“All In The Family” was one of the best TV shows ever made, teaching important lessons that still matter today. It made many actors famous, including Sally Struthers.
Nowadays, Sally Struthers, who was known for her beautiful blonde hair, looks quite different. However, she is still working in the entertainment industry.
Many people remember Sally Struthers as Gloria Stivic from the 1970s sitcom “All In The Family.” The show, about a working-class white family in Queens, New York, was incredibly popular, receiving 73 award nominations and winning 42.
People born after the show aired might not understand just how groundbreaking it was. Unlike other sitcoms of the time, “All In The Family” tackled social issues and taboos, making them funny, heartbreaking, or both.
Watching old episodes on YouTube can bring back feelings of nostalgia, making you laugh and forget about current problems. Interestingly, many of the issues from back then are still relevant today, but the show presented them in a humorous way.
The main characters in “All In The Family” were Archie Bunker (played by Carroll O’Connor), Edith Bunker (Jean Stapleton), Gloria Bunker-Stivic (Sally Struthers), Michael Stivic (Rob Reiner), and Stephanie Mills (Danielle Brisebois). They all had great chemistry together.
I think Sally Struthers was a very talented and versatile actress who didn’t get enough credit. She even sang in some episodes, and you could see her grow as an actress throughout the series.
In 1973, Sally told the Longview Daily News, “At first I behaved like an idiot on the set. I thought that was the way to get people to like me. I’ve been educated on the set. I’ve learned to be myself. And now, they respect me.”
When “All In The Family” started in January 1971, Sally Struthers was a 22-year-old unknown actress with little TV experience. Producer Norman Lear, who Sally described as a “father to us all,” discovered her when she was dancing on “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.”
Even though she was new, Sally did a fantastic job, just like the rest of the cast. Six months after the show premiered, she became a big star as “All In The Family” became the No.1 show on TV.
At the peak of her fame, Sally could hardly go outside or eat dinner without being surrounded by fans. It was quite a challenge for a young, innocent 22-year-old.
During the early seasons of “All In The Family,” Sally Struthers enjoyed playing Gloria Stivic. However, she often didn’t get the chance to fully develop her character or showcase her acting talents. During a break from the show, she told the producers she wanted to try more dramatic roles.
“When we go on hiatus, I want to do something different,” she said. “There are so many ways to represent a woman. I would like to play a murderess, an unwed mother, a nun, and an old Jewish mother. At the end of my career, I’d like people to say I’m as funny as Judy Holliday and as revered as Ruth Gordon.”
Typecasting can limit an actor’s career. Often, actors become famous for a particular role, but struggle to find success afterward. Unfortunately, this happened to Sally.
She won two Emmy awards for her role as Gloria and starred in a few other shows after leaving “All In The Family.” However, she didn’t receive many offers, and work started to dry up for her.
In the 1990s, she was a semi-regular panelist on the game show “Match Game.” Some people might also recognize Sally as Babette Dell from “Gilmore Girls.”
Since the early 2000s, she has been a regular performer at the Ogunquit Playhouse, a regional theater in Ogunquit, Maine, which produces several shows each season. In 2022, she starred as Frau Blucher in Mel Brooks’ “Young Frankenstein” at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.
Sally has also been dedicated to advocating for impoverished children in developing countries. She has been a spokesperson for the Christian Children’s Fund for many years and appeared in their well-known TV commercials.
Many people might not know this, but Sally is a mother of one. Although she initially didn’t want children, she changed her mind after meeting famous psychiatrist William C. Rader. The couple married in 1977, and two years later, they welcomed a daughter, Samantha.
“Before I met Bill, I never wanted a baby. I always said it wouldn’t fulfill me and that I didn’t need a carbon copy of myself. Then you fall in love with someone,” Sally told People in 1981. “And you want to be the mother of a child that is part of that man, the result of your loving each other.”
Sadly, her marriage to William C. Rader didn’t last long. They divorced in 1983 and went their separate ways.
Their daughter, Samantha Struthers Rader, didn’t become an actress like her mom. Instead, she became a clinical psychologist and has her own practice today. Samantha is also very active on social media, where she gives advice and shares photos from her travels. She has inherited some of her mom’s talents, too—sometimes she shows off her amazing singing voice, which sounds just as good as Sally’s.
Now, Sally Struthers is 75 years old and lives in Los Angeles. She is still active in the entertainment industry and has been working in theaters for the last 25 years. However, she is open to other opportunities as well.
“I’m here. I live in Los Angeles. I have been available. I don’t know why I am never asked to audition. I am never offered a job here. But give me Texas, Maine, Virginia, New York, or Connecticut, and there’s always a job for me. They clamor to have me back the next year in something else,” she says.
(Photo by Hollywood To You/Star Max/GC Images)
Sally Struthers has faced many challenges over the years. In 1996, she lost her mother to Alzheimer’s disease. Her mother passed away in Sally’s arms just two days before Christmas. Sally has also dealt with mean comments about her looks and weight, especially from people on social media.
Despite these obstacles, Sally has handled everything with grace, integrity, and a good sense of humor.
“From the time I was able to walk and say a few words, my whole aim in life was to make people laugh,” she told Spectrum News in 2022. “And when I hear other people laugh, and I know that some silly face I’ve made or some line reading causes them to double over, I’m transported to heaven. That’s my thing. Laughter.”
I don’t understand why people feel the need to curse and leave nasty comments. Sally Struthers gave us years of laughter and contributes to society by helping children in need. She genuinely seems like a caring person.
Thank you for all the wonderful memories, Sally! You look fantastic and seem like a great human being. I hope you continue to perform for many years to come!
