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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Sally Struthers got candid about her experience working on the 1970s hit sitcom 'All in the Family' during a recent appearance on the 'Let's Talk About That!' podcast.
The veteran actress revealed to hosts Larry Saperstein and Jacob Bellotti that she did not share a good relationship with the show's creator, Norman Lear, as per People.
Sally Struthers confesses that she 'wasn't particularly fond of' Norman Lear.
Norman Lear passed away in December 2023 at the age of 101. During a podcast episode, Sally Struthers mentioned that with his passing, she feels free to express that she "wasn't particularly fond of him."
The 77-year-old explained, "All those years on the show, Norman and his wife would have dinner parties," which included other stars of the show but she "wasn't, in eight years, invited to his home."
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"It wasn't a pleasant experience," Struthers, known for her role as Gloria Stivic, the daughter of Archie and Edith Bunker on the iconic series, shared.
Norman Lear informed Sally Struthers that he chose her for her 'bright blue eyes and round face.'
The actress from 'Gilmore Girls' recounted a negative interaction she experienced with the late film producer.
She noted that when she inquired of Lear whether he selected her for the role of Gloria because she was "truly the funniest," the screenwriter just responded with a straightforward, "No."
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Lear further told her, as per Fox News, "We thought Archie was a lot to swallow for the American audiences with his bigotry and his social slurs. So, we thought we could soften him up if he had a soft spot in his heart for his daughter, and she could be daddy's little girl. So, we hired you because, just like Carroll O'Connor, you have blue eyes and a fat face."
Later in the episode, Struthers revealed that she referred to herself as the "fourth banana" on the television show that aired on CBS for nine seasons from 1971 to 1979.
"I typically had around three lines for each episode that included, ‘I'll assist you with the table, Mom,’ ‘Michael, where are you headed?’ and ‘Oh, Dad, cut it out.’ Then the following week, I'd find those same three lines rearranged," she remarked.
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Sally Struthers was unable to exit the show despite having invested $40,000.
After completing five seasons, Sally Struthers felt it was time to move on and chose to leave the show. She even enlisted the help of a lawyer and incurred $40,000 in legal expenses, but ultimately was unable to prevail in her case.
"I returned for three additional seasons, and those turned out to be the most enjoyable for me. They finally had Mike and Gloria welcome a baby, and we even moved next door into the house where the Jeffersons lived," the actress remarked.
Struthers featured in 182 episodes of 'All in the Family' and made appearances in its spinoff, 'Archie Bunker's Place'. Additionally, she starred in her own spinoff titled 'Gloria', which lasted for one season.
