Jean Stapleton
Born
January 19, 1923
Died
May 31, 2013 (90 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Manhattan, New York, US
Jean Stapleton was born Jeanne Murray in Manhattan, New York City, to Marie A. (Stapleton), an opera singer, and Joseph Edward Murray, a billboard advertising salesman. Her paternal grandparents were Irish. She was a cousin of actress Betty Jane Watson. Other relatives in show business were her uncle, Joseph E. Deming, a vaudevillian; and her brother Jack Stapleton, a stage actor. She graduated from Wadleigh High School, NYC, in 1939, and attended Hunter College. She worked as a secretary before becoming an actress. Stapleton made her stage debut at the Greenwood Playhouse, Peaks Island, Maine, in the summer of 1941, and her New York stage debut in "The Corn Is Green" (1948). She appeared on Broadway in the musicals "Damn Yankees" (1955) and "Bells Are Ringing" (1956), and later repeated her roles in the movie versions (Damn Yankees (1958) and Bells Are Ringing (1960)). Her other Broadway roles included the original companies of "Rhinoceros" (1961) and "Funny Girl" (1964). Stapleton also played Abby Brewster in the 1986-87 revival of "Arsenic and Old Lace".
Known For

The Last Laugh
Self
2016

The Television Revolution Begins: "All in the Family" Is On the Air
Self
2009

Those Were the Days: The Birth of "All in the Family"
Self
2009
TV Land Top 10
(1 episode)
2004
TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV
(1 episode)
2003

Like Mother Like Son: The Strange Story of Sante and Kenny Kimes
Irene Silverman
2001

Pursuit of Happiness
Lorraine
2001

Pursuit of Happiness
Lorrraine
2001

Baby
Byrd
2000

You've Got Mail
Birdie Conrad
1998

Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World
Mrs. Jenkins (voice)
1998

Chance of a Lifetime
Mrs. Dunbar
1998

Style & Substance
Gloria Utley · (1 episode)
1998

Michael
Pansy Milbank
1996

Everybody Loves Raymond
Aunt Alda · (1 episode)
1996

E! True Hollywood Story
(1 episode)
1996

The Rosie O'Donnell Show
Self · (1 episode)
1996

Lily Dale
Mrs. Coons
1996

Caroline in the City
Aunt Mary Kosky · (1 episode)
1995

Touched by an Angel
Emma · (1 episode)
1994
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle · (13 episodes)
1994

Intimate Portrait
Self · (1 episode)
1993

Bury Me in Niagara
Mildred
1993

Grace Under Fire
(1 episode)
1993

The Trial
Landlady (uncredited)
1993

Beakman's World
Beakman's Mom · (1 episode)
1992

The Habitation of Dragons
Lenora Tolliver
1992

Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories
Narrator (Voice) · (1 episode)
1992

Fire in the Dark
Henry Dutton
1991

Funny Ladies: A Portrait of Women Cartoonists
Narrator
1991

All in the Family: 20th Anniversary Special
1991

Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme
Mother Goose
1990

Bagdad Cafe
Jasmine Zweibel · (15 episodes)
1990

Murphy Brown
(1 episode)
1988
Trying Times
(1 episode)
1987

Dead Man's Folly
Ariadne Oliver
1986

Cinderella
Fairy Godmother
1985

Faerie Tale Theatre: Cinderella
Fairy Godmother
1985

Gonzo Presents Muppet Weird Stuff
Self
1985

The Ray Bradbury Theater
(1 episode)
1985

The Buddy System
Mrs. Price
1984

A Matter of Sex
Irene Wallin
1984

Scarecrow and Mrs. King
(2 episodes)
1983

Jack and the Beanstalk
The Giantess
1983

Faerie Tale Theatre
The Giantess · (1 episode)
1982

Faerie Tale Theatre
The Fairy Godmother · (1 episode)
1982

Eleanor, First Lady of the World
Eleanor Roosevelt
1982

Isabel's Choice
Isabel Cooper
1981
Good Evening Captain
Self
1981

Angel Dusted
Betty Eaton
1981

Aunt Mary
Mary Dobkin
1979

Archie Bunker's Place
(24 episodes)
1979

You Can't Take it With You
Penny Sycamore
1979

The Muppets Go Hollywood
Self
1979

The Love Boat
(2 episodes)
1977

Tail Gunner Joe
Mrs. DeCamp
1977

The Muppet Show
Self - Special Guest Star · (1 episode)
1976

Saturday Night Live
Self - Cameo (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1975

Cher
Self · (1 episode)
1975

Dinah!
Self · (2 episodes)
1974

Acts of Love and Other Comedies
Gina's Mother
1973

The Electric Company
(1 episode)
1971

Klute
Goldfarb’s Secretary
1971

Cold Turkey
Mrs. Wappler
1971

Great Performances
Helen · (1 episode)
1971

All in the Family
Edith Bunker · (210 episodes)
1971

The Dick Cavett Show
Self - Guest · (2 episodes)
1968

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Self · (1 episode)
1968

The Carol Burnett Show
Self - Guest / Various Characters · (1 episode)
1967

Up the Down Staircase
Sadie Finch
1967

The Patty Duke Show
(1 episode)
1963

The Eleventh Hour
(1 episode)
1962

The Merv Griffin Show
Self · (1 episode)
1962

The Nurses
Mrs. Montgomery · (1 episode)
1962

Something Wild
Shirley Johnson
1961

The Mike Douglas Show
Self · (3 episodes)
1961

Dr. Kildare
Nurse Whitney · (1 episode)
1961

The Defenders
Mrs. Larsen · (1 episode)
1961

Route 66
(1 episode)
1960

My Three Sons
(1 episode)
1960

Bells Are Ringing
Sue
1960

Dennis the Menace
(1 episode)
1959

Naked City
Marilyn Konish · (1 episode)
1958

Naked City
Mrs. Trellis · (1 episode)
1958

Damn Yankees
Sister Miller
1958

Tony Awards
Self - Presenter · (1 episode)
1956

Tony Awards
Self - Host · (1 episode)
1956
Woman With A Past
(110 episodes)
1954

Hallmark Hall of Fame
Mary Dobkin · (1 episode)
1951
Lux Video Theatre
Teacher · (1 episode)
1950

Robert Montgomery Presents
(1 episode)
1950

The Philco Television Playhouse
Bus Girl · (1 episode)
1948