Actors

Carroll O'Connor

Carroll O'Connor began his acting career abroad, performing in stage plays in Ireland, England and France before returning to the United States for his Broadway debut in 1958. His film work encompassed such classics as Lonely Are the Brave, Cleopatra, In Harm's Way, Death of a Gunfighter, What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? and Kelly's Heroes.

Although he was passed over for the role of the Skipper in Gilligan's Island, O'Connor found TV fame shortly thereafter as America's favorite bigot, Archie Bunker, in Norman Lear's ground-breaking All in the Family. His role earned him four Emmy Awards and seven TV Guide covers in eight years. He continued playing Archie in the spin-off series Archie Bunker's Place for four additional years. In the late 1980s, O'Connor garnered further acclaim (and another Emmy Award) for his self-produced series, In the Heat of the Night.

On June 21, 2001, O'Connor died of a heart attack. He was 76. He left behind an impressive body of work, both professional and philanthropic.