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Jean Stapleton reveals the actor she admired most— and her favorite first lady!
Stapleton speaks on timing and sense of character, two skills she doubtlessly wielded on All in the Family!
You can learn a great deal about a person from the people they admire in their industry. Do they idolize the innovators, or are they more attracted to folks who display kindness? Especially when public figures are involved, it's fun to find out who your favorites' favorites are! So, when actors speak about actors, our ears tend to perk up, as we're familiar with both the subject and their influences.
Can we trace our favorite artists' lineage? It's always interesting to follow the stream of work that guides and forms the works that inspire us.
On All in the Family, Jean Stapleton is in a class of her own. Who else ever created such a character? At once both believable and an outlandish caricature, her Edith Bunker is one of the greatest, most singular television roles of all time. Sure, Edith is written funny, but only Stapleton could have imbued the character with the pathos necessary to ground her in our world. Otherwise, she would've risked being a crude parody of a housewife. But with Stapleton steering the ship, Edith is someone we root for, someone we love and want good things for.
So, who influences this kind of performance? Who was Jean Stapleton's favorite actor? In a 1976 interview with Coronet Magazine, Stapleton spoke about the actor whose work she looked up to the most.
"Lord Lawrence Olivier is the actor I admire as a consummate artist, and I would very much like an opportunity to work with him. His timing is flawless, his sense of character perfect, and his knowledge of his craft is magnificent."
It's a pretty uncontroversial take. Olivier is widely regarded as one of the greats. While it's not shocking to learn an actor was influenced by his work, Stapleton's innovation was employing that gravitas on a sitcom stage.
In addition to the acting world, Stapleton also told Coronet about a historical figure she looked to for inspiration.
"In history, I most admire Eleanor Roosevelt, whose devotion to human rights and whose personal stamina made her the great lady of the world. She was truly before her time. She was a staunch wife, a great spokeswoman for the women of her time, and a leader among all of the people of the world."
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