1970-71 Television Season 50th Anniversary: All in the Family (Carroll O'Connor 1971 Cavett Show)

[@stephenabootman6051]

Carol O'Connor is the greatest sitcom actor of all time. Jean Stapleton is just as brilliant as he is.

[@golden7146]

Agreed!👏🏾👏🏾

[@ArnonePamela1]

Ditto ❤🙏🏻Love him❤a special award should have been given for his Part in AITF what a Gifted Man🏆⭐

[@marquisdesade3058]

"carroll"

[@jerryporter1700]

Agreed...

[@garylobo348]

@Tessmage Tessera COC actually admitted that he borrowed a lot of his bellicose ways as Archie, from Gleason. No joke.

[@fluxerflixer1]

It’s sad most people saw carol as the character Archie Bunker. But the truth was that he was a highly educated man and deep thinker. I wish he was alive today so we could unravel more of this complex man. R.I.P. Mr O’Connor. You are missed….

[@suzettebennett9112]

Carroll

[@WOK12-t4p]

Why is that sad? Sure Archie had his flaws, but at his heart he was a good man and the series showed that. In many ways Archie Bunker was the most honest character on the show and I loved him for it.

[@beachboys3326]

​@@suzettebennett9112 Stop nitpicking. We knew what was meant.

[@b.p4958]

So what! Look at warren Mitchell (the original Archie bunker from the inspiration for the show Till Death Us Do Part!) he was oxford educated and loved to play the character of Alf Garnett! And till the end of his life he still did the voice of the character!

[@beachboys3326]

​@@b.p4958 So what is your problem?

[@JohnSmith-fm1ht]

It is amazing how great television used to be back then. And it is amazing how awful television later became and is now.

[@ryansmurda1552]

Yep. Comedy is dead! All in the family, Cheers, even Seinfeld couldn't exist today. People are too sensitive and offended by everything.

[@TotalAmateurMusician]

Blown away by his intelligence and his articulate speech.

[@jenandjuice99]

He had a masters degree in speech, not surprised. Brilliant man

[@trekkiejunk]

Really? i mean, he was an actor. Archie Bunker wasn't real, you know.

[@jenandjuice99]

@@trekkiejunk Carroll O’Connor was a real person, ya Meathead! 🤣

[@WigsxD]

Everyone will remember Carroll O'Connor as Archie, but he did this other show called "In the Heat of the Night" which debuted in 1988. O'Connor played this southern police chief, Bill Gillespie, and he did a great job playing a southern gentleman. Quite the opposite of Archie. He really was a great actor.

[@coypu2005]

@@WigsxD that he was. A real gem.

[@Dr.JudeAEMasonMD]

4:49 *_SATIRE_* coming out of Archie’s mouth. ☠️ Such an unforgettable actor. RIP Mr. Carroll O’Connor, and thanks for those days.

[@news603redux]

Cavett was one of a kind, almost a cross between Paar and Carson. Can you imagine this level of discourse on today's late night TV?

[@DarkSkies72]

Late night today is pathetic. It’s not even funny. They abandoned their audience by going political and nasty and in return their audience abandoned them. Karma indeed.

[@DarkSkies72]

Cavett was great with wonderful guests. You’d never know that he really suffered with severe depression.

[@Julia93939393]

The way he speaks with his regular voice shows you what an amazing actor he was

[@carmeldelaney1086]

All in the Family, the best.Great writing and acting!

[@tonymanzi3358]

Really miss All in the Family, What a great cast!! Still watch it on U Tube. RIP Carol O conner,Jean Stapleton!!

[@coypu2005]

Archie was exactly like my dad. RIP Arch and Dad. ☹️ And Mr O Connor was a brilliant smart articulate educated man. Love him.

[@deanbianco4982]

@ Melania Trump: Too bad we can't say the same thing about your Donald.

[@coypu2005]

@@deanbianco4982 what a lovely reply thank you.

[@Kennephone]

I'm so sorry you had to deal with that much hate growing up.

[@SorayaEsfandiary_]

Stop labeling everything you don’t like as “hate”.

