Family, friends and fans remembered Malibu’s Carroll O’Connor this week after his sudden death due to heart failure.
Memorial services took place at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Westwood for the man entertained by millions as “All in the Family’s” wisecracking bigot, Archie Bunker.
Joining mourners were fellow cast members Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers, as well as close friend Martin Sheen.
Sheen and O’Connor shared a special relationship and bond as the two struggled to help their sons overcome alcohol and drug addictions. While Sheen’s son, Charlie, won the battle, O’Connor’s son, Hugh, did not. Hugh committed suicide in 1995 following a 16-year battle with drug addiction.
Having lived through that heartache, both O’Connor and Sheen became dedicated anti-drug advocates and the tragedy served to strengthen the actor’s religious beliefs.
“He was a man of great generosity,” recalled Our Lady of Malibu Monsignor John Sheridan, a close friend of 40 years. “He had a tremendous capacity to reach out to his brothers and sisters and make the world a better place. He reached out to the poor, he reached out to children, he was a marvelous example of Christian altruism at its very best.”
Only weeks ago, O’Connor looked healthy and seemed to be in good spirits as he attended the Odyssey Ball to benefit the John Wayne Cancer Institute with Malibu neighbor Larry Hagman. Even so, O’Connor did suffer from diabetes and had undergone coronary bypass surgery in 1989.
During the course of his 40-year career, O’Connor was featured in television shows such as “The Untouchables,” “Ben Casey” and “In the Heat of the Night.” But it was his role in “All in the Family” that made him a household name and a star.
“He was one of the most intelligent and generous people I have ever worked with,” recalled O’Connor’s TV wife, Jean Stapleton. “Whenever I have the occasion to catch a rerun, I am reminded of his marvelous talent and humor.”
It is that talent, humor and capacity to love that will be remembered. In the words of “All in the Family’s” Norman Lear, “Carroll O’Connor as Archie Bunker was a genius at work, God’s gift to the world. He is etched permanently in our memories.”
Malibu’s Jack Lemmon, one of the world’s most beloved actors, died on Wednesday due to complications related to cancer.
Lemmon’s wife, Felicia, and two of his children were at his bedside when he passed away at the USC/Norris Cancer Clinic.
During his 50-year career, Lemmon appeared in 70 films including classics such as “Some Like it Hot,” “The Apartment” and “Days of Wine and Roses.”
His range covered everything from serious dramatic roles in the critically acclaimed “Glengarry Glen Ross” to comedy–notably his portrayal of fastidious Felix Unger in “The Odd Couple,” which paired him with Walter Matthau, who died July 1, 2000. In 1993, he and Matthau teamed up once again for “Grumpy Old Men.”
“He is one of the greatest actors in the history of the business,” said longtime publicist Warren Cowan. “To say one word about him would be ‘beautiful.’ It is an opinion that is shared by everybody who knew him.”
Lemmon earned eight Oscar nominations and won two coveted statuettes for 1955’s “Mister Roberts” and 1973’s “Save the Tiger.” He was also active in local politics. In recent years, he became a spokesperson for Malibu’s slow-growth movement and participated in several elections.
In 1988, he was presented with the American Film Institute’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
“When you look at his career,” said AFI founder George Stevens Jr., “there is a surprising diversity.” Before shooting a scene, Stevens recalled, Lemmon would say, “It’s magic time.”
“He would say it very quietly, but it was a little tradition of his.”
Lemmon may be gone, but his magic will live on.
Lemmon is survived by his wife, Felicia Farr, their daughter Courtney, his son, Christopher, stepdaughter Denise, and three grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the National Resources Defense Council.