Before becoming one of America’s most beloved sitcom daughters, Sally Struthers kicked off her television career with a dancing role on “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour,” a variety show celebrated for showcasing popular musical acts of the ’70s. While this opportunity wasn’t the flashiest, it caught the attention of Norman Lear, the rising writer-producer who would soon revolutionize television with “All in the Family.”
In a 2021 interview with Closer Weekly, Struthers shared how her journey to “All in the Family” was shaped by a painful rejection. She had just finished her stint on “The Tim Conway Comedy Hour,” where, after just five episodes, the network executives decided to dismiss her, deeming her the “dancer girl” who made the show look cheap. A producer defended her, explaining that her role was part of a comedic bit about the show’s lack of budget, but it wasn’t enough to save her job. “I was distraught! I adored Tim Conway and wondered what would happen to me next,” Struthers recalled. Ironically, while her previous show lasted only a year, “All in the Family” went on to run for nine seasons and secure a place in TV history, winning 22 Emmys.
Struthers’ audition left a lasting impression
At the time, Tim Conway was a recognized star, while Norman Lear was relatively unknown. Struthers recalled, “I went to read for this man nobody knew, Norman Lear.” During her audition for the role of the daughter, Lear asked her to perform a yelling scene. On the day of her audition, Struthers had laryngitis, which gave her voice a unique rasp that may have helped her stand out. “He narrowed it down to four young ladies, and I was one of the final four,” she explained.
As noted in Jim Cullins’ book, “Those Were the Days: Why All in the Family Still Matters,” Struthers’ earlier performance on “The Smothers Brothers” had put her on Lear’s radar thanks to “All in the Family” director John Rich. Lear later remarked on the chemistry between Struthers, Rob Reiner, and the Bunker parents, Carroll O’Connor and Jean Stapleton, calling it the “magic” that made the show successful. In a 2021 interview with Entertainment Weekly, he said, “The gods wanted me to come across Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers.” Struthers also reflected on her good fortune, revealing to Newsday, “Very few people know that Rob Reiner and I were the third set of kids for that show. Talk about luck.”
Indeed, it was the third pilot that finally brought “All in the Family” to life, and it seems fate played a crucial role in Struthers landing her iconic role.
