Carroll was born in Manhattan and raised in Forest Hills, a heavily Jewish community in New York City's borough of Queens. After graduating from high school in 1942, O'Connor joined the Merchant Marines and worked on ships in the Atlantic. In 1946, he enrolled at the University of Montana to study English. While there, he became interested in theater. During one of the amateur productions, he met his future wife, Nancy Fields, whom he married in 1951. He moved to Ireland where he continued his theatrical studies at the National University of Ireland. He was discovered during one of his college productions and was signed to appear at the Dublin Gate Theater. He worked in theater in Europe until 1954 when he returned to New York. His attempts to land on Broadway failed and he taught high school until 1958. Finally in 1958, he landed an Off-Broadway production, "Ulysses In Nighttown". He followed that with a Broadway production that was directed by 'Burgess Meredith', "God and Kate Murphy", in which he was both an understudy and an assistant stage manager. At the same time, he was getting attention on TV. He worked in a great many character roles throughout the 1960s. A pilot for "Those Were The Days" was first shot in 1968 based on the English hit, "Till Death Do Us Part", but was rejected by the networks. In 1971, it was re-shot and re-cast as _"All in the Family" and the rest is history.
Had completed part of his undergraduate studies at the University of Montana before returning to earn a masters degree in speech in 1956.
While attending University of Montana, OConnor was an associate editor for the college newspaper, the Kaimin. In 1949, he resigned his editing position in protest to the pressure from the campus administration that lead to confiscation and destruction of an issue of the paper, which carried a cartoon depicting the Montana Board of Education as rats gnawing at a bag of university funds.
In 1997, he and his wife, also a University of Montana graduate, donated $1 million to the University of Montanas Center for the Rocky Mountain West, a regional studies and public policy institute. The Center was renamed "Carroll and Nancy Fields OConnor Center for the Rocky Mountain West" in September of 1997.
Spent some time at the Juilliard School of Fine Arts as an acting and dialogue professor.
Earned a reported $250,000 a week for "All in the Family" in 1980.
Father of Hugh OConnor.
His favorite expressions on "All in the Family" were "Dingbat" and "Stifle" to his wife, Edith, and "Meathead" to his son-in-law, Michael.
Attended college in Ireland and began his career on the stage, playing in Dublin, London and Paris before making his Broadway debut in 1958.
(17 January 1994) Lost his restaurant in the Northridge earthquake.
He was instrumental in the passage of the Drug Dealers Civil Liability Act in California. The Act states that citizens can sue drug dealers whom they feel are responsible for the drug-related deaths of family members. The Act came about as a result of his sons drug-related suicide.
Auditioned for the role of The Skipper on "Gilligans Island" .
Said that he came up with the address for the Bunker family residence (704 Hauser Street) when he was driving to work in L.A. He happened to find himself on Hauser Blvd (few blocks from CBS TV City) and thought the name sounded like part of Queens, New York where Archie was supposed to live.
In the early 1950s, while trying to launch his acting career, he worked as a substitute high school English teacher in order to pay the rent.
He met his wife, Nancy, while both were performing in the play "Life with Father" at the University of Montana.
Was fluent in Italian.
He passed away on the same day that blues legend, John Lee Hooker did. Coincidentally, their stars are right next to one another on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Mickey Rooney was Norman Lear s first choice to play Archie in the pilot of "All in the Family" . Rooney had reservations about the character, so he refused.
Was a brother of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity
Was so displeased with CBSs axing of "Archie Bunkers Place" in 1983, without a chance to film an actual series finale, that he vowed to never work for the network again. (Nonetheless, his late-1980s NBC series, "In the Heat of the Night" later moved to CBS in 1992.)
Performed the "Archie Bunker" role for a remarkable 12 years and 307 episodes ( "All in the Family" and "Archie Bunkers Place" ).
Carroll OConnor died on June 21, 2001. Passed away 37 days before what would have been his golden wedding anniversary with Nancy Fields.