[@depaola63]

Absolutely 💯❤️🌟

[@uofa82]

I love hearing Mr. O’Connor speak so intelligently about his work. It was most certainly NOT your typical tv show by any shape, form or fashion. It’s uniqueness showed up in every performance. It was a true masterpiece. 👏👏👏👏

[@bubbastill2040]

30+ years of solid, thoughtful entertainment and laugh-out-loud comedy. Well done, Carroll O'Connor.Well done.RIP

[@betha8761]

I love Carroll O’Conner. It’s wonderful to see him smile, even a little bit.

[@ellasfella1205]

every one of those character's were deeply LOVED and still missed till this very day god bless all of them all in the family and the Jeffersons brought a magic that could never be replaced by ANY sitcom today or tomorrow

[@CrooklynKnight]

Love Carroll O'Connor and his intellect. May he continue to RIP.

[@scooner67]

He was a brilliant actor!

[@kimberlybeth]

He does a really fine job as Archie Bunker. He sells the performance every time. He’s so great that when he sits down in an interview and presents his truest self to the world, it’s hard to wrap your head around the fact that this is the same man who plays Archie on tv.

[@glenkeating7333]

I can still hear my father's belly laugh watching this show when I first came out in the early 70's.

[@leroystover1062]

I'm a big Carroll O'Connor fan Bronx boy New York great actor rest in peace Archie Bunker

[@deanbianco4982]

You say rest in peace Archie Bunker. I say rest in peace Carroll O'Connor.

[@beachboys3326]

​@@deanbianco4982 Same difference

[@michaellang7908]

Simply a amazing man! My boy hood grandfather I wish I had! I’m a huge fan of Carroll O’Connor! I hate the thoughts we lost him 20 years ago! 1 of a kind! Love you Carroll!

[@glennfromthebronx]

....Carroll was a "thinking man's actor" with a deep. long dedication to working in the theater....unknown to most of us who only know him from ALL IN thE FAMILY and some small/er parts in movies.

[@helpearth8391]

Each time I see a show of All in the Family .. I see more in the depth of the humor! They mirrored almost exactly what so many of us were thinking then & now. Thank you

[@rachelbraak1272]

He was an amazing man and very perceptive. He nailed the summary of his character. Very sad and very true.

[@DarkSkies72]

Such a great show. I use to watch it with my parents every night. Loved The Jefferson’s too which was its Spin-off. 😊

[@davidjones7503]

Nice hearing about a character, by the actor.

[@crivket1233]

3 of HOLLYWOODS GOLDEN ACTORS!!! Top of the list , each one. ❤️👍

[@mistiinseattle]

The show made all of us see too much of ourselves and the way we had been raised, and in such a funny way that made us realize how much we needed to change a lot of our attitudes. It was very gutsy for TV of the 70s and people were ready for it.

[@monroemichael6029]

I just visited the American History Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC. My sole purpose for the visit was to see his chair. The bucket list checked!

[@torydz]

I heard an interview with an All in the Family director. These days, sit-coms take hours to film, with mistakes, outtakes (many done deliberately for gag reels) and other delays. This director said that O'Connor and Stapleton were so professional, that they went on set and had the entire episode shot in 40 minutes. They were both class-act in their skills and talents.

[@jamesstewart8377]

The greatest television actor/character of ALL time.

[@RobertAmsden-p3i]

That's the truth, his acting is impeccable 😊

[@barbaraiverson2035]

The key to his success after "All In The Family" was waiting a few years before going on to "In The Heat of The Night". There was enough time for people to be ready for a new character. He took Rod Steiger's role and really expanded it. Plus him being able to do a light southern accent, was amazing. If he had done a deep accent, it would have been to much.

[@selwynmiller3282]

VERY GOOD Interview! 👍

[@JayMil365]

Carroll O'Connor one of the very greatest, everything he did was great.

[@stephenschoener1253]

Great insights into his character. Thank you for sharing.

[@l0ok5ko0l]

Such a great lesson on the creative process in how theatre is made.

[@depaola63]

A wonderful man ❤️🌟 ……the genius can always play the clown, however the clown doesn’t have the capacity to be a genius! Mr. O’Conner was indeed a genius 🌟

[@Nicholas-dreamlove]

Very intelligent actor and I love "All in the Family."

[@Dan-nt2yb]

He was such a great actor that I totally forgot about Archie Bunker while watching In The Heat Of The Night.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@les13robinson]

A truly fascinating, intelligent man.

