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Jean Stapleton |
People/Where Are They
Now? |
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Actor |
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Though she is best known as Edith
Bunker from the 1970s sitcom "All In The Family," Jean
Stapleton's roots are firmly planted in the theatre. She created the
role of Mrs. Strakosh in "Funny Girl" on Broadway.
Photo: Jean Stapleton (right) takes curtain calls with Sydney
Chaplin, Barbra Streisand and Kay Medford |
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Mrs.
Strakosh in "Funny Girl" on Broadway
 We all know Jean Stapleton as
the benevolent Edith Bunker from television's "All in the Family," a
portrayal that garnered the actress three Emmys and three Golden
Globes. Jean Stapleton's show business pedigree, however, is pure
Broadway. In 1964, she was cast in the plum role of Mrs. Strakosh for
the new Broadway musical, "Funny Girl," playing opposite Barbra
Streisand eight times a week at The Winter Garden Theatre in New York.
Stapleton's performance was surely one of the show's many highlights,
and has been forever captured on the show's Grammy Hall of Fame cast
album.
Jean
Stapleton's career is as long as it is successful. She has appeared in
well over 100 motion pictures and television shows since the early
1950s, mostly in co-starring and supporting character parts, though
she was certainly no stranger to the occasional leading lady role. We
particularly remember her dynamic portrayal as Mrs. Lovett in a
regional touring version of Sondheim's "Sweeney Todd" in 1987, as well
as her starring turn in the 1986 Broadway revival of "Arsenic and Old
Lace."
Fans will also remember Jean from such memorable films as Vincente
Minnelli's "Bells Are Ringing" (1960, opposite Judy Holliday, in a
role she originated on Broadway), "Damn Yankees" (1958, opposite Gwen
Verdon and Tab Hunter, a role she also originated on Broadway), "Klute"
(1971 opposite Jane Fonda), and "Michael" (1996 opposite John
Travolta). Jean was a regular on many of the more popular variety
shows of the mid-70s ("Laugh-In," "The Carol Burnett Show" and "The
Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour").
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