Archie Bunker, OConnors character on "All in the Family" , was ranked #24 in TV Guides list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time" [20 June 2004 issue].
His only son, Hugh OConnor , died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, despondent over the disintegration of his life resulting from his long term drug addiction. He was speaking with his father on the phone at the time. OConnor did a public service announcement shortly before his death about the perils of drug abuse.
In real life, he was the total opposite of his "Archie Bunker" character. While Bunker was loud, had limited education and was staunchly conservative, OConnor was a quiet, cultured and well-educated man whose political leanings were very liberal. In fact, his "All in the Family" co-star Rob Reiner once remarked that OConnor was even more liberal than Reiner himself.
As executive producer of "In the Heat of the Night" , he often asked longtime friends and musicians to guest-star. Two of his favorites were Miss Jean Simmons and Bobby Short. He gave long-time friend, Lois Nettleton , a significant recurring role in the first few seasons.
Has one grandson, Sean Carroll OConnor.
He adopted his only child, Hugh, while in Rome filming Cleopatra . He named him after his own brother, who was killed years before in a motorcycle accident.
His son, Hugh, died on what would have been his third wedding anniversary. He was in the process of reconciling with his wife at the time of his death.
Attended Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC for at least one semester prior to enrolling at University of Montana.
Best remembered by the public for his starring roles as Archie Bunker in "All in the Family" and as Chief Off. Bill Gillespie on "In the Heat of the Night" .
Listed as #20 on TV Lands Top 50 TV Icons Countdown. He beat out Alan Alda, George Clooney, Michael J. Fox, and Kermit the Frog.
Underwent heart bypass surgery in 1989 and angioplasty to prevent a stroke in 1998.
Remained friends with Rob Reiner during and after "All in the Family" .
Friends with: Bea Arthur , Jean Stapleton , Isabel Sanford , Sherman Hemsley , Redd Foxx , Angela Lansbury , Robert Conrad , Larry Hagman , Brian Keith , Michael Landon , Wink Martindale , Jason Wingreen , Norman Lear , James Arness , Ken Curtis , Carol Burnett , Johnny Carson , Bob Hope , Frank Sinatra , Sammy Davis Jr. , Dean Martin , Angie Dickinson , Martin Sheen , Ernest Borgnine , Kirk Douglas , Lois Nettleton , Fred Silverman , Juanita Bartlett , Carl Reiner , Gene Hackman , Dan Rather , Anne Meara , Jerry Stiller , Dom DeLuise , Vince Edwards , Richard Crenna , Dana Andrews , Bobby Short Jean Simmons , and Esther Rolle.
Of Irish descent.
His parents, Edward OConnor was a New York City lawyer, and Elise OConnor who educated young Carroll about his language and life.
Graduated from Newtown High School in the New York City, New York, in 1942.
Was considered for the role of Dr. Zachary Smith on "Lost in Space" .
Was a spokesperson for Partnership for Drug Free of America from 1993 to 1997.
While playing Archie Bunker he always wore his wedding ring on his middle finger and not the traditional ring finger.
Met actress Jean Stapleton on an episode of "The Defenders" , years before co-starring with him on "All in the Family" .
Had appeared in almost all the episodes of "All in the Family" series, from 1971 to 1979, but missed 7 episodes, 3 of these, because of a contract dispute with Norman Lear.
Attended the same school as: Don Rickles.
He enjoyed politics, golfing, dining, spending time with his family, traveling and reading.
His son, Hugh OConnor , co-starred in "In the Heat of the Night" with him.
Despite high ratings, his series "All in the Family" was canceled, in order for producer Norman Lear to propose another project just to keep OConnors character going, yet, he did. He starred in the final spinoff series, "Archie Bunkers Place" .
Second-only to OConnor, who was a heavy smoker, his son Hugh, was also smoking marijuana. His son was diagnosed with Hodgkins Disease, where he used the drug to relieve the nausea from radiation therapy.
