 5
  • On Archie Bunker's relationship to the characters of the Jeffersons, the Lorenzos, and Maude; on Norman Lear's contribution to the writing of All in the Family
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On the effect of the series' success on Norman Lear and the cast; on suggesting Paul Bogart to direct All in the Family ; on initial All in the Family director John Rich
    Clip begins at: 08:07
  • On walking off All in the Family during its run; on the introduction of child actress Danielle Brisebois as "Stephanie Mills"; on some of the classic episodes of All in the Family
    Clip begins at: 13:50
  • On the donation of Archie and Edith's chairs from the set of All in the Family to the Smithsonian Institution; On the creation of Archie Bunker's Place
    Clip begins at: 22:07
  • Part 6
  • On the Archie Bunker's Place episode that reveals Edith Bunker's death, "Archie Alone"; on casting Martin Balsam's real-life actress-daughter Talia Balsam in an episode of Archie Bunker's Place that mirrored their real life, "Murray's Daughter"
    Clip begins at: 0:17
  • On the end of Archie Bunker's Place; on the spin-off series Gloria
    Clip begins at: 12:33
  • On writing and starring in the TV movie The Last Hurrah: fighting for director Vincent Sherman, and on the reaction to the piece by critics, some not to his liking
    Clip begins at: 22:52
  • Part 7
  • On the start of In the Heat of the Night ; on the casting of Howard Rollins; on O'Connor's displeasure with the series' early producers and scripts
    Clip begins at: 0:9
  • On In the Heat of the Night receiving accommodation from the NAACP; on the cast and guest stars; on his Emmy win; on his favorite episode and Rosalynn Carter's response to it's anti-capital punishment message
    Clip begins at: 12:06
  • On In the Heat of the Night 's move from NBC to CBS; on the TV movie The Father Clements Story; on his guesting on Party of Five
    Clip begins at: 22:27
  • Part 8
  • On appearing on Mad About You; on writing his autobiography
    Clip begins at: 0:13
  • On his advice to aspiring actors; on the legacy of All in the Family; on accolades he's received
    Clip begins at: 10:19
  • On how he'd like to be remembered; on his theory as to why CBS Chairman William S. Paley never socialized with him; on the writers of All in the Family and other colleagues; on his wife Nancy
    Clip begins at: 17:12

