Acting · Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA · Born January 19, 1923
Jean Stapleton was born Jeanne Murray in Manhattan, New York City, to Marie A. (Stapleton), an opera singer, and Joseph Edward Murray, a billboard advertising salesman. Her paternal grandparents were Irish. She was a cousin of actress Betty Jane Watson. Other relatives in show business were her uncle, Joseph E. Deming, a vaudevillian; and her brother Jack Stapleton, a stage actor. She graduated from Wadleigh High School, NYC, in 1939, and attended Hunter College. She worked as a secretary before becoming an actress. Stapleton made her stage debut at the Greenwood Playhouse, Peaks Island, Maine, in the summer of 1941, and her New York stage debut in "The Corn Is Green" (1948). She appeared on Broadway in the musicals "Damn Yankees" (1955) and "Bells Are Ringing" (1956), and later repeated her roles in the movie versions (Damn Yankees (1958) and Bells Are Ringing (1960)). Her other Broadway roles included the original companies of "Rhinoceros" (1961) and "Funny Girl" (1964). Stapleton also played Abby Brewster in the 1986-87 revival of "Arsenic and Old Lace".
MovieThe Last Laugh
2016
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
MovieThe Television Revolution Begins: "All in the Family" Is On the Air
2009
as Self
MovieThose Were the Days: The Birth of "All in the Family"
2009
as Self
TV Land Top 10
2004
TV Land Awards: A Celebration of Classic TV
2003
MovieLike Mother Like Son: The Strange Story of Sante and Kenny Kimes
2001
as Irene Silverman
MoviePursuit of Happiness
2001
as Lorraine
MovieBaby
2000
as Byrd
MovieYou've Got Mail
1998
as Birdie Conrad
MoviePocahontas II: Journey to a New World
1998
as Mrs. Jenkins (voice)
MovieChance of a Lifetime
1998
as Mrs. Dunbar
TVStyle & Substance
1998
as Gloria Utley
MovieMichael
1996
as Pansy Milbank
TVEverybody Loves Raymond
1996
as Aunt Alda
TVE! True Hollywood Story
1996
TVThe Rosie O'Donnell Show
1996
as Self
MovieLily Dale
1996
as Mrs. Coons
TVCaroline in the City
1995
as Aunt Mary Kosky
TVTouched by an Angel
1994
as Emma
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle
1994
as Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle
TVIntimate Portrait
1993
as Self
MovieBury Me in Niagara
1993
as Mildred
TVGrace Under Fire
1993
MovieThe Trial
1993
as Landlady (uncredited)
TVBeakman's World
1992
as Beakman's Mom
MovieThe Habitation of Dragons
1992
as Lenora Tolliver
TVShelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories
1992
as Narrator (voice)
MovieFire in the Dark
1991
as Henry Dutton
MovieFunny Ladies: A Portrait of Women Cartoonists
1991
as Narrator
MovieAll in the Family: 20th Anniversary Special
1991
The General Motors Playwrights Theater
1991
as Emilie
MovieMother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme
1990
as Mother Goose
TVBagdad Cafe
1990
as Jasmine Zweibel
TVMurphy Brown
1988
Trying Times
1987
MovieDead Man's Folly
1986
as Ariadne Oliver
MovieCinderella
1985
as Fairy Godmother
MovieGonzo Presents Muppet Weird Stuff
1985
as Self
TVThe Ray Bradbury Theater
1985
MovieThe Buddy System
1984
as Mrs. Price
MovieA Matter of Sex
1984
as Irene Wallin
TVScarecrow and Mrs. King
1983
MovieJack and the Beanstalk
1983
as The Giantess
MovieSomething's Afoot
1982
as Miss Tweed
TVFaerie Tale Theatre
1982
as The Giantess
MovieEleanor, First Lady of the World
1982
as Eleanor Roosevelt
MovieIsabel's Choice
1981
as Isabel Cooper
Good Evening Captain
1981
as Self
MovieAngel Dusted
1981
as Betty Eaton
MovieAunt Mary
1979
as Mary Dobkin
MovieYou Can't Take it With You
1979
as Penny Sycamore
MovieThe Muppets Go Hollywood
1979
as Self
TVThe Love Boat
1977
MovieTail Gunner Joe
1977
as Mrs. DeCamp
TVThe Muppet Show
1976
as Self - Special Guest Star
TVSaturday Night Live
1975
as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
TVCher
1975
as Self
TVDinah!
1974
as Self
MovieActs of Love and Other Comedies
1973
as Gina's Mother
TVThe Electric Company
1971
MovieKlute
1971
as Goldfarb's Secretary
MovieCold Turkey
1971
as Mrs. Wappler
TVGreat Performances
1971
as Helen
TVAll in the Family
1971
as Edith Bunker
TVThe Dick Cavett Show
1968
as Self - Guest
TVRowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968
as Self
TVThe Carol Burnett Show
1967
as Self - Guest / Various Characters
MovieUp the Down Staircase
1967
as Sadie Finch
TVThe Patty Duke Show
1963
TVThe Eleventh Hour
1962
TVThe Merv Griffin Show
1962
as Self
TVThe Nurses
1962
as Mrs. Montgomery
MovieSomething Wild
1961
as Shirley Johnson
TVThe Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self
TVDr. Kildare
1961
as Nurse Whitney
TVThe Defenders
1961
as Mrs. Larsen
TVRoute 66
1960
TVMy Three Sons
1960
MovieBells Are Ringing
1960
as Sue
TVDennis the Menace
1959
TVNaked City
1958
as Marilyn Konish
MovieDamn Yankees
1958
as Sister Miller
TVTony Awards
1956
as Self - Host
Woman With A Past
1954
TVHallmark Hall of Fame
1951
as Mary Dobkin
Lux Video Theatre
1950
as Teacher
TVRobert Montgomery Presents
1950
TVThe Philco Television Playhouse
1948
as Bus Girl
TVGolden Globe Awards
1944
as Self - Nominee