On "All in the Family" , his character lived in Forest Hills, Queens, New York, in real-life, OConnor grew up in Forest Hills, Queens, New York.
He had a contract dispute with Norman Lear in 1974, hence, he missed 3 episodes of "All in the Family" .
Received the starring role of Archie Bunker in "All in the Family" after Norman Lear saw him in the movie, What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? , after Mickey Rooney refused to play that character.
Didnt start acting on television until he was age 36.
Childhood friend of Anne Meara.
His wife Nancy OConnor was an art major at the University of Montana.
Before he was a successful actor, he used to write an editorial for the Advocate, as a little boy.
Was enrolled at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, but dropped out when the United States entered World War II.
Before he was a successful actor, he met and used to work with a young unfamiliar actor Larry Hagman. Carroll was working as an assistant stage manager for the Broadway play God and Kate Murphy, in which Hagman starred.
Became best friends with Jean Stapleton from 1962 until his death on June 21, 2001.
OConnor traveled to Ireland, midway through college, and decided to finish school in the land of his ancestors. His future wife, Nancy, followed him there.
The eldest of three children.
Began smoking while working on the stage production of The Big Knife, a habit he would perform up until 1989, when the doctors ordered him to quit.
Actors Larry Hagman , Carl Reiner (Rob Reiner s real-life father), Martin Sheen , Richard Crenna , Norman Lear , Danielle Brisebois , and ex-classmate Don Rickles all attended his funeral.
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 7080 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
Graduated from the University of Montana in 1951 with degrees in both Drama and English.
Moved to Los Angeles, California in 1961.
His uncle, Hugh OConnor, was a reporter for the New York Times.
While attending the University of Montana, he joined the student theater company.
During World War II he was rejected by the United States Navy and enrolled in the United States Merchant Marine Academy for a short time. After leaving that institution, he became a merchant seaman.
Former neighbor of Robert Conrad.
Former Norman Lear contract player, Marla Gibbs , along with her daughter, Angela Elayne Gibbs had both worked with him on a separate episode of "In the Heat of the Night" . At that time, Marlas daughter was married to the series cinematographer.
Acting mentor and friend of Rob Reiner.
Among those attending OConnors 2001 funeral were "All in the Family" creator Norman Lear , AITF co-stars Sally Struthers and Rob Reiner , and Danielle Brisebois from "Archie Bunkers Place", as well as Larry Hagman , Martin Sheen , Don Rickles , Dom DeLuise , Carl Reiner , comic couple Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller , and Governor Jerry Brown. The Catholic ceremony was presided over by Cardinal Roger Mahoney.
He played the same character (Archie Bunker) on three different series: "All in the Family" , "Archie Bunkers Place" and "Gloria" .
Longtime friend of Larry Hagman.
After his role Return to Me , he withdrew from acting at age 76 due to health problems. He died the following year.
Director Peter Bogdanovich cautioned him not to talk with the fake cigarette in his mouth.
OConnor underwent heart bypass surgery that required him to miss the last four episodes of the second season of "In the Heat of the Night" .
Had encouraged his "All in the Family" co-star, Rob Reiner , to write several episodes in his early career.
Had inherited a knack for learning languages from his mother.
Former college classmate of Jonathan Harris.
Began his television show "All in the Family" at age 46.
Met Jonathan Harris at the University of Montanas Student Theater Company, where they were both drama students. Coincidentally, OConnor lost the role of Dr. Zachary Smith on "Lost in Space" to Harris, at the auditions.
In his later years, he still received mail from fans. He answered every single piece of mail personally. When asked by friends why he didnt hire an assistant to answer the mail for him, he simply said that it was the least he could do.
He was the surrogate grandfather of Tracy Reiner , Rob Reiner s adopted daughter.
Co-starred in two films starring Sidney Poitier ,: The Defiant Ones and For the Love of Ivy. Connor later headlined the In the Heat of the Night TV series, which was based on the Poitier film of the same name.