[@linapagliari8003]

Just love carol occonor a wonderful great actor gone too soon rip beautiful carol😔🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@chipdamutt108]

Great interview!

[@jackiem1903]

Handsome guy

[@drewski1535]

His NY accent was very distinctive and classy

[@JaneSpampinato]

I miss him , great actor.

[@lauralutz4538]

From Queens NYC, Love, Archie & Carroll.

[@debbieparker2217]

I wish he could have lived longer too. I got to where I really liked him. I would have loved to try to meet him in person! I've had thoughts of taking a flight from DFW to LA to pay respects at his interment. Those of us who are fans we will remember him until it is our turn to go! 72 year old from Fort Worth.

[@debbieparker2217]

TX

[@johndalton3180]

It's good to have people we admire and look up to. Carroll O'Connor is one of those people for me as well.

[@giggles2302]

He would've been 100 years old today (Oct 06, 2024). AITF is my favorite show, hands down. Always has been.

[@jonroux9291]

For people to believe that Carroll was the character that he played on All in the Family, just proved that he was a terrific actor. In real life, everything that I have read about him is the exact opposite. A sweet caring intelligent man. RIP Carroll.

[@user-ed4fv9nd3b]

He was indeed the exact opposite in that he was a radical left-wing extremist in real life.

[@beachboys3326]

​@@user-ed4fv9nd3b Bullshit

[@JoseMorales-lw5nt]

3:27 - 3:47/ Very telling how Mr. O'Connor didn't mind publicly switching to his Archie persona and get the cheap laughs out of the audience. Meanwhile, Jean Stapleton, who portrayed Edith, very diplomatically declined to put on the Edith voice when asked by the same interviewer, Dick Cavett!

[@johnblossom8447]

Actually, Jean Stapleton said she wouldn’t do Edith Bunker for free. She would only do the character if paid. She said that on many talk shows.

[@spewgilist]

What does it tell us, praytell

[@lennypearl]

@@spewgilist I think it tells that Carroll understood how viewers are so interested in how an actor is able to make the character come alive, that audiences are so intrigued about the difference between the actor’s real voice and the character’s voice. It’s almost like a magic trick, and he was happy to oblige!

[@bigroy38]

He did a couple of characters on Dean Martin’s show in Archie’s attitude & they were a riot!

[@deacondavis5098]

Phenomenal Actor

[@windwardsidehawaii]

i loved all in the family show, because its a clean comedy.

[@kevindrago2701]

My favorite character, in any single show in my 48 years on planet earth, of all time

[@bigd3087]

The time when an actor/actress just picks up a cigarette and pulls a puff, and no one says boo! Grew up through the tail end of that, but that caught me off guard... 🤣

[@bevally1533]

Would like to jump into this video and take that cigarette out of Carroll's hand. Smoking was a major contributor to his health problems. That said, I am blown away by the man's brilliance. What an actor! Cannot imagine anyone else creating the character of Archie as he did.

[@bigd3087]

@@bevally1533 Oh, don't think I'm condoning it...I'm 4 years smoke free, myself. Horrible habit! I was merely relating to how it was such a status quo kind of action by everyone back in the day, and how they were so oblivious to the effects, et al. So sad... Otherwise, agreed...such a great actor! 👍🏻

[@tbewin1z143]

@@bevally1533he died in his 80s, old age took him out like it will do to us all if we are lucky

[@tlee717]

I can’t imagine life without Archie

[@moniquejeffery4516]

I miss this Carroll O Conner…

[@susancountrymusicsimon4805]

I used to watch him when I was a little girl with my Father I was about 7 years old or so. I think he's a blast. 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

[@brianarbenz1329]

I saw All In The family as rescuing U.S. television from the forced blandness of My 3 Sons and Petticoat Junction. Relevant controversies could now be discussed! It was like the sun coming out after a long winter.