Shows

  • All in the Family
    • Carroll O'Connor on learning how to play comedy from Micheál MacLiammóir, at the Gate Theatre, which he later used in his characterization of Archie Bunker
      Clip begins at: 08:37, Duration: 02m 29s
    • Carroll O'Connor on his collaboration with Norman Lear on the characterization of Archie Bunker and the pilot script
      Clip begins at: 01:25, Duration: 01m 30s
    • Carroll O'Connor on his rewrite of the pilot script of All in the Family and developer/executive producer Norman Lear telling the story on The Mike Douglas Show
      Clip begins at: 01:57, Duration: 01m 52s
    • Carroll O'Connor on his weekly contribution to the writing of All in the Family, despite not being credited by Norman Lear
      Clip begins at: 04:18, Duration: 00m 27s
    • Carroll O'Connor on his contentious working relationship with Norman Lear and how he resented Lear's not offering him an interest in the All in the Family spin-offs  
      Clip begins at: 04:45, Duration: 01m 21s
    • Carroll O'Connor on his character "Archie Bunker" on All in the Family
      Clip begins at: 07:08, Duration: 02m 53s
    • Carroll O'Connor on his contribution to the All in the Family episode "Two's A Crowd," and the ad-libbing by he and co-star Rob Reiner
      Clip begins at: 09:02, Duration: 02m 43s
    • Carroll O'Connor on working with All in the Family co-star Jean Stapleton, and how "Edith" represented the perfect moral counter to "Archie"
      Clip begins at: 12:45, Duration: 01m 25s
    • Carroll O'Connor on the long gestation period between the All in the Family pilots and a series pick-up
      Clip begins at: 15:36, Duration: 02m 26s
    • Carroll O'Connor on the perception of "Archie Bunker" by the viewing public.
      Clip begins at: 20:39, Duration: 02m 16s
    • Carroll O'Connor on All in the Family co-stars Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers
      Clip begins at: 23:00, Duration: 01m 12s
    • Carroll O'Connor on the source of "Archie Bunker's" malaprops and on series developer/ executive producer Norman Lear's contribution to the nicknames Archie used
      Clip begins at: 24:29, Duration: 01m 36s
    • Carroll O'Connor on why he'd rewrite the material written for "Archie Bunker" on All in the Family
      Clip begins at: 26:26, Duration: 02m 02s
    • Carroll O'Connor on regular Vincent Gardenia's dissatisfaction with his role as neighbor "Frank Lorenzo" on All in the Family
      Clip begins at: 02:53, Duration: 01m 06s
    • Carroll O'Connor about "Archie Bunker" appearing in blackface in the All in the Family episode "Birth of the Baby, Part One"
      Clip begins at: 06:18, Duration: 01m 20s
    • Carroll O'Connor on suggesting director Paul Bogart for All in the Family
      Clip begins at: 11:37, Duration: 01m 17s
    • Carroll O'Connor on working with All in the Family director John Rich
      Clip begins at: 13:01, Duration: 00m 49s
    • Carroll O'Connor on walking off All in the Family during its run
      Clip begins at: 13:50, Duration: 01m 05s
    • Carroll O'Connor on the introduction of child actress Danielle Brisebois as "Stephanie Mills" on All in the Family
      Clip begins at: 15:39, Duration: 01m 12s
    • Carroll O'Connor on All in the Family episodes: "Edith's Problem" (Edith enters menopause), "Gloria Has a Belly Full" (Gloria has a miscarriage), "Edith's Crisis of Faith" (Edith shuns her faith when friend Beverly LaSalle is killed), "Sammy's Visit (Sammy Davis, Jr. appears as himself), and "Archie's Brief Encounter" (Archie has an affair)
      Clip begins at: 17:54, Duration: 03m 33s
    • Carroll O'Connor on the donation of Archie and Edith's chairs from the set of All in the Family to the Smithsonian Institution
      Clip begins at: 22:07, Duration: 00m 29s
    • Carroll O'Connor on the creation of the All in the Family spin-off Archie Bunker's Place and deciding on the death of Edith (in season two)
      Clip begins at: 23:27, Duration: 05m 39s
    • Carroll O'Connor on Archie Bunkers in all walks of life
      Clip begins at: 03:17, Duration: 00m 58s
    • Carroll O'Connor on how All in the Family didn't change television, as its breakthroughs remained one-of-a-kind
      Clip begins at: 14:49, Duration: 00m 41s
    • Carroll O'Connor on his theory as to why CBS Chairman William S. Paley never socialized with him
      Clip begins at: 20:05, Duration: 03m 01s
    • Carroll O'Connor on the All in the Family writers
