Sally Anne Struthers (born July 28, 1947) is an American actress and activist, well known for her roles in "All In The Family," "Gloria," and "Gilmore Girls." Struthers played Gloria Stivic, the daughter of Archie and Edith Bunker in All in the Family, for which she won two Emmy Awards, and Babette in Gilmore Girls. This article delves into the life of Sally Struthers and her daughter, Samantha Rader, exploring their achievements, personal life, and the enduring legacy they have each created.
Sally Struthers: From All in the Family to Activism
Sally Struthers' journey began in Portland, Oregon, where she was born on July 28, 1947, the second of two daughters born to Margaret Caroline (née Jernes) and Robert Alden Struthers, a surgeon. Known for her work as an actress, Struthers has left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry.
Early Career and All in the Family
Struthers' career gained significant momentum with her role as Gloria Stivic in All in the Family. After a shaky start, the series became a hit beginning with its summer reruns, giving tens of millions of viewers the chance to see Gloria defending her viewpoints about negative stereotypes and inequality. She won two Emmy Awards (in 1972 and 1979) for her work on the show. In 2012, Struthers recalled the serendipity that helped her land the role.
She appeared as the restless wife of a veterinarian in The Getaway starring Steve McQueen (1972). According to a WPTT radio interview with Doug Hoerth in 2003, Struthers thought that Rob Reiner's then-fiancée and later wife, Penny Marshall, would get the role of Gloria, as Marshall more resembled Jean Stapleton, who played Edith Bunker. Actress Candice Azzara had played the role of Gloria in a pilot episode but was soon dropped. Because of how Lear conducted himself and the show's creation, Struthers said it changed her. She shared: "At first, I behaved like an idiot on set. I thought that was the way to get people to like me. I've been educated on the set. I've learned to be myself. And now, they respect me."
Post-All in the Family Career
On the short-lived Archie Bunker's Place spin-off Gloria (1982-1983), Struthers reprised Gloria as a new divorcée (she became an "exchange student," when husband Mike exchanged her for one of his students). The series co-starred Burgess Meredith as the doctor of an animal clinic with Gloria as his assistant. From 1985 to 1986, Struthers starred as Florence Ungar in the female version of The Odd Couple.
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She was a semi-regular panelist on the 1990 revival of Match Game and an occasional guest on Win, Lose or Draw (even filling in for Vicki Lawrence as host for a week). She also had a recurring role as Bill Miller's manipulative mother, Louise, on Still Standing and regularly appeared on Gilmore Girls as Babette Dell. Struthers starred in the stage production of Annie at the Fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, and in the national tour of the production in the late 1990s.
Activism and Spokesperson Roles
Struthers has been a spokesperson for International Correspondence School (ICS) in television ads, pitching the famous line "Do you want to make more money?".
Personal Life and Family
Struthers married psychiatrist William C. Rader. Struthers and her husband, William C. Rader, welcomed a daughter named Samantha, after the nickname her own mother gave her as a little girl: "Samantha Featherhead." Rader and Struthers were a picture of the perfect family living the American dream, but Struthers admitted she had not always wanted children. She felt having a child wouldn't make her feel fulfilled, and she didn't need a carbon copy of herself. However, when she met and fell in love with Rader, she knew she wanted to carry a child with his genetics. Although excited to welcome her daughter, Struthers was mindful of how Rader's three children from a previous marriage would react to the news. They were all in their teens then and only needed reassurance that their relationship with their father wouldn't change before they fully embraced their little sister. Unfortunately, Rader and Struthers would later divorce after three years of marriage.
Challenges and Recent Appearances
On September 12, 2012, Struthers was arrested for alleged DUI in Ogunquit, Maine. She was released on the same day with a bail of $160. In 2013, she pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of driving to endanger.
Now, in a rare appearance just before her 76th birthday, with an Australian interviewer, the actress appeared to have lost significant weight and looked happy. She wore a black outfit and was much thinner than the last time she was interviewed. Throughout the interview, she animatedly talked about her experiences in Hollywood.
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Sally Struthers' Reflections on Motherhood
While Struthers, Rader, and his children were ecstatic when they welcomed Samantha into the family, Struthers initially found motherhood "intimidating." Even though the actress had a full-time nanny, she was still shocked at what motherhood meant for her. She confessed she was surprised that women would have more than one child, admitting that she didn't want to have many. The actress joked that she felt like she was still a child herself. Rader agreed that Struthers still had the spirit of a child, but he appreciated that about her. He gushed: "Sally can literally fall on the floor laughing. What I'm trying to learn from her is that innocence, that freedom."
Samantha Rader: Following a Different Path
The couple's daughter, Samantha, has followed in her father's footsteps rather than her mother's. Samantha became a clinical psychologist and founded her own practice called "Source Code." Samantha is active on social media and often posts videos, giving her followers advice and sometimes sharing her singing talent.
A Clinical Psychologist
Samantha Rader chose a different path, making her mark in the field of psychology. As a clinical psychologist, she established her own practice, "Source Code," where she provides guidance and support to individuals seeking mental wellness.
Social Media Presence
Samantha is active on social media and often posts videos, giving her followers advice and sometimes sharing her singing talent.
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