Before she became a household name as one of America’s most beloved sitcom daughters, Sally Struthers made her first splash dancing on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. The gig wasn’t the most glamorous, but it put her on the radar of Norman Lear, the writer-producer who would soon make waves with All in the Family.
Sally’s Fortuitous Break
In a 2021 interview with Closer Weekly, Struthers reminisced about how fate led her to All in the Family. Ironically, this big break came after a disappointing setback. I had just come off ‘The Tim Conway Comedy Hour.’ I should have been on all 13 weeks of it, but after the fifth show, the executives said, ‘Get rid of that dancer girl. She makes the show look cheap!’
she recalled. Despite her enthusiasm, the show’s producer couldn’t save her job. So I was let go,
she told Closer. 
The Chance Audition
Soon after, Struthers read for a little-known figure at the time — Norman Lear. She recounted heading to the audition: I went to read for this man nobody knew, Norman Lear.
Interestingly, an illness turned out to be serendipitous for Struthers. She shared that she had laryngitis during her audition: I had laryngitis that day, so my voice was raspy, but I guess it made him remember me.
Her distinctive voice and performance earned her a spot among the final four contenders for the role. As Jim Cullins’ book “Those Were the Days: Why All in the Family Still Matters” notes, it was her appearance on “Smothers” that brought her into Lear’s consideration.
The Chemistry That Sealed the Deal
Sally’s chemistry with Rob Reiner was lightning in a bottle. Lear acknowledged this in Cullins’ book: The gods wanted me to come across Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers.
It was this combination along with Carroll O’Connor and Jean Stapleton that powered the show’s success. Struthers agreed: Very few people know that Rob Reiner and I were the third set of kids for that show. Talk about luck.
The Impact and Beyond
Sally’s role as Gloria Stivic made television history. Reflecting on its run from 1971 to 1979, Struthers emphasized its groundbreaking nature: Sitcoms then rarely mirrored reality as candidly as ours did.
The weight of these memories can sometimes make it difficult for her to watch old episodes today. Yet, she has continued to thrive in her career post-All in the Family, bringing laughter and joy through various roles.
Follow Us