      Clip begins at: 23:06, Duration: 02m 20s
  • All in the Family: "Sammy's Visit"
    • Carroll O'Connor on Sammy's Visit as an atypical, yet successful episode of All in the Family
      Clip begins at: 19:40, Duration: 00m 43s
    • Carroll O'Connor on working with All in the Family director John Rich
      Clip begins at: 13:01, Duration: 00m 49s
  • Archie Bunker's Place
    • Carroll O'Connor on the creation of the All in the Family spin-off Archie Bunker's Place and deciding on the death of Edith (in season two)
      Clip begins at: 23:27, Duration: 05m 39s
    • Carroll O'Connor on his acting with Danielle Brisebois in the Archie Bunker's Place episode "Archie Alone," that reveals Edith Bunker's death
      Clip begins at: 01:12, Duration: 01m 29s
    • Carroll O'Connor on the character of "Murray Klein" on Archie Bunker's Place and working with actor Martin Balsam
      Clip begins at: 02:41, Duration: 02m 39s
    • Carroll O'Connor on casting Martin Balsam's real-life actress-daughter Talia Balsam in an episode of Archie Bunker's Place that mirrored their real life, "Murray's Daughter"
      Clip begins at: 05:31, Duration: 05m 41s
    • Carroll O'Connor on the cancellation of Archie Bunker's Place after four seasons
      Clip begins at: 14:22, Duration: 01m 58s
  • Armstrong Circle Theatre
    • Carroll O'Connor on the topicality of the material used on Armstrong Circle Theatre
      Clip begins at: 16:51, Duration: 00m 57s
  • Father Clements Story, The
    • Carroll O'Connor on the premise of The Father Clements Story
      Clip begins at: 24:35, Duration: 01m 51s
  • Gilligan's Island
    • Carroll O'Connor on the claim that he'd been up for the role of "The Skipper" in Gilligan's Island
      Clip begins at: 22:10, Duration: 00m 31s
  • Gloria
    • Carroll O'Connor on the spin-off series Gloria
      Clip begins at: 16:20, Duration: 06m 32s
    • Carroll O'Connor on his falling out with Sally Struthers after Gloria
      Clip begins at: 25:26, Duration: 00m 23s
  • In the Heat of the Night
    • Carroll O'Connor on producer Fred Silverman meeting with about the series In the Heat of the Night, an idea of MGM executive Lynn Loring
      Clip begins at: 00:09, Duration: 01m 23s
    • On the casting of Howard Rollins (over O.J. Simpson and others) for In the Heat of the Night
      Clip begins at: 02:17, Duration: 01m 15s
    • Carroll O'Connor on his displeasure with the first scripts and initial executive producer of In the Heat of the Night
      Clip begins at: 03:32, Duration: 01m 37s
    • Carroll O'Connor on the location change, his displeasure with the first replacement producers, and his heart surgery in the early years of In the Heat of the Night
      Clip begins at: 04:54, Duration: 05m 50s
    • Carroll O'Connor on receiving accommodation from the NAACP for casting African-American actors on In the Heat of the Night
      Clip begins at: 12:06, Duration: 01m 42s
    • Carroll O'Connor on his In the Heat of the Night co-stars and guest stars
      Clip begins at: 13:48, Duration: 01m 22s
    • Carroll O'Connor on his favorite episode of In the Heat of the Night, and Rosalynn Carter's response to it's anti-capital punishment message
      Clip begins at: 16:06, Duration: 06m 21s
  • Last Hurrah, The
    • Carroll O'Connor on writing and starring in the TV movie The Last Hurrah , fighting for director Vincent Sherman, and on the reaction to the piece by critics, some not to his liking
      Clip begins at: 22:52, Duration: 05m 32s
  • Mike Douglas Show, The
    • Carroll O'Connor on his rewrite of the pilot script of All in the Family and developer/executive producer Norman Lear telling the story on The Mike Douglas Show
      Clip begins at: 01:57, Duration: 01m 52s
  • Play of the Week, The
    • Carroll O'Connor on dropping out of a production of TV's Play of the Week to appear in the dramatic television special The Sacco-Vanzetti Story
      Clip begins at: 11:15, Duration: 01m 29s
  • Sacco-Vanzetti Story, The (1960)
    • Carroll O'Connor on dropping out of a production of TV's Play of the Week to appear in the dramatic television special The Sacco-Vanzetti Story
      Clip begins at: 11:15, Duration: 01m 29s
    • Carroll O'Connor on how his agent got him his first film, A Fever in the Blood, by setting up producer Roy Huggins to see O'Connor on television in The Sacco-Vanzetti Story
      Clip begins at: 12:54, Duration: 00m 50s

