Jean Stapleton

Biography

Jean Stapleton was born Jeanne Murray in Manhattan, New York City, to Marie A. (Stapleton), an opera singer, and Joseph Edward Murray, a billboard advertising salesman. Her paternal grandparents were Irish. She was a cousin of actress Betty Jane Watson. Other relatives in show business were her uncle, Joseph E. Deming, a vaudevillian; and her brother Jack Stapleton, a stage actor. She graduated from Wadleigh High School, NYC, in 1939, and attended Hunter College. She worked as a secretary before becoming an actress. Stapleton made her stage debut at the Greenwood Playhouse, Peaks Island, Maine, in the summer of 1941, and her New York stage debut in "The Corn Is Green" (1948). She appeared on Broadway in the musicals "Damn Yankees" (1955) and "Bells Are Ringing" (1956), and later repeated her roles in the movie versions (Damn Yankees (1958) and Bells Are Ringing (1960)). Her other Broadway roles included the original companies of "Rhinoceros" (1961) and "Funny Girl" (1964). Stapleton also played Abby Brewster in the 1986-87 revival of "Arsenic and Old Lace".

Known For

Saturday Night Live

The Mike Douglas Show

Grace Under Fire

The Love Boat

Golden Globe Awards

My Three Sons

Tony Awards

Tony Awards

All Movies (41)

• The Last Laugh2016 · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
• The Television Revolution Begins: "All in the Family" Is On the Air2009 · as Self
• Those Were the Days: The Birth of "All in the Family"2009 · as Self
• Like Mother Like Son: The Strange Story of Sante and Kenny Kimes2001 · as Irene Silverman
• Pursuit of Happiness2001 · as Lorraine
• Pursuit of Happiness2001 · as Lorrraine
• Baby2000 · as Byrd
• You've Got Mail1998 · as Birdie Conrad
• Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World1998 · as Mrs. Jenkins (voice)
• Chance of a Lifetime1998 · as Mrs. Dunbar
• Michael1996 · as Pansy Milbank
• Lily Dale1996 · as Mrs. Coons
• Bury Me in Niagara1993 · as Mildred
• The Trial1993 · as Landlady (uncredited)
• The Habitation of Dragons1992 · as Lenora Tolliver
• Fire in the Dark1991 · as Henry Dutton
• Funny Ladies: A Portrait of Women Cartoonists1991 · as Narrator
• All in the Family: 20th Anniversary Special1991
• Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme1990 · as Mother Goose
• Dead Man's Folly1986 · as Ariadne Oliver
• Cinderella1985 · as Fairy Godmother
• Gonzo Presents Muppet Weird Stuff1985 · as Self
• The Buddy System1984 · as Mrs. Price
• A Matter of Sex1984 · as Irene Wallin
• Jack and the Beanstalk1983 · as The Giantess
• Something's Afoot1982 · as Miss Tweed
• Eleanor, First Lady of the World1982 · as Eleanor Roosevelt
• Isabel's Choice1981 · as Isabel Cooper
• Good Evening Captain1981 · as Self
• Angel Dusted1981 · as Betty Eaton
• Aunt Mary1979 · as Mary Dobkin
• You Can't Take it With You1979 · as Penny Sycamore
• The Muppets Go Hollywood1979 · as Self
• Tail Gunner Joe1977 · as Mrs. DeCamp
• Acts of Love and Other Comedies1973 · as Gina's Mother
• Klute1971 · as Goldfarb's Secretary
• Cold Turkey1971 · as Mrs. Wappler
• Up the Down Staircase1967 · as Sadie Finch
• Something Wild1961 · as Shirley Johnson
• Bells Are Ringing1960 · as Sue
• Damn Yankees1958 · as Sister Miller

All TV Shows (51)

• TV Land Top 102004
• TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV2003
• Style & Substance1998 · as Gloria Utley
• Everybody Loves Raymond1996 · as Aunt Alda
• E! True Hollywood Story1996
• The Rosie O'Donnell Show1996 · as Self
• Caroline in the City1995 · as Aunt Mary Kosky
• Touched by an Angel1994 · as Emma
• Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle1994 · as Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle
• Intimate Portrait1993 · as Self
• Grace Under Fire1993
• Beakman's World1992 · as Beakman's Mom
• Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories1992 · as Narrator (voice)
• Bagdad Cafe1990 · as Jasmine Zweibel
• Murphy Brown1988
• Trying Times1987
• The Ray Bradbury Theater1985
• Scarecrow and Mrs. King1983
• Faerie Tale Theatre1982 · as The Giantess
• Faerie Tale Theatre1982 · as The Fairy Godmother
• The Love Boat1977
• The Muppet Show1976 · as Self - Special Guest Star
• Saturday Night Live1975 · as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
• Cher1975 · as Self
• Dinah!1974 · as Self
• The Electric Company1971
• Great Performances1971 · as Helen
• All in the Family1971 · as Edith Bunker
• The Dick Cavett Show1968 · as Self - Guest
• Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In1968 · as Self
• The Carol Burnett Show1967 · as Self - Guest / Various Characters
• The Patty Duke Show1963
• The Eleventh Hour1962
• The Merv Griffin Show1962 · as Self
• The Nurses1962 · as Mrs. Montgomery
• The Mike Douglas Show1961 · as Self
• Dr. Kildare1961 · as Nurse Whitney
• The Defenders1961 · as Mrs. Larsen
• Route 661960
• My Three Sons1960
• Dennis the Menace1959
• Naked City1958 · as Marilyn Konish
• Naked City1958 · as Mrs. Trellis
• Tony Awards1956 · as Self - Host
• Tony Awards1956 · as Self - Presenter
• Woman With A Past1954
• Hallmark Hall of Fame1951 · as Mary Dobkin
• Lux Video Theatre1950 · as Teacher
• Robert Montgomery Presents1950
• The Philco Television Playhouse1948 · as Bus Girl
• Golden Globe Awards1944 · as Self - Nominee