Sally Struthers Movies
The daughter of a Portland doctor, Sally Ann Struthers left home at 18, determined to become a star. The 5' 1", frizzy-haired Ms. Struthers attended classes at the Pasadena Playhouse, then worked as a singer, dancer and commercial actress before the breaks began arriving in rapid succession in 1970. By the end of that year, she had been seen on TV as a comedy-ensemble player on The Smothers Brother Comedy Hour and a chorus girl (in fact, the only chorus girl) on The Tim Conway Comedy Hour; she'd played a small but attention-grabbing role in the Jack Nicholson film Five Easy Pieces; and she'd provided the voice for Pebbles Flintstone on the animated Pebbles and Bamm Bamm Show. Oh, before we forget: also in 1970, Struthers was cast as Gloria Bunker Stivic on the groundbreaking TV sitcom All in the Family. During her seven-season stint as Gloria, she shared a 1972 "Best Supporting Actress" Emmy with The Mary Tyler Moore Show's Valerie Harper. She also took time out to deliver an image-busting performance as the sluttish wife of kidnap victim Jack Dodson in Sam Peckinpah's The Getaway (1972), and to star in such made-for-TV films as Aloha Means Goodbye (1974), Hey, I'm Alive (1975) and The Great Houdinis (1976). In 1975, Struthers very nearly walked off All in the Family over a much-publicized salary dispute; she left the series when her contract ended in 1978, returning briefly to appear in an episode titled "California Here We Are"--and winning a second Emmy as a result. Though big things were predicted for Struthers, her post-Family years were rough. Her TV-movie appearances began playing to ever-diminishing ratings, while her highly touted 1981 Broadway debut in Wally's Café was a bust. It was a frightened, insecure Sally Struthers who returned to series television in 1982 as the star of Gloria, an All in the Family spin-off which recast the actress in the role that made her famous. Despite initially good ratings, Gloria tanked after a year. After another foredoomed Broadway appearance in a female version of Neil Simon's The Odd Couple, Sally accepted the role of klutzy divorcee Marsha McMurray Shrimpton in the 1986 syndicated sitcom 9 to 5. Around this same time, Struthers began showing up as the TV spokesperson for a charitable organization serving malnourished Third-World children. While none could doubt the actress' sincerity, her strident, lachrymose fund-raising appeals were treated with merciless derision by the many sketch-comedy TV series of the period. Though her career may never again reach the heights of her All in the Family days, Sally Struthers has kept busy in a variety of show-business ventures, including voiceover assignments on such series as Talespin and Dinosaurs, and a recent touring production of the musical Grease, in which she co-starred with another TV favorite of yore, The Monkees' Davy Jones. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 1976
Overprotective grandpa Archie is convinced that Mike and Gloria's babysitter is not up to the task. Firing the sitter, Archie takes on the job of caring for baby Joey himself -- all the while trying to continue his weekly poker game with the boys. This is the episode with the famous (and once-controversial) "full frontal nudity" scene, as a fumbling Archie tries to change the naked Joey's diapers. Featured in the cast are Leslie Ackerman as Sharyn, Joe Mantell as Sidney Schwartz, Ken Menard as Willie Johnson, and Jack Somack as Tiny. First telecast on January 12, 1976, "Archie the Baby Sitter" was written by Lou Derman and Bill Davenport. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Rob Reiner, (more)
- 1976
Now that little Joey Stivic has been born, things return to normal on All in the Family; that is, the various family members start arguing and bickering again. This time around, the problems arise from Mike's habit of making decisions without consulting Gloria. Things reach the crisis stage when Mike allows a couple to stage their New Year's nuptials in the Stivic living room. A pre-stardom Billy Crystal appears as bridegroom Al, while Elaine Princi is cast as Trudy, the bride. Written by Lou Derman, Bill Davenport, Milt Josefsberg, and Ben Starr, "New Year's Wedding" originally aired on January 5, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rob Reiner, Sally Struthers, (more)
- 1976