People

  • Desi Arnaz
    • Carroll O'Connor on Desi Arnaz, who had cast him in a pilot at Desilu
      Clip begins at: 20:11, Duration: 01m 59s
  • Martin Balsam
    • Carroll O'Connor on the character of "Murray Klein" on Archie Bunker's Place and working with actor Martin Balsam
      Clip begins at: 02:41, Duration: 02m 39s
    • Carroll O'Connor on casting Martin Balsam's real-life actress-daughter Talia Balsam in an episode of Archie Bunker's Place that mirrored their real life, "Murray's Daughter"
      Clip begins at: 05:31, Duration: 05m 41s
  • Talia Balsam
    • Carroll O'Connor on casting Martin Balsam's real-life actress-daughter Talia Balsam in an episode of Archie Bunker's Place that mirrored their real life, "Murray's Daughter"
      Clip begins at: 05:31, Duration: 05m 41s
  • Paul Bogart
    • Carroll O'Connor on suggesting director Paul Bogart for All in the Family
      Clip begins at: 11:37, Duration: 01m 17s
  • Danielle Brisebois
    • Carroll O'Connor on the introduction of child actress Danielle Brisebois as "Stephanie Mills" on All in the Family
      Clip begins at: 15:39, Duration: 01m 12s
    • Carroll O'Connor on his acting with Danielle Brisebois in the Archie Bunker's Place episode "Archie Alone," that reveals Edith Bunker's death
      Clip begins at: 01:12, Duration: 01m 29s
  • Rosalynn Carter
    • Carroll O'Connor on his favorite episode of In the Heat of the Night, and Rosalynn Carter's response to it's anti-capital punishment message
      Clip begins at: 16:06, Duration: 06m 21s
  • Howard Edelman
    • Carroll O'Connor on Howard Adelman, who he recalls as being involved early on in the deal to bring 'Till Death Us Do Part to the US (that would eventually become All in the Family)
      Clip begins at: 25:41, Duration: 02m 38s
  • Vincent Gardenia
    • Carroll O'Connor on regular Vincent Gardenia's dissatisfaction with his role as neighbor "Frank Lorenzo" on All in the Family
      Clip begins at: 02:53, Duration: 01m 06s
  • O. J. Simpson
    • Carroll O'Connor on the casting of Howard Rollins (over O.J. Simpson and others) for In the Heat of the Night
      Clip begins at: 02:17, Duration: 01m 15s
    • Carroll O'Connor on the O. J. Simpson making a guest appearance on the last episode of one of the season's of In the Heat of the Night
      Clip begins at: 10:44, Duration: 01m 22s
  • Norman Lear
    • Carroll O'Connor on his rewrite of the pilot script of All in the Family and developer/executive producer Norman Lear telling the story on The Mike Douglas Show
      Clip begins at: 01:57, Duration: 01m 52s
    • Carroll O'Connor on his contentious working relationship with Norman Lear and how he resented Lear's not offering him an interest in the All in the Family spin-offs  
      Clip begins at: 04:45, Duration: 01m 21s
  • Lynn Loring
    • Carroll O'Connor on producer Fred Silverman meeting with about the series In the Heat of the Night, an idea of MGM executive Lynn Loring
      Clip begins at: 00:09, Duration: 01m 23s
  • Burgess Meredith
    • On his estimation of Burgess Meredith, who he considers among the ilk of Dublin Gate Theatre founders Hilton Edwards and Micheál MacLiammóir
      Clip begins at: 27:02, Duration: 00m 33s
  • Zero Mostel
    • Carroll O'Connor on Zero Mostel's performance in the stage play "Ulysses in Nighttown" and how it brought him back to prominence following his blacklisting
      Clip begins at: 08:37, Duration: 01m 28s
  • John O'Connor
    • Carroll O'Connor on writing and starring in the TV movie The Last Hurrah and on the reaction to the piece by critics, including John O'Connor
      Clip begins at: 22:52, Duration: 05m 32s
  • Rob Reiner
    • Carroll O'Connor on All in the Family co-stars Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers
      Clip begins at: 23:00, Duration: 01m 12s
  • John Rich
    • Carroll O'Connor on working with All in the Family director John Rich
      Clip begins at: 13:01, Duration: 00m 49s
  • Howard Rollins
    • Carroll O'Connor on the casting of Howard Rollins (over O.J. Simpson and others) for In the Heat of the Night
      Clip begins at: 02:17, Duration: 01m 15s
    • Carroll O'Connor on his In the Heat of the Night co-stars and guest stars
      Clip begins at: 13:48, Duration: 01m 22s
  • George Roy Hill
    • Carroll O'Connor on George Roy Hill
      Clip begins at: 18:34, Duration: 00m 19s
  • William S. Paley
    • Carroll O'Connor on his theory as to why CBS Chairman William S. Paley never socialized with him
      Clip begins at: 20:05, Duration: 03m 01s
  • Vincent Sherman
    • Carroll O'Connor on writing and starring in the TV movie The Last Hurrah , fighting for director Vincent Sherman, and on the reaction to the piece by critics, some not to his liking
      Clip begins at: 22:52, Duration: 05m 32s
  • Fred Silverman
    • Carroll O'Connor on producer Fred Silverman meeting with about the series In the Heat of the Night, an idea of MGM executive Lynn Loring
      Clip begins at: 00:09, Duration: 01m 23s
    • Carroll O'Connor on CBS network programmer and later In the Heat of the Night producer Fred Silverman
      Clip begins at: 18:23, Duration: 01m 08s
  • Sally Struthers
    • Carroll O'Connor on All in the Family co-stars Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers
      Clip begins at: 23:00, Duration: 01m 12s

