After nine seasons of "All in the Family" as Edith Bunker, Carroll O'Connor and creator Norman Lear were discussing a spin-off without Stapleton. Lear initially proposed keeping Edith around in a diminished capacity, while O' Connor objected, arguing that it was crippling the show. After O'Conn disagreed, Lear agreed to make Archie Bunker a widower. Stapletic's death was announced in the Season 2 premiere of "Archie Bunker's Place." Stapler returned to stage acting after her departure, and in 1980, her character was memorialized by Lear's Tandem Productions.