Sally Struthers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sally Struthers
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Struthers in 1996
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| Born |
Sally Anne Struthers
July 28, 1947 Portland, Oregon, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actress, activist |
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Known for | Gloria Stivic in All in the Family |
| Spouse(s) |
William C. Rader
(m. 1977; div. 1983) |
| Children | 1 |
Sally Anne Struthers, born on July 28, 1947, is a well-known American actress and activist. She is famous for playing Gloria Stivic in the TV show All in the Family. In this show, she was the daughter of Archie and Edith Bunker. Sally won two Emmy Awards for her role as Gloria. She also played Babette on Gilmore Girls. You might also know her voice from cartoons like Charlene Sinclair in Dinosaurs, Pebbles Flintstone in The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show, and Rebecca Cunningham in Disney's TaleSpin.
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Early Life and Family
Sally Anne Struthers was born in Portland, Oregon, on July 28, 1947. She was the second of two daughters. Her mother was Margaret Caroline, and her father was Robert Alden Struthers, a surgeon. Sally has an older sister named Sue. Her grandparents on her mother's side came from Norway.
When Sally was about nine years old, her father left the family. Her mother then raised Sally and her sister by herself. They lived in the Concordia neighborhood of northeast Portland. Her mother worked for the Bonneville Power Administration to support them.
Becoming an Actress
Sally Struthers started her acting career in movies. She appeared in Five Easy Pieces in 1970, acting alongside Jack Nicholson. In 1972, she was in The Getaway with Steve McQueen.
Around this time, Sally got her big break on the TV show All in the Family. The show's producer, Norman Lear, saw her dancing on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. He thought she would be perfect for the role of Gloria Stivic.
Landing the Role of Gloria
Sally thought another actress, Penny Marshall, would get the part of Gloria. Penny looked more like Jean Stapleton, who played Edith Bunker. Another actress had even played Gloria in a test episode, but she was soon replaced.
All in the Family became a huge hit. Millions of viewers watched Gloria stand up for her beliefs. She often spoke out against unfair ideas and inequality. Sally Struthers won two Emmy Awards for her acting in the show. She won in 1972 and again in 1979.
Sally once shared how lucky she was to get the role. She had just lost a job on another TV show. The people in charge thought she made the show look "cheap." But because she was free, she was able to try out for All in the Family. If she hadn't lost that job, she might not have become Gloria!
Other TV and Stage Roles
After All in the Family, Sally continued to act. In 1977, she starred in a TV movie called Intimate Strangers. This was one of the first TV movies to show domestic violence.
She also returned as Gloria Stivic in a spin-off show called Gloria (1982–1983). In this show, Gloria was a new divorcée and worked as an assistant at an animal clinic.
Sally has also done a lot of voice acting for cartoons. She was the voice of a teenage Pebbles Flintstone in The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show. She voiced Rebecca Cunningham in Disney's TaleSpin. And she was Charlene Sinclair in the ABC show Dinosaurs.
On stage, Sally has starred in many plays. She played Miss Hannigan in Annie in the late 1990s. She also toured in the 50th-anniversary show of Hello, Dolly! in 2014, playing Dolly Levi. In 2024, she appeared in the Netflix series Man on The Inside.
Helping Others
Sally Struthers has also worked as an activist. She was a spokesperson for the Christian Children's Fund, which is now called ChildFund. She spoke up for children in poorer countries who needed help. She wanted to make sure these children had a better life.
Personal Life
Sally Struthers married psychiatrist William C. Rader on December 18, 1977. They had one child, a daughter named Samantha. The couple later divorced in 1983.
Awards and Recognition
Sally Struthers has received several awards for her acting.
- Primetime Emmy Awards:
- 1972: Won for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (shared with Valerie Harper).
- 1979: Won for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
- Ovation Awards:
- 2010: Won for Featured Actress in a Musical for her role as the "Fairy Godmother" in Cinderella.
Images for kids
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Sally Struthers (upper-left) with the cast of All in the Family in 1976.
See also
In Spanish: Sally Struthers para niños
