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Sally Struthers is a two-time Emmy Award-winning American actress and activist who is possibly still best known for portraying Gloria Stivic in the 1979s sitcom “All in the Family.”
"And you knew where you WERRRE then…" On this day in #CBStory, groundbreaking @TheNormanLear sitcom All in the Family, starring Carroll O'Connor, Jean Stapleton, Sally Struthers and @robreiner, premiered January 12, 1971, on CBS. pic.twitter.com/DvoX2ZefjY
— CBS (@CBS) January 12, 2019
Age, Early Life, and Education Background
Sally Anne Struthers is a native of Portland, Oregon, born under the Leo zodiac sign on 28 July 1947, which makes her 76 years old as of mid-2023. She is the daughter of the late surgeon, Robert Alden Struthers, and his wife, Margaret Caroline Jernes, and was brought up alongside her elder sister, Sue Struthers; their maternal grandparents were Norwegian. Sally had a somewhat rough childhood – her dad abandoned the family when she was 11 and her mother, who struggled with depression, raised her and Sue single-handedly in Concordia, northeast Portland. Sally’s mother worked at Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to cater for her children’s needs.
Struthers attended Faubion Elementary School before joining Grant High School, where she was a cheerleader. She was also interested in acting, and appeared in several plays during her high school days. After her matriculation, Struthers went to Pasadena Playhouse College of Theater Arts, from where she graduated in 1969.
Film Appearances
Struthers made her film debut in the 1970 comedy “The Phynx.” In 1972, she portrayed Fran Clinton, the spouse of veterinarian Harold Clinton (portrayed by Jack Dodson), in the Steve McQueen-starred heist thriller “The Getaway.” In 1977, Struthers played a victim of domestic violence, Janice Halston in the made-for-television drama “Intimate Strangers”, and was cast in various support roles in productions throughout the late ‘70s and ‘80s. In 1990, she voiced Rebecca Cunningham in the animated TV film “TaleSpin: Plunder & Lighting”, then focused on TV appearances in the ‘90s and early 2000s, and mostly played cameo roles in a few films including the 2006 romantic drama “What I Did for Love.” In 2018, she portrayed Shirley in the TV film “Christmas Harmony.”
TV Appearances
Struthers made her TV debut in 1970, with eight episode appearances in the TV comedy and variety show “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” which was followed by a 13-episode appearance in the comedy sketch “The Tim Conway Comedy Hour.” In 1971, the famed American producer and screenwriter, Norman Lear, selected Struthers to play the main role of Gloria Bunker-Stivic in the CBS TV sitcom “All in the Family,” shortly after he met her on the sets of “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.” The American character actress, Candice Azzara, was originally cast to portray Gloria in the show’s pilot episode but dropped out. Struthers appeared in 182 episodes (1971-1978) of the sitcom. Concurrently, the actress voiced Pebbles Flintstone in 95 episodes of the animated anthology TV series “Fred Flintstone and Friends” in 1977 and 1978. In 1982 and 1983, Struthers reprised her role of Gloria in the short-lived sitcom “Gloria,” which was a spin-off from “Archie Bunker’s Place, and “All in the Family””
Struthers’ next notable appearance was in the sitcom “9 to 5” (1986-1988). She voiced several characters in the family sitcom “Dinosaurs” (1991-1994) and the animated series “Droopy, Master Detective” (1993 and 1994). Her following appearances were in the comedy-drama “Gilmore Girls” in which she appeared in 52 episodes from 2000 to 2007, the daytime TV soap opera “General Hospital” (2002), and the sitcom “Still Standing” (2003-2006). Recently, in 2021, Sally voiced Mrs Truitt in the scripted podcast series “Around the Sun: An Episodic Audio Drama.”
Stage Appearances
In 1981, Sally played Janet in the Broadway production of “Wally’s Café,” performed at Brooks Atkinson Theater. She has also appeared in various other plays including “The Odd Couple” (1985 and 1986), “Nunsense” (2008), and “Young Frankenstein” (2022) among others.
Activism and Business Endeavors
Sally has served as the spokeswoman for the child-focused international organization ChildFund – formerly Christian Children’s Fund – which helps underprivileged children in over 24 nations including the US.
Sally was also International Correspondence School’s TV ads spokesperson who pitched the well-known catchphrase, ‘Do you want to make more money? Sure, we all do!’
Other Works
Struthers performed the songs “I Am Woman” and “Temper Tantrums” in the films “Hotel Ninety” (1973) and “The Secret World of the Very Young” (1984) respectively. She also sang various songs in the TV series “Gilmore Girls.”
For her praised performance in the 2005 animated adventure film “Hoodwinked,” Sally received special thanks.
She’s made guest appearances in various talk shows, including “What Happened Was” and “History of the Sitcom.” It’s reported that Sally was approached by “Playboy” magazine’s agents with a $1 million offer to pose nude for the publication, but she turned them down.
Awards and Nominations
Struthers has won two awards and has been nominated for eight as of mid-2023. She scooped two Primetime Emmys for her performance in “All in the Family” in 1972 and 1979. and received three nominations for the same award in 1973, ‘74 and ‘78. Her performance in “All the Family” has also seen her nominated for four Golden Globe Awards for Best Supporting Actress. In 1978, she was nominated for a Photoplay Award (Gold Medal) for Favorite Female Sex Symbol.
Personal Life
Struthers is a divorced woman; in 1977 she exchanged vows with the psychiatrist William C. Rader, who has been described as a ‘highly telegenic Beverly Hills psychiatrist’ by “Newsweek” magazine. In 1984, Rader, who is the author of the 1981 book “No Diet Program for Permanent Weight Loss,” founded the firm, The Radar Institute, which is focused on treating eating disorders. In the early ‘90s, he founded the organizations, Savior Program, which worked with sex abuse victims, and Immune Suppressed Institute, which is committed to helping people living with HIV/AIDS. Shortly after their wedding, Sally and Rader welcomed a daughter named Samantha Struthers Rader, who graduated from Vassar College with a degree in Cognitive Science. Samantha is a psychologist credited with developing a therapy practice known as Source Code Psychology. Struthers and Rader divorced in January 1983.
Struthers was good friends with her “All in the Family” co-star, Carroll O’Connor, whom she considered her acting mentor; O’Connor played the role of Archie Bunker in the show. Sally bears a striking resemblance to the Australian actress, Jacki Weaver, who played Caroline Warner in the series “Yellowstone.” The two actresses were born in 1947.
Height, Weight, and Physical Appearance
Struthers is of Caucasian ethnicity, has a pair of brown eyes and dark brown hair. She stands 5ft 1in (1.55m) tall and weighs approximately 140lbs (64kgs) with vital statistics of 35-24-35. The actress wears shoe and dress sizes 8(US) and 6(US) respectively. Previously, Sally weighed over 200lbs (91kgs), but thanks to intensive workouts and a healthy diet, the actress has managed to lose over 50lbs (23kgs).
Net Worth
Sally’s career has spanned over half a century. She’s appeared in various successful films and TV series, which has made her a household name. She has a net worth of over $6 million, as of mid-2023
