In the history of television, only a few shows have made a lasting impact as All in the Family, a pioneer sitcom that revolutionized the TV world by fearlessly taking a dig at controversial social issues of the day, such as racism, sexism, politics, and more. At the core of the show was actor Carroll O’Connor, who portrayed Archie Bunker, a working-class man whose myopic beliefs and austere manner made him a source of comedy and a mirror of the prevalent stereotypes of the day.
While the actor gave his TV role an unparalleled performance, the man behind the mask was far more nuanced as he was a very moral person off-screen who was not hesitant to speak up even if it meant risking his career. This stance was evident in a particular situation that occurred during the production of All in the Family.
Caroll O’Connor refused to shoot ‘All in the Family’ in solidarity with striking CBS technicians
While on the set of All in the Family in 1973, a strike, led by the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers rocked the entire entertainment industry as CBS technicians, camera operators, and other essential crew members walked off the job, demanding better pay, improved working conditions, and fair treatment.
The strike disrupted production across the network, leaving executives scrambling to fill airtime with reruns and hastily assembled programming. However, for O’Connor, he made a choice to stand with the striking workers refusing to shoot any part of All in the family for as long as the strike persisted.
O’Connor’s decision to stand with the striking CBS workers was not without its challenges. The Broadcast network executives, eager to resume production and mitigate the financial losses caused by the prolonged strike, pressured him to return to work as the delay had created significant tension. Also, some other individuals within the industry considered O’Connor’s refusal to film All in the Family as an unnecessary disruption. Despite the mounting pressure, the late actor stood firm in his commitment to the striking workers.
Speaking about his refusal to work, O’Connor revealed that his decision not to continue shooting All in the Family during the strike was solely a matter of conscience, driven by his unwavering support for the labor movement. The actor who had long identified as a trade unionist explained that working with strikebreakers or management personnel by continuing to shoot All in the Family would betray the very principles he stood for.