Topics

    • Carroll O'Connor on the role dramatic anthologies played for New York actors during the 1950s-60s
      Clip begins at: 15:17, Duration: 01m 07s
    • Carroll O'Connor on his character "Archie Bunker" on All in the Family
      Clip begins at: 07:08, Duration: 02m 53s
    • Carroll O'Connor on the perception of "Archie Bunker" by the viewing public.
      Clip begins at: 20:39, Duration: 02m 16s
    • Carroll O'Connor on the source of "Archie Bunker's" malaprops and on series developer/ executive producer Norman Lear's contribution to the nicknames Archie used
      Clip begins at: 24:29, Duration: 01m 36s
    • Carroll O'Connor on his theory as to why CBS Chairman William S. Paley never socialized with him
      Clip begins at: 20:05, Duration: 03m 01s
  • Historic Events and Social Change > Diversity in Television > Minorities
    • Carroll O'Connor on receiving accommodation from the NAACP for casting African-American actors on In the Heat of the Night
      Clip begins at: 12:06, Duration: 01m 42s
  • Memorable Moments on Television > We Considered
    • Carroll O'Connor on his contribution to the All in the Family episode "Two's A Crowd," and the ad-libbing by he and co-star Rob Reiner
      Clip begins at: 09:02, Duration: 02m 43s
  • Memorable Moments on Television > We Cried
    • Carroll O'Connor on his acting with Danielle Brisebois in the Archie Bunker's Place episode "Archie Alone," that reveals Edith Bunker's death
      Clip begins at: 01:12, Duration: 01m 29s
  • Pivotal Career Moments > Creative Influences and Inspiration
    • Carroll O'Connor on learning how to play comedy from Micheál MacLiammóir, at the Gate Theatre, which he later used in his characterization of Archie Bunker in All in the Family
      Clip begins at: 08:37, Duration: 02m 29s
  • Pop Culture
    • Carroll O'Connor on the donation of Archie and Edith's chairs from the set of All in the Family to the Smithsonian Institution
      Clip begins at: 22:07, Duration: 00m 29s
  • Pop Culture > Classic TV series episodes > Comedy
    • Carroll O'Connor on his contribution to the All in the Family episode "Two's A Crowd," and the ad-libbing by he and co-star Rob Reiner
      Clip begins at: 09:02, Duration: 02m 43s
    • Carroll O'Connor on All in the Family episodes: "Edith's Problem" (Edith enters menopause), "Gloria Has a Belly Full" (Gloria has a miscarriage), "Edith's Crisis of Faith" (Edith shuns her faith when friend Beverly LaSalle is killed), "Sammy's Visit (Sammy Davis, Jr. appears as himself), and "Archie's Brief Encounter" (Archie has an affair)
      Clip begins at: 17:54, Duration: 03m 33s
    • Carroll O'Connor on his acting with Danielle Brisebois in the Archie Bunker's Place episode "Archie Alone," that reveals Edith Bunker's death
      Clip begins at: 01:12, Duration: 01m 29s

