Carroll O'Connor will, of course, be forever etched in our memories as Archie Bunker. When I think of him, I think of two instances, more than twenty years apart, which both showed compassion uncommon to any human being, let alone a Big Star. The first was when I visited an All in the Family rehearsal and saw him spend what otherwise would have been his lunch break talking to a troubled staff member. The lady in question was some sort of script typist or secretary…the kind of employee whose name some stars wouldn't even bother to learn. But this woman had some sort of personal problem — a senile mother, I think — and O'Connor took her in the corner and sat with her for a long time offering her counsel and company and, I suspect, financial assistance. Even some actors I know and consider good people wouldn't extend themselves to that degree.
The other incident was just a few years ago when Mr. O'Connor went to court to defend against a lawsuit brought by the man he'd accused of supplying his son with drugs. His son, Hugh, had committed suicide and O'Connor had branded the unlicensed pharmacist as not only a pusher but a murderer, as well. After the jury sided with Carroll, he held an impromptu press conference and made an eloquent, from-the-gut speech that I caught on CNN or CourtTV and wished I'd taped.
Later that afternoon, I happened to be talking on the phone with my friend Joe Gannon, who was very close to Carroll (and staying with him) and I said, "Tell Carroll that I thought his little speech was brilliant." To my surprise, Joe said, "Here — you tell him," and put him on. I stammered out a compliment and Mr. O'Connor began peppering me with sincere, concerned questions as to how it had come across, if he'd overstated his case, etc. He was single-mindedly concerned that his experience be of value to others who might find themselves in similar circumstances, and pleased when I told him I thought it would be. Later, on MSNBC, I heard some yahoo accuse the man of exploiting his son's death for publicity and I could only think, "My God, I am watching the stupidest person on the planet."
Carroll O'Connor was an extraordinary human being, with the emphasis on the human. I suspect that, more than any other reason, was why he was able to give life to the most memorable TV character of an entire generation.