MovieChat Forums > Archie Bunker's Place (1979) Discussion > What did Edith die of?

What did Edith die of?

posted 13 years ago by LextheXFile
14 replies | jump to latest

I haven't seen all of the episodes of All in the Family (but I love them)... haven't seen any of Archie Bunker's place. I love Edith's character, and I can even identify a little bit with how Archie treats Edith. When I was a kid I was pretty rough around the edges to my fraternal sister, who I love more than anything, and I think Edith always knew Archie loved her, despite him calling her a dingbat (which isn't nice, but Archie wasn't overly nice to anyone). Anyway, I was just wondering what she died of, if they gave a reason? I know that Jean Stapleton left, but did they ever give a reason for her death (she was fairly young, mid to late 50s or early 60s at the oldest?) I she had been late 80s or early 90s dying in her sleep would make sense, but I can't see why someone in their 50s or 60s would just pass away in their sleep unless they already had other health problems. Anyone know what she died of?

When I pull the wings off of the fly/ The fly never wonders why I did it.

[–] bunkerforever 13 years ago

It's explained in the first episode of the second season of Archie Bunker's Place that Edith died in her sleep of a stroke. In the first season of Archie Bunker's Place Edith is still in some of the episodes. After the first season Jean Stapleton decided that she no longer wanted to play Edith.

The title of the episode dealing with Edith's passing is called "Archie Alone". They actually managed to still mix in comedy with drama but the last five minutes or so is a real tear jerker. I think Carroll O' Connor won an Emmy for this episode.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] stanleyhetz 12 years ago

He was fabulous. In their bedroom cradling her bedroom slipper and tearfully saying you had no right to leave me alone to raise this kid Edith.

That great scene can be watched by clicking on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UKrAYD3zX8

[–] corinnacarpenter 9 years ago

It made me cry. 

 WHAT WOULD SGT SAUNDERS DO? 

[–] JoeyDVDZ 12 years ago

Actually, the raising of Stephanie was secondary to his main source of pain and denial... If you watch the clip, you'll see that he was torn up over not having the chance to tell her one more time that he loved her. If you'll recall, Archie was never very big on displays of affection, and I'm sure he can count on one hand the number of times "I love you" actually pass his lips in regard to Edith.

Just watching this episode again in honor of Jean Stapleton, and I have to admit, I'm freakin bawling like a baby over here. :(

© 2006 JoeyDVDZ

[–] zoltan42 12 years ago

"If you watch the clip, you'll see that he was torn up over not having the chance to tell her one more time that he loved her."

Even with all that happened during the run of All in the Family, from the time I watched that episode when it first aired, that was my favorite Archie Bunker moment. It's real and it's raw. I know people who've gone through losing a spouse and who felt exactly what he felt.

As that great philosopher Bugs Bunny said, "Something tells me I shoulda stood in bed."

[–] stanleyhetz 11 years ago

Even with all that happened during the run of All in the Family, from the time I watched that episode when it first aired, that was my favorite Archie Bunker moment. It's real and it's raw. I know people who've gone through losing a spouse and who felt exactly what he felt.

It's also my favorite Archie Bunker moment.

[–] rainbowfever64 11 years ago

He said you had no right to leave me without me telling you i love you one more time.

[–] sjbradford 12 years ago

After the first season Jean Stapleton decided that she no longer wanted to play Edith.

That's actually not true, though it's been repeated endlessly and inaccurately over the last 30 years. Jean Stapleton was willing to continue as Edith in a handful of episodes for the second season of ABP. But the producers decided to kill her off, because they felt that the episodes that were completely set in the bar didn't work at all. Edith's death would allow them to set more episodes at the Bunker house, and would open up story possibilities - Archie getting involved in Stephanie's life more, and eventually dating. Carroll O'Connor also felt that as long as there was the possibility that Edith would appear, the audience would be disappointed with any episode where she was absent. He was right. I remember watching the first season back in 1979, and was always unhappy with the episodes where Stapleton's name was absent from the opening credits. Stapleton herself was very surprised when they told her that Edith was going to die.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] coreycitn63 9 years ago

Edith died from a stroke. Jean Stapleton wanted to star in Murder She Wrote.

[–] MusicLover3889 (314) 5 years ago

Which she did.