Who is Sally Struthers?
American actress and activist Sally Anne Struthers was born in Portland, Oregon USA, on 28 July 1947, making Leo her zodiac sign. She’s appeared in more than 70 TV series and movies, and is probably still known best for playing Gloria Bunker Stivic in 184 episodes of the critically acclaimed comedy series “All in the Family”, created by Norman Lear, and which starred Carroll O’Connor, Jean Stapleton and Rob Reiner. It follows the life of a working class man, the series aired from 1971 through 1979, and won 67 of its 140 award nominations.
Sally’s still highly active in Hollywood, and is currently shooting for the upcoming movie “In-Security” and the series “Very Frightening Tales”. Unlike what’s widely believed to be true, she isn’t portraying Caroline Warner in the critically acclaimed western series “Yellowstone”, which has been airing since 2018, but the character’s rather portrayed by Jacki Weaver.
Education and early life
Sally was raised in Portland alongside her older sister Sue, by their father Robert Alden Struthers who was a surgeon, and mother Margaret Caroline (nee Jernes) who was a housewife; Sally’s maternal grandparents had moved to the US from Norway. Sally was nine when her father abandoned the family, and Margaret thus raised her two daughters by herself, working at Bonneville Power Administration.
Sally studied at a local high school in Portland, from which she matriculated in 1965; she then moved to Los Angeles, California, and enrolled at the Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatre Arts, from which she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 1969.
Roles in movies
Sally’s debut film role was playing World’s No. 1 Fan in the 1970 musical comedy “The Phynx”, while some of her following roles were in the 1970 drama “Five Easy Pieces”, the 1972 crime action thriller “The Getaway”, and the 1974 drama “Aloha Means Goodbye”.
She began attracting attention in 1977, when cast to star as Janis Halston in the drama “Intimate Strangers”, directed by John Llewellyn Moxey, and which also starred Dennis Weaver and Tyne Daly. It follows a man who’s having problems at work, and has begun taking it out on his wife; the film was nominated for two awards.
Sally was then cast to voice Poison Ivy in the 1983 animated family fantasy “The Charmkins”, and her only three other movie roles in the ‘80s were in the 1984 family drama “The Secret World of the Very Young”, the 1985 animated family drama “The GLO Friends Save Christmas” (voice role), and the 1989 thriller “A Deadly Silence”.
Happy 75th Birthday to Sally Struthers
Posted by Flashback to the 70’s on Thursday, July 28, 2022
What marked the ‘90s for Sally was perhaps playing Mrs Zelov in the thriller “The Others”, written and directed by Travis Fine, and which starred Jennifer Aspen, Derrex Brady and Bodhi Elfman; it follows the lives of three high school misfits.
Sally appeared in only a couple of movies in the 2000s, including the 2002 family drama “Becoming Glen”, the 2003 biographical drama “Baadasssss!”, and the 2006 romantic drama “What I Did for Love”.
The year 2017 saw her play Liam’s Mom in the comedy “The Relationtrip”, written and directed by C. A. Gabriel, and which starred Renee Felice Smith, Matt Bush and Nelson Franklin. It follows friends Beck and Liam who’ve gone on a ‘friend’ trip together, and are steadily falling for each other; the film won two of its five award nominations.
Sally’s three most recent film roles have been in the 2018 musical “Still Waiting in the Wings”, the 2018 musical comedy “Christmas Harmony”, and the 2019 short comedy “Friendly Neighborhood Coven”.
Roles in TV series
Sally’s debut TV series role was playing various characters in seven episodes of the 1970 musical “The Tim Conway Comedy Hour”, and she then spent the ‘70s focused on shooting for the above mentioned series “All in the Family”.
From 1986 through 1988, she starred as Marsha McMurray Shrimpton in 52 episodes of the comedy “Nine to Five”, which also starred Rachel Parton George and Valerie Curtin, and follows the lives of three women; the series was nominated for three awards.
The ‘90s heard Sally voice characters in various animated series, such as the comedy “Tiny Toon Adventures”, the family comedy “Tom & Jerry Kids Show” and the short action “Wild West C. O. W. – Boys of Moo Mesa”.
From 2000 through 2007, she played Babette Dell in the critically acclaimed comedy “Gilmore Girls”, which starred Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel and Keiko Agena, and was created by Amy Sherman-Palladino. It follows the lives of a mother in her 30s and her teenage daughter, and the series won 24 of its 109 award nominations.
Sally’s since had only a couple of TV series roles, with her three most recent having been in two episodes of the 2016 comedy mini-series “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life”, two episodes of the 2021 drama “Around the Sun” and in the same year a voice role in two episodes of the short animated adventure “Summer Camp Island”.
Damn, I thought this was Sally Struthers. 😬 #jackieweaver #YellowstoneTV #YellowstoneSeason4 #Yellowstone pic.twitter.com/oaf6pZUfgK
— Tangee B 💙 (@DejaCQQ99) November 8, 2021
Other credits
Sally sang the song “I Am Woman” in the 1973 musical comedy movie “Hotel Ninety”, the song “Temper Tantrums” in the 1984 family movie “The Secret World of the Very Young”, and various songs in three episodes of the comedy series “Gilmore Girls” from 2000 through 2007.
She received special thanks for the 2005 animated adventure comedy movie “Hoodwinked”.
Some of Sally’s recent talk-show appearances have been in “History of the Sitcom”, “What Happened Was”, and “Search It Up with Sienna”.
Awards and nominations
Sally’s won two of her 10 award nominations: a 1972 and 1979 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in Comedy, both for “All in the Family”.
She was also nominated for four Golden Globes for Best Supporting Actress – Television from 1972 through 1977, all for her performance in “All in the Family”.
Love life and relationships
Sally hasn’t shared many details about her love life, and there’s only a single man whom she’s been with, that the public knows about.
On 18 December 1977, Sally exchanged vows with American psychiatrist William C. Rader, who launched his career by treating eating disorders, and then went on to found several offshore clinics. In 1979, Sally gave birth to their daughter Samantha, who graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in cognitive science in June 2001.
Sally and William divorced for unknown reasons on 19 January 1983, and although Sally hasn’t spoken of other men whom she’s dated, it’s believed that she was in a long-term relationship with an American businessman in the 1990s and 2000s, but this is yet to be confirmed by her.
Sally seems to be unattached as of April 2023, was married to William C. Rader and has a daughter with him.
Interesting facts and hobbies
Sally’s a philanthropist and activist, and was once a spokesperson for Christian Children’s Fund, today known as ChildFund.
She was interested in becoming a businesswoman for a while in the ‘80s, and was a spokesperson for International Correspondence School.
The late American actor and producer Carroll O’Connor was Sally’s mentor and best friend; he passed away on 21 June 2001.
She was offered $1 million to pose nude for the magazine “Playboy” in the first half of the ‘70s, but refused.
Sally’s been a democrat since the launch of her acting career.
Her favorite actors are Brad Pitt and Clint Eastwood, while some of Sally’s favorite movies include “Meet Joe Black”, “The Bridges of Madison County” and “Gran Torino”.
Height, eyes and wealth
Sally’s age is 75. She has blonde hair and blue eyes, is 5ft 1in (1.55m) tall, and weighs around 130lbs (58kgs).
Sally’s net worth’s been estimated at over $6 million, as of April 2023.
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