Genres

  • Comedy Series
    • Carroll O'Connor on learning how to play comedy from Micheál MacLiammóir, at the Gate Theatre, which he later used in his characterization of Archie Bunker in All in the Family
      Clip begins at: 08:37, Duration: 02m 29s
    • Carroll O'Connor on how All in the Family reached beyond doing a comedy show for laughs
      Clip begins at: 01:40, Duration: 01m 15s

Professions

    • Carroll O'Connor on how his experience as an actor informed his dialogue writing
      Clip begins at: 12:25, Duration: 01m 02s
  • Performers > Actor
    • Carroll O'Connor on learning how to play comedy from Micheál MacLiammóir, at the Gate Theatre, which he later used in his characterization of Archie Bunker in All in the Family
      Clip begins at: 08:37, Duration: 02m 29s
    • Carroll O'Connor on a tip he gave actress Talia Balsam for a crying scene on an episode of Archie Bunker's Place
      Clip begins at: 11:12, Duration: 01m 21s
    • Carroll O'Connor on his advice to young actors to create a reputation for reliability
      Clip begins at: 10:30, Duration: 01m 36s
  • Representatives > Agent
    • Actor Carroll O'Connor on how his agent got him his first film, A Fever in the Blood, by setting up producer Roy Huggins to see O'Connor on television in The Sacco-Vanzetti Story
      Clip begins at: 12:54, Duration: 00m 50s
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  • Hall of Fame inductee

    This interviewee was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame, an honor bestowed upon individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to television. For more information about this award, click here.

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 2011-12-09 08:06.
FOURChapter PARTIE 12Connected avec la conversation qui avait surgi sur les droits des femmes, il y avait certaines questions quant à l'inégalité des droits dans le mariage, impropre à discuter devant les dames. Pestsov avait plusieurs fois pendant le dîner abordé ces questions, mais Sergueï Ivanovitch et Stepan Arkadyevich attentivement le tira hors eux. Quand ils se leva de table et les dames étaient sortis, Pestsov n'a pas les suivre, mais, Moncler doudoune, s'adressant à Alexei Alexandrovitch, Doudoune moncler homme, a commencé à exposer le sol en chef de l'inégalité. L'inégalité dans le mariage, à son avis, réside dans le fait que l'infidélité de la femme et de l'infidélité du mari sont punis de manière inégale, à la fois par la loi et par l'opinion publique. Stepan Arkadyevich allé précipitamment à Alexei Alexandrovitch et lui a offert un cigare. `Non, je ne fume pas," Alexei Alexandrovitch répondu calmement, et, comme si volontairement désireux de montrer qu'il n'avait pas peur du sujet, il se tourna vers Pestsov avec un sourire glacial. `Je pense que cette vision a un fondement dans la nature même des choses, dit-il, et aurait continué à la salle de dessin. Mais à ce point Turovtsin brisé soudainement et inopinément dans la conversation, s'adressant à Alexei Alexandrovitch. `Vous avez entendu, Moncler femme , peut-être, à environ Priachnikov? a déclaré Turovtsin, réchauffé par le champagne qu'il avait bu, et longue attente d'une occasion de briser le silence qui pesait sur lui. `Vassia Priachnikov, dit-il avec un sourire débonnaire sur son humide, les lèvres rouges, s'adressant à lui d'alerte: articles ed:

Submitted by durcysaloon on Wed, 2010-12-08 06:39.
I was a kid when I 1st started watching All in the Family and I loved it.

Submitted by MSCLS86 on Wed, 2010-12-01 01:35.
I enjoyed the interview but his comments on Bea Arthur as Maude bothered me. Am I alone on this?

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