Jean Stapleton Dead at 90

Jean Stapleton, best known for playing Edith Bunker in ALL IN THE FAMILY, passed away on Thursday. She was 90.

For her work on ALL IN THE FAMILY, Stapleton won three Emmys and three Golden Globes. When she was not inhabiting the character of Edith, Stapleton spoke without that New York accent, and sang professionally. She began her career with the Robert Shaw Chorale while still in college, and began working as a stage actress in 1941. In a duet with O'Connor, she sang ALL IN THE FAMILY's opening theme, letting him bellow the first few lines before joining in, hilariously off key, "And you know who you were then...".

FLASHBACK: WOMAN WITH A PAST 1954

From the January 17, 1954 issues of the Wilmington Sunday Star:

CBS-TV premieres two soap operas Feb. 1. The 4-4:15 p.m. slot will be taken by THE BRIGHT STAR, featuring Peter Hobbs, sponsored by American Home Products. The 4:15-4:30 p.m. period will be given over to WOMAN WITH A PAST, starring Constance Ford. No sponsor is listed yet. Mona Kent, one of the all time top notchers in radio soap operas writes this one.

Among Mona Kent's writing jobs was as a script write for CAPTAIN VIDEO AND HIS VIDEO RANGER referenced in the recent We Love Soaps interview with Don Hastings. She also wrote for PORTIA FACES LIFE, WOMAN OF AMERICA and THE CARTERS OF ELM STREET.