Mike's liberalism is once more put to the test when he is faced with the iniquities of Real Life. Up for a prestigious teaching position at a Minnesota College, Mike may lose out to a black candidate thanks to what would later be called "affirmative action." Surprisingly, a gloating Archie agrees with the school's equal-opportunity policy. David Downing plays Mike's competitor, John Kasten, while Lee Bergere is cast as Dean Winslow. Written by Milt Josefsberg and Ben Starr, "Mike's Move" originally aired on February 2, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1976
In the conclusion of a two-part story arc, Edith is outraged that Archie has been "stepping out" with a waitress named Denise (Janis Paige), despite Archie's insistence that the relationship never went beyond the flirtation stage. Ultimately, Archie and Edith separate, with both parties to proud to take their first step towards reconciliation. It is up to Mike and Gloria to bring the Bunkers together again. Written by Larry Rhine and Mel Tolkin, part two of "Archie's Brief Encounter" first aired on September 29, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1976
Season seven of All in the Family opened with an hour-long episode -- the first of a two-part story arc -- which put the relationship between Archie and Edith Bunker to its severest test. With Edith busy at the Sunshine Nursing Home, a lonely Archie gravitates to an attractive middle-aged waitress named Denise (Janis Paige). He carries the relationship one step further, when, wearing his "good shirt from Disney World," he pays a nocturnal visit to Denise's apartment. And then, Edith finds out. Written by Larry Rhine and Mel Tolkin, part one of "Archie's Brief Encounter" first aired on September 22, 1976; since that time, the 60-minute episode has been re-edited into two 30-minute installments for syndication purposes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1976
In the conclusion of a two-part story, an unemployed Archie continues to look for work. After landing a minimum-wage custodial job, Archie finds himself in the position of saving an unsuccessful applicant for the same job -- and a college graduate to boot -- from committing suicide. Gerald Hiken guest-stars as the hapless Frank Edwards. Written by Charles Stewart and Ben Starr, part two of "The Unemployment Story" originally aired on October 13, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1976
In the first episode of a two-part story, Archie suffers the humiliation of being fired from his job -- just as Mike is given a promotion. But this blow is a minor one compared to the heartache Archie endures when he makes his first trip to the unemployment office. Future Oscar-winner F. Murray Abraham appears as the clerk. Written by series stalwart Ben Starr, part one of "The Unemployment Story" originally aired on October 6, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1976
It is no surprise that Archie is outraged again. This time, the source of his anger is Mike and Gloria's refusal to baptize baby Joey. Determined that the child will enter Heaven in spite of his parents, Archie "borrows" Joey for a quiet -- and hilariously touching -- baptismal service of his own invention. Clyde Kusatsu appears as Reverend Chong. Written by Milt Josefsberg, Mel Tolkin, and Larry Rhine, "Joey's Baptism" first aired on February 23, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1976
Mike feels neglected of late, all because Gloria is obliged to devote a generous portion of her time to baby Joey. At first, Mike suffers in quiet desperation. But when Gloria insists that he draw up a timetable for their sex lives, Mike rebels. Is this marriage doomed, or will Edith come to the rescue once again? Written by Lou Derman and Bill Davenport, "Love By Appointment" made its first network appearance on February 16, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1976
Given an attractive pantsuit by Gloria, Edith would like to show off her new outfit in public. Alas, Archie is his usual stick-in-the-mud self, and refuses to take Edith out. Undaunted, Edith decides to have a good time on her own, and takes her first step toward that goal by heading down to Kelcey's Bar. Jason Wingreen makes his first appearance as Harry the bartender, a role he'd carry over to the spin-off series Archie Bunker's Place. Written by Lou Derman, Douglas Aragno, and Phil Doran, "Edith's Night Out" originally aired on March 8, 1976, as the final episode of All in the Family's sixth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1976
When Archie and Edith's furnace breaks down, they temporarily move in with Gloria and Mike. An already tense situation is made even more so thanks to a power blackout which rapidly spreads throughout the neighborhood. Series stalwarts Larry Rhine, Mel Tolkin, and Milt Josefsberg were responsible for the script. Alternately known as "Mike and Gloria's House Guests," this episode originally aired on March 1, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1976
