Trivia

He adopted his only child, Hugh O'Connor, while in Rome filming Cleopatra (1963). He named him after his own brother, who was killed years before in a motorcycle accident.

In his later years, he still received mail from fans. He answered every single piece of mail personally. When asked by friends why he didn't hire an assistant to answer the mail for him, he simply said that it was the least he could do.

Auditioned for the role of Skipper Jonah Grumby on Gilligan's Island (1964), but the producers found him to be too unsympathetic in the role. The role went to Alan Hale Jr..

Was so displeased with CBS' axing of Archie Bunker's Place (1979) in 1983, without a chance to film an actual series finale, that he vowed to never work for the network again (nonetheless, his late-1980s NBC series, In the Heat of the Night (1988), moved to CBS in 1992).

He was instrumental in the passage of the Drug Dealers Civil Liability Act in California. The Act states that citizens can sue drug dealers whom they feel are responsible for the drug-related deaths of family members. The Act came about as a result of his son's drug-related suicide.

Encouraged his All in the Family (1971) co-star, Rob Reiner, to write several episodes in his early career.

Became best friends with Jean Stapleton from 1962 until his death on June 21, 2001.

Spent some time at the Juilliard School of Fine Arts as an acting and dialogue professor.

Listed as #20 on TV Land's Top 50 TV Icons Countdown. He beat out Alan Alda, George Clooney, Michael J. Fox and Kermit the Frog.

Performed the role of Archie Bunker for a remarkable 12 years and 307 episodes (All in the Family (1971) and Archie Bunker's Place (1979)).

His only son, Hugh O'Connor, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, despondent over the disintegration of his life resulting from his long-term drug addiction. He was speaking with his father on the phone at the time. O'Connor did a public service announcement shortly after his death about the perils of drug abuse.

In 1997, he and his wife, also a University of Montana graduate, donated $1 million to the University of Montana's Center for the Rocky Mountain West, a regional studies and public policy institute. The Center was renamed Carroll and Nancy Fields O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West in September 1997.

Died on June 21, 2001, 37 days before what would have been his golden wedding anniversary with Nancy Fields.

After his role Return to Me (2000), he withdrew from acting at age 76 due to health problems. He died the following year.

While playing Archie Bunker, he always wore his wedding ring on his middle finger and not the traditional ring finger.

Mickey Rooney was Norman Lear's first choice to play Archie Bunker in the pilot of All in the Family (1971). Rooney had reservations about the character, so he refused.

Didn't begin acting on television until he was 36.

Appeared in almost all the episodes of his sitcom All in the Family (1971), from 1971-79 but missed seven episodes, three of them because of a contract dispute with Norman Lear.

His son, Hugh O'Connor, co-starred in In the Heat of the Night (1988) with him.

Traveled to Ireland, midway through college, and decided to finish school in the land of his ancestors. His future wife, Nancy, followed him there.

On January 17, 1994, he lost his restaurant in the Northridge (CA) earthquake.

He passed away on the same day that blues legend, John Lee Hooker did. Coincidentally, their stars are right next to each other on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Was a spokesman for Partnership for Drug Free of America from 1993-97.

Said that he came up with the address for the Bunker family residence (704 Hauser Street) when he was driving to work in L.A. He happened to find himself on Hauser Boulevard (a few blocks from CBS Television City) and thought the name sounded like part of Queens, N.Y., where Archie was supposed to live.

Larry Hagman, Carl Reiner (Rob Reiner's real-life father), Martin Sheen, Richard Crenna, Norman Lear, Danielle Brisebois and ex-classmate Don Rickles all attended his funeral.

Archie Bunker, his character on All in the Family (1971), was ranked #24 in TV Guide's list of the "50 Greatest TV Dads of All Time" [20 June 2004 issue].

During World War II, he was rejected by the United States Navy and enrolled in the United States Merchant Marine Academy for a short time. After leaving that institution, he became a merchant seaman.

Inherited a knack for learning languages from his mother.

Before he was a successful actor, he used to work with a young unfamiliar actor named Larry Hagman. O'Connor was working as an assistant stage manager for the Broadway play "God and Kate Murphy", in which Hagman starred.

Completed part of his undergraduate studies at the University of Montana before returning to earn a master's degree in speech (1956).

Had one grandson: Sean Carroll O'Connor.

Began smoking while working on the stage production of "The Big Knife", a habit he would keep up until 1989, when doctors ordered him to quit.

Attended the same school as Don Rickles.

Earned a reported $250,000 a week for Sebastian Beeton in 1980.

In the early 1950s, while trying to launch his acting career, he worked as a substitute high school English teacher in order to pay the rent.

On All in the Family (1971), his character resided in Forest Hills, Queens, N.Y.; in real life O'Connor grew up in Forest Hills, Queens, N.Y.

Underwent heart bypass surgery that required him to miss the last four episodes of the second season of In the Heat of the Night (1988).

Attended college in Ireland and began his career on the stage, playing in Dublin, London and Paris before making his Broadway debut (1958).

Underwent heart bypass surgery (1989) and angioplasty to prevent a stroke (1998).

His father Edward O'Connor was a New York City lawyer, and mother Elise O'Connor educated young Carroll about his language and life.

Met Jean Stapleton on an episode of The Defenders (1961), years before co-starring with him on All in the Family (1971).

His favorite expressions as Archie Bunker on All in the Family (1971) were "Dingbat" and "Stifle" to his wife, Edith, and "Meathead" to his son-in-law, Michael.

Was enrolled at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, but dropped out when the United States entered World War II.

Graduated from the University of Montana with degrees in both Drama and English (1951).

He met his wife, Nancy, while both were performing in the play "Life with Father" at the University of Montana.

Was a brother of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity

Among those attending his funeral were "All in the Family" (1971) creator Norman Lear, co-stars Sally Struthers and Rob Reiner, and Danielle Brisebois from "Archie Bunker's Place" (1979), as well as Larry Hagman, Martin Sheen, Don Rickles, Dom DeLuise, Carl Reiner, comic couple Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller, and Governor Jerry Brown. The Catholic ceremony was presided over by Cardinal Roger Mahony.

He played the same character (Archie Bunker) on three different series: All in the Family (1971), Archie Bunker's Place (1979) and Gloria (1982).

His wife Nancy O'Connor was an art major at the University of Montana.

As executive producer of In the Heat of the Night (1988), he often asked longtime friends and musicians to guest-star. Two of his favorites were Jean Simmons and Bobby Short. He gave long-time friend Lois Nettleton a significant recurring role in the first few seasons.