[@scottthomas4779]

I have loved Carroll O Connor since I was a little kid. I do have to kind of disagree with him about Archie not being lovable tho. I have always sensed that Archie's heart was more times than not if not always in the right place and was very lovable. He just simply lacked the type of upbringing or education that allowed him to see certain things from a different point of view. He was abused by his father as a child and teased by other kids for being poor. Then goes off to fight in ww2 and certainly saw death and pain and sorrow. The loss of life and friends and what innocents he had left and the trauma that he was exposed to didn't help his world view very much I'm sure. Then comes home from war to work a job that barely allows him to scrape by and care for his family that he deeply cares for and loves (even if he lacks the ability to show it sometimes). Then his precious little girl and only child whom he sees so much potential in brings home a very different man (politically) from himself. A man who (in my opinion) is quite disrespectful to Archie and his home and not to mention is every bit as stubborn and hot tempered as Archie. There's no doubt that Archie realizes how book smart Mike is but also believes that Mike doesn't know much about how the world really works outside of a classroom. Yet to spite all that Archie agrees to take this man into his home because his daughter loves him. He keeps food on the table and a roof over their heads all while constantly being belittled and disrespected by Mike (something Edith points out to mike in one episode) . Now I'm not saying that Archie is a victim because he certainly brings a lot of it on himself but at the end of the day I always felt that Archie just wanted what he thought was best for the people he loved. He even learned to love the meat head better than his own father had ever loved him. Oh and whether the writers meant to or not, Archie had some opinions that would go on to prove to be quite accurate. and the meat head?...yeah he cheated on Gloria and left her and Joey. So at the end of the day you tell me who's heart was in the right place.

[@baxpiz1289]

insightful post

[@terencedove5047]

“Satire”… Well said…

[@JohnLeeHooker-h6w]

Wow, what a cool guy!!! 💛💛

[@robertrenn6516]

Love that show

[@ElizaHamilton1780]

That’s an interesting point, about being raised to have these “errors” that lead to burdens being put on one’s shoulders - that these folks with these “errors” and burdens could be living much better lives.

[@betha8761]

All in the Family, just like Maude, most all of the subjects on the shows are still relevant in 2024.

[@clare1855]

Does anyone remember that O'connor played Casca in the movie Cleopatra? A fine actor.

[@tomc2376]

did you know he adopted his son in Italy while filming that movie ?

[@clare1855]

@@tomc2376 Wow! Did not know that. Thank you.

[@ArnonePamela1]

Does anyone know about his new contract and the control he had with the show! That’s why Seasons 5-9 were so good…….

[@jonchaney]

He held out. Was good friends with Larry hagman, he held out six years later. They were very good friends.

[@spatty5]

He is is telling the audience to think. To realize they are enjoying a pretty lousy , sad person.

[@nicksimon7364]

Agreed - it’s also very telling that not just on IAITF but other shows or movies - that some of these antiheroes, or more charitably flawed characters (Tony Soorano, etc.) are so likable is due to the actors portraying them and the high standard of the writing

[@schoolkid234]

I really love the show I m part of the generation Y a millenial and my father is a portuguese Archie Bunker lol Being a conservative this days is really hard because society and the new social standards force us to act in phony way. No one cares about your convictions and true belifs and if you think in another away you are out. I learn a lot about this magical times in america and Archie for me is hilarious, wrong in manny ways...but at the same time so right ! lol

[@orangebetsy]

I didn’t know until now that they were busy rewriting and shaping the plays all the way up to show day! Oof! And there was no small amount of blocking, camera movement, framing, reframing, and boom work that had to be following that progress as well. I wish there were some BTS but I don’t think there’s any. Well spoken guy, O’Connor.

[@divineknowledge4607]

You don't have actors of his skill these days.

[@nascarman38n88]

Agreed

[@kingy002]

Absolute nonsense! That is such a cliche to say that. There are hundreds of superb actors and actresses.

[@divineknowledge4607]

@@kingy002 my opinion is a cliche? A big of a smug attitude isn't it? I'll wait for your answer to that.....

[@kingy002]

@@divineknowledge4607 I couldn't care less whether you think I am smug or not. You got called out for a simplistic statement. It is your problem how you deal with that. I'll wait for your answer to that.....

[@divineknowledge4607]

@@kingy002 I know people like you. You think your opinion is fact and the most important in the room, when the truth is everyone laughs at you. You're likely the type that cuts people off in conversation to interject your voice over theirs. Basically a real asshole that nobody likes but only get invited anywhere out of sympathy or you're riding the coat tails of someone people like and you're just the obligation invite anywhere. Aka, a no count, but a comedic source of amusement for others.