Once again, Archie is driven into a state of apoplexy over a decision made by Mike and Gloria. This time around, the Stivics have decreed that, in the event of their deaths, the guardianship of baby Joey will be handed over to Mike's best friends. Not unexpectedly, Archie hotly demands that he be put in charge of his grandchild's welfare. This episode represents the first time that Jason Draeger and Justin Draeger, the twin infants playing Joey, are given onscreen credit. Written by Bill Richmond and Gene Perret, "Mike and Gloria's Will" was first telecast on November 20, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1976
Edith becomes a celebrity when she saves the life of old Mr. Kleever (Phil Leeds) at the Sunshine Rest Home. She is even lauded with a medal, which is presented in front of a vast TV audience. Should anyone be surprised that Archie feels overshadowed -- and has become intensely jealous? Written by Mel Tolkin and Larry Rhine, "Mr. Edith Bunker" made its first CBS network appearance on November 27, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1976
Reversing the usual procedure, it is Mike and Gloria who are angry at Archie. The reason? Against their wishes, Archie entered their son, Joey, in a beautiful-baby contest. Criticized in some quarters as a banal episode, "The Baby Contest" at least served as a non-controversial safety valve in the overall saga of All in the Family. Written by series stalwarts Larry Rhine and Mel Tolkin, the episode originally aired on December 11, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1976
In the first episode of a two-part story, a nervous Archie steels himself for a gall-bladder operation. His fears are not allayed by the fact that the hospital is festooned with ethnic minorities: His nurse is Puerto Rican, his doctor is Jewish, and he is compelled to accept a blood transfusion from a black Caribbean woman. Liz Torres makes her first series appearance as Teresa Betancourt. Others in the cast include Milton Selzer as Dr. Shapiro and Vinnette Carrol as Dr. Wynell Thatcher. Written by Milt Josefsberg and Mort Lachman, part one of "Archie's Operation" first aired on October 20, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1976
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Archie's ordeal as a surgical patient is alleviated somewhat when he finds out that he has been rehired by his former employer -- and with a raise and promotion in the bargain. Alas, Archie's elevated financial situation is brought back to earth by his staggering hospital bill. Liz Torres makes her second appearance as soon-to-be series regular Teresa Betancourt, while future Archie Bunker's Place supporting player Danny Dayton is introduced in the role of Hank Pivnik. Written by Mel Tolkin and Larry Rhine, part two of "Archie's Operation" first aired on October 27, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1976
Liz Torres, who first played the role of tempestuous Puerto Rican nurse Teresa Betancourt in "Archie's Operation," became a series regular in the subsequent episode "Teresa Moves In." With money at a premium, Archie and Edith decide to rent out Gloria's old room. Their new boarder turns out to be Teresa, a woman who has alternately aggravated and terrified Archie in past encounters. Written by Michael Loman, "Teresa Moves In" first aired on November 13, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1976
Struggling to make financial ends meet as new parents, Mike and Gloria are taken aback when Gloria thinks she might be pregnant again. Clearly, it is time for the Stivics to adopt more effective methods of birth control. But Mike is none too keen about honoring Gloria's insistence that he have his oft-promised but long-postponed vasectomy. Written by Phil Doran and Douglas Aragno, "Gloria's False Alarm" first aired on December 18, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1976
As most veteran All in the Family fans know, the Christmas season is seldom a joyous occasion in the Bunker household. This year, a bitter argument erupts between Mike and Archie when Mike welcomes his friend, David Brewster (Renny Temple), a draft dodger now living in Canada, to Christmas dinner. David's drop-in coincides with a visit from Archie's friend, Pinky Peterson (Eugene Roche), who lost his son in Vietnam. Much to Archie's surprise, it is Pinky who quietly and eloquently defuses a potentially explosive situation. Written by Jay Moriarty and Mike Milligan, "The Draft Dodger" was appropriately telecast on December 25, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1976
