Biography: Jean Stapleton was born Jeanne Murray on January 19, 1923 in New York City to opera singer Marie A. Stapleton and Joseph E. Murray. She began her career in summer stock at age 18. She studied and performed with the American Actors' Company. She married William Putch, who operated the Totem Pole Playhouse in Pennsylvania. They had two children: Pamela and John.

Film/TV Credits: Film credits include: "You've Got Mail," "Klute," "Michael," "Damn Yankees!," "The Trial," "Something Wild," and "Up the Down Staircase." Television credits include: "All in the Family," "Dr. Kildare," "My Three Sons," "Car 54, Where Are You?," "Caroline in the City," "Murphy Brown," "Eleanor: First Lady of the World," and "The Defenders."

Other Awards: Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series for "All in the Family" in 1971. Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Comedy Series for "All in the Family" in 1972. Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for "All in the Family" in 1978.

Trivia:
She helped form national policy on women's issues as one of 45 International Women's Year commissioners at the National Women's Conference in Houston in 1977.
The marquees of Broadway theaters were dimmed in her honor on June 5, 2013.