[@justinjoseph6966]

Carroll O’Connor didn’t have to act out that role because, like Norman Lear, he was a byproduct of his upbringing. That said, it was very rare that men of his generation knew better than to repeat the mistakes of his elders, so the fact that he was so enlightened back then was very impressive.

[@kingy002]

This a fascinating interview for me. I totally understand Archie as an individual. But if you take time to read through the comments sections of all of his videos you will see one consistent thing. That is that Conservatives see Archie as a prophet of truth for the american way of life. Carol, though, is a Liberal, as was Norman Lear, satirizing the Conservative Republican mindset. I think that is hilarious, as they all revere him when he is being ridiculed as a racist misogynistic bigot. That says much about them as people to me.

[@compassionatecommenter3625]

This is exactly why I enjoyed All in the Family so much when I watched the whole thing for the first time a couple years ago. The poignant satire is amazing, and it's incredible to me the show was so popular at the time with how openly satirical it really was. But that gives you a picture of America in the 1970s and even now since the issues are still so relevant. I'm a millenial and grew up in a really conservative household. My conservative dad told me my grandfather thought Archie was hilarious. I'm absolutely certain so much of what was being conveyed went over their heads at the time, but that shows part of how good AitF was.

[@kingy002]

@@compassionatecommenter3625 I think your society has become more entrenched along Liberal and Conservative lines. The last election showed how hostile the Conservatives have become with their ideas around how the American way should be played out.

[@compassionatecommenter3625]

@@kingy002 In 2013 when I was in college, my elective government class was subtitled "Is there a culture war?" We read essays and articles arguing both ways, but I've felt like I've had a real look into this topic my whole life because of my conservative family. My dad has openly believed only property owners should have the right to vote since I was a kid in the 90s. They truly believe they are the sole rightful keepers of all American values, traditions, and legacy. America is divided in huge ways right now and those issues aren't going to be resolved for a long while at least, it's tragic. You can be thankful to live in a place like NZ lol (from what I've heard).

[@kingy002]

@@compassionatecommenter3625 Those issues will not be resolved at all. Especially when half of the country believe in a fictitious god and base their lives on a childish book.

[@jaleesaheath2746]

Nothing about Archie screams Prophet.He is a character that once was part of American thinking that has been dieing and for good reason.The reason to love Archie is no matter how bigoted he is,he does still have a heart a cares about people.He is the relative that people have you can laugh with but can only have around in short doses. Not all Republicans are racist as the left so often try to paint us and not all Liberals are stupid as they try to paint them.If we could stop letting the politicians separate us into groups trying to get us fighting against each other while they do sketchy crap on the side.If we could learn from the past and move on not try to erase what we don't like.We have become something similar to puppets with strings we're getting pulled whatever direction they want us to go or look and getting one another to fight.The American people aren't the enemy its the ones pulling the strings at the top.

[@grega1972]

What I find so engaging about O'Connor is how basically he understands that Archie is a despicable guy who could be better but is gonna stay the way he does because of hatred , Carroll a great actor who i respect now more than ever . And I especially like the fact that he was Denise Nicholas inevitable luv interest in Heat of the Night

[@tbewin1z143]

it's engrained in archie, just like the liberal school system pounded the woke nonsense into your brain

[@ashleyhardison9584]

Back when you could smoke anywhere

[@519djw6]

*Was the Laura Hobson that Carroll O'Connor mentioned in this interview the same person that wrote "Gentleman's Agreement"?*

[@tammyhollandsworth6783]

To see him smoking, shocked me but it is true about what he says… Archie was a very unhappy soul but Edith could break that and show him love. Enjoyed watching him while he was still acting. 😊

[@trentaccid2177]

NO ONE MADE NOTE ON THIS SHOW BUT YOU TALK ABOUT THE CHANGE BETWEEN THEN AND NOW. NOTICE CAROL SMOKING RIGHT IN TV LIKE EVERYONE DID BACK THEN EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW SMOKING CAUSED CANCER NOW,WATCH TODAY DO YOU SEE SMOKING.?

[@michelebartlett3921]

I liked his other show Heat of the Night too

[@ErikStang]

I don't believe O'Connor was ever on The Tonight Show with Carson, which is unfathomable due to his popularity. Only 46 during this taping...

