Carroll O'Connor

In his four-hour Archive interview, Carroll O'Connor (1924-2001) talks about being a struggling actor in New York: "Carroll O'Connor from the Gate Theater meant nothing. They did an O'Casey play. I was probably the one actor in New York who really could sound like a Dublin man…. I thought to myself innocently, 'I'll just do my thing and I got to get into this O'Casey play.' Nobody knew what I was doing. Nobody cared. And nobody even wanted to see me." Carroll O'Connor made his mark on television as "Archie Bunker" on the landmark sitcom All in the Family and as "Chief Bill Gillespie" on the police drama In the Heat of the Night. O'Connor speaks about his background and childhood pursuits and outlines his early years studying acting, notably at University College in Dublin. He describes acting at the renowned Gate Theatre in Dublin, "the best experience" he ever had as an actor. He briefly discusses his television debut, in the early 1950s, on the BBC and his American television debut on Kraft Television Theater. He recounts how he came to be cast in the stage play "Ulysses in Nighttown" and notes how his performance led to increased television work. He also gives his impressions of co-star Zero Mostel and director Burgess Meredith. He speaks about his numerous appearances on television in the 1960s, including "The Sacco-Vanzetti Story" for Sunday Showcase and multiple appearances on Armstrong Circle Theater. He also discusses how he came to make his feature film debut in "A Fever in the Blood." O'Connor relates how he began to contribute to the writing of the parts he played on television and how, when All in the Family was picked up, he put his stamp on the written material. Regarding All in the Family, he describes the filming of the series' pilots, talks about his contentious relationship with series developer/executive producer Norman Lear, speaks about his co-stars and directors, and discusses his walk-off of (and return to) the series during the show's fifth season. He explains how the follow-up series Archie's Bunker's Place came about and recalls how and why the character of "Edith Bunker" died at the start of the show's second season. Additionally, he comments on his co-stars, talks about casting Martin Balsam's real-life daughter in an episode he wrote that mirrored real life and acknowledges how the series came to an end. He discusses his involvement in the spin-off series Gloria, and how, without his knowledge, the show's initial writers and producer were replaced. He then speaks in detail about his work as writer/star of the television movie The Last Hurrah and In the Heat of the Night. Regarding In the Heat of the Night, O'Connor recalls his early displeasures with the direction of the show, proudly notes the commendation the series received from the NAACP, and describes his favorite series episode. Finally, he touches on various guest appearances he made on television in the 1990s and how he came to write his memoirs. Charles Davis conducted the interview on August 13, 1999 in Malibu, CA.