Over the course of her decades-long career, Sally Struthers, best known for her role as Gloria Stivic in “All in the Family,” has evolved from an insecure actress at the age of 22 to a multifaceted performer.
When she became a mother and married doctor William Rader, her personal life took a surprising turn.
Struthers, who is now in her seventies, never fails to enchant audiences, particularly Australians who have adored her since a humorous chat with one of their favorite comedians.
In the pioneering sitcom “All in the Family,” Sally Struthers won over America’s affections as Gloria Stivic. Years later, she portrayed the spunky Babette Dell in “Gilmore Girls.”
After high school, Struthers, who was born in Portland, Oregon, on July 28, 1947, studied acting and eventually landed the part that would define her early career and provide her with the opportunity to meet her husband.
She has changed over the years from a youthful actress to an accomplished performer, mother, and wife.
Fans continue to appreciate her lively personality and timeless appeal despite the passing of time, demonstrating that Struthers has truly matured like a good wine.
The period she spent in “All in the Family”
Struthers portrayed Gloria Stivic, née Bunker, in CBS’s iconic program “All in the Family” from 1971 until 1978. She was still getting established in the field at the age of 22.
The actress might have been characterized as insecure and as having not yet outgrown the moniker “Samantha Featherhead” that her mother had given her.
Nevertheless, she persisted in the television business and hasn’t let up since the 1970s. Despite Gloria’s popularity, Struthers believed she had little in common with the beloved character.
She said, “Aside from being young and female, I didn’t feel like I had a lot in common with her,” in an interview with Closer Weekly. Gloria was from Astoria, New York, and I grew up in the Pacific Northwest. Gloria didn’t practice any religion, but I grew up as a devoted Lutheran.
Carroll O’Connor, Struthers’ on-screen father, was a major influence on her personal life. Carroll and his wife, Nancy, became the actress’s surrogate parents after she lost her biological father in 1968.
She received a lot of counsel from Carroll, who also showed her fatherly devotion before introducing her to Los Angeles psychiatrist Dr. William Rader.
She and Rader clicked right away. “By the end of our first date, I was madly in love,” she said to People. Struthers even went ahead and made the proposal, stating, “It was quite courageous of me. I didn’t bring three kids and alimony to him.
On December 18, 1977, they were married, and soon after, they had their only daughter. Unfortunately, Struthers never remarried after the couple’s 1983 divorce.
Getting Maternal
Motherhood was not originally in Struthers’ plans, but in the late 1970s, the actress and her then-husband welcomed their daughter, Samantha.
“I never wanted a baby before I met Bill,” she told People. I was always the first to assert that I didn’t need a carbon replica of myself and that it wouldn’t fulfill me.
But love altered her viewpoint. “After falling in love, you want to have a child that is a part of that man as a result of your love for each other,” she continued.
The actress had spent some time looking for new projects, so when Struthers was offered a return to the world of “All in the Family,” it didn’t seem feasible.
The actress stated in a 1982 interview with Leta Powell Drake that having a child was the first thing she “got going” following the show.
Drake went so far as to say that Struthers had given her child the same moniker that her mother had always gone by. However, the actress said that love was the source of all the nicknames.
She eventually made a comeback to “All in the Family” in a 1982 spin-off named “Gloria,” which omitted Robert Reiner. In 1983, it was terminated after just one season.
After the Show: A Divorcée’s “Nine to Five” Job
Struthers remained one of the top humorous figures on television after her divorce. In addition to making cameos on programs including Charles in Charge, Sister Kate, and Murder, She Wrote, she joined the cast of “Nine to Five” in 1982.
She also achieved fame as a voice actor, contributing her unique voice to a number of animated shows. Struthers brought characters to life in the 1991 films “Yo Yogi!” “Tiny Toon Adventures,” “TaleSpin,” and most famously, Jim Henson’s 1991 film “Dinosaurs,” in which she portrayed “Charlene Sinclair.”
Not Afraid to Be Serious or Alter Her Appearance
Alongside Sarah Jessica Parker, Struthers starred in the 1992 television film “In the Best Interest of the Children,” where she demonstrated her range as an actress by adopting a more somber part and a striking brunette appearance.