[@massapower]

Sadly actors of today don't even have an ounce of O'connor 😎

[@kingy002]

Utter drivel! There are hundreds of superb actors and actresses around today. Sir Anthony Hopkins, Sir Ian McKellan, Dame Judy Dench, Dame Maggie Smith, Ray Winstone, Russell Crowe, Tom Hardy, Shia labeouf, Kevin Spacey...............

[@zhide4]

@@kingy002 ex out shia labeouff and Kevin spacey and you'll have hit the nail on its head.

[@kingy002]

@@zhide4 For what reason? They are superb actors.

[@beachboys3326]

​@@kingy002 Bullshit

[@beachboys3326]

​@@kingy002 Nonsense

[@jamieshaffer6493]

Carroll O'Conner got away with saying Atheistic Pinko Meathead among other things, but he was loveable cuz at the end of the day he truly loved his family.

[@MizMite2002]

He knew the 70s would change TV.

[@kevinhays2142]

The only 2 shows that could do drama and comedy and make both work were MASH and All in the Family. You would think Carroll would be type cast. Not for a great actor like O'Connor. He went on for years to play a Southern Sherriff. A GREAT actor.

[@jonchaney]

He is a intelligent archie.

[@kathconserv]

He would speak as Archie at interviews, but Jean Stapleton would never do it. All the family today is still my favorite show of all time.

[@trekkiejunk]

What's fascinating is hearing Carrol use a Mid-Atlantic accent (a British-influenced American accent). There are very few Americans that speak like this anymore, and it's more an affectation than a genuine accent. If you listen to interviews of his from years later, he completely dropped this way of speaking, and just spoke like your typical non-descript American. I wonder if he was purposely trying to distance himself from the character at this time.

[@MsZoombye]

I think that in his lifetime, it was more popular to affect a mid Atlantic accent if you were in the theater. What a strange way of talking now, but still around 1970, there were still plenty showbiz types who really spoke this way.

[@beachboys3326]

Nonsense

[@crivket1233]

Have Always ❤❤ Archie !! 👍👍 my Hero 😁😆

[@mt.lebanonmissionarybaptis2085]

The same thing that happen to Carol O’Connor is the same thing that happens to most actors people forget that they’re playing a fictional character in a tv show & people or fans try to make that fictional character into a real person.

[@dsim6703]

Clearly it was good for the country. Why isn't it STILL good for the country?

[@ChadLuciano]

A time when people were pragmatic and able to smoke anywhere...those were the days.

[@watsonpaddy]

Archie Bunker made Mr. O'Connor rich famous and remembered for forever

[@lindsays7232]

What a beautiful description that Carol gave of the Archie Bunker character. Yes he’s a funny, silly character, but underneath it all he’s a very sad man who’s let these bigoted beliefs poison his mind. Wonderfully said.

[@rubyfirefly2582]

Wow, to think of All in The Family as the original satire, the groundbreaker. TV is so filled with satire now, much of it lame and not well written or as well acted as AITF was.

[@WigsxD]

Absolutely. And not to mention it was aired live. Watching it you'd think it was recorded with several takes. I can't really think of any episode where they botched their lines, or missed cue's.

[@nightowl5475]

I think the American public really enjoyed the character of Archie Bunker more so than the actual real man Carroll O’ Connor. To prove my point, if he would of went out there dressed as Archie and did a few minutes of Cavett interviewing Archie, I think it would of been a riot and the audience would love it. I really don’t think the audience really gave a crap about his in-depth analysis of interpreting the scripts. Give the people what they want-P.T. Barnum

[@ashleyhardison9584]

I thought Archie smoked cigars

[@3roachkidsdhe]

Right???

[@larryshaver3568]

Did dick do this show from Hollywood once or twice year[a month or so at a time]i remember Robert Stack and Eddie Albert on and it was done in New York

[@wookinooki9023]

what about the Honeymooners? That was also satire.

[@jamesfeeney5727]

Smoking!!! Lol

[@douglaslowe5]

years later, after Lear left, they did make an obvious (and wrongheaded imho)effort to make Archie "lovable"

[@marimar2525]

Days would where Smoking was norm

[@Highpriestessoftarot]

I didn’t know Cher smoked once it threw me off seeing her grab a cigarette