The Bunker family's doctor forces Archie to go on a diet. In the spirit of "one for all," Edith convinces the rest of the family to watch their calories. Even so, Archie is constitutionally incapable of sticking to his rigid diet -- until he receives unexpected moral support from octogenarian Justin Quigley (Burt Mustin). Incidentally, series star Carroll O'Connor requested that the producers refilm the opening theme-song sequence of All in the Family during the 1975-1976 season precisely because he'd put on considerable weight since the program debut in 1971. Written by Mel Tolkin and Larry Rhine, "Archie's Weighty Problem" was first broadcast on February 9, 1976. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1975
Hey, I'm Alive is the true story of Ralph Flores and Helen Klaben. In 1963, pilot Flores and passenger Klaben survived a plane crash in the snowy hills of the Yukon. For 49 days, the two survivors endeavored to find food and warmth, to attract the attention of low-flying planes, and to preserve their sanity. When found, Flores and Klaben were frostbitten and dangerously close to starvation--but alert and alive. Ed Asner and Sally Struthers star in this made-for-TV film; they were directed by Lawrence Schiller, who as a Life magazine photographer covered the real-life rescue. Hey, I'm Alive first aired November 7, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The sixth season of All in the Family begins as Mike (Rob Reiner) and Gloria (Sally Struthers) move out of the home of Gloria's parents, Archie (Carroll O'Connor) and Edith (Jean Stapleton) -- and into the house next door. Not long afterward, Gloria discovers that she's pregnant, thereby opening up a whole new realm of story possibilities. Halfway through season six, Gloria goes into labor in an Italian restaurant, leading to a mad scramble to get the expectant mom to the hospital. Needless to say, everything is straightened out and the baby arrives, healthy and happy -- with proud grandpa Archie, decked out in blackface for a lodge minstrel show, beaming from the sidelines. Further misadventures surrounding Gloria and Mike's son, Joey, occur when the couple announces that they do not intend to baptize the baby, leading Archie to perform his own baptismal ceremony on the sly. Traditionally, the addition of a baby to the cast of a long-running sitcom is a sure indication that the series is in dire need of a ratings boost. This was definitely not the case with All in the Family, which had been TV's top-rated program for the past four seasons, and remaining securely in the number one slot for season six. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1975
In the conclusion of a four-part story arc, an increasingly paranoid Archie is still out of work due to a union strike, while Edith has settled into her new job with George Jefferson's dry-cleaning establishment. At long last, the strike is settled, and Archie is able to tell Edith to quit her job. But this is hardly an occasion for celebration; the "generous" terms of the new union contract leave Archie almost as bad off as before. Future Oscar nominee James Cromwell makes his first appearance as Archie's loquacious co-worker, Stretch Cunningham. Written by Don Nicholl, Michael Ross, and Bernie West, "Archie's Raise" first aired on October 5, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1975
Much to Archie's dismay, Edith has always regarded the union of her cousin Amelia and wealthy Russell DeKuyper as the "perfect marriage." Thus it is no small shock to Edith when, while visiting the Bunkers, Amelia blithely announces that she and Russell are splitting up. Elizabeth Wilson and George S. Irving are cast as Amelia and Russell, roles originated by Rae Allen and Richard Dysart in the 1972 episode "Edith Gets a Mink." Written by Lou Derman and Bill Davenport, "Amelia's Divorce" first aired on January 25, 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
- 1975
Gloria and Mike have become disciples of a new psychological technique called "fair fighting." Whenever they get into an argument, they shout out code phrases like "That's below the belt!" in hopes of ceasing hostilities. Duly impressed, Edith tries out this technique on Archie -- and guess what happens next! "All's Fair" was written by Lloyd Turner and Gordon Mitchell. The episode originally aired on January 18, 1975, the same night that the All in the Family spin-off The Jeffersons made its network debut. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, (more)
