Does anyone have any information on Caroll O'Connor? What was he like in 'real' life? What type of character did he have?

In real life Carroll was a wonderful guy who wasn't anything like Archie (or at least Archie at the beginning of AITF, by the end of ABP Archie had mellowed to be more like Carroll in real life). He was in real life a liberal (a word I am proud to use and to be considered as one) but he had his share of tragedy such as dealing with the drug related death of his son and his campaign to have his son's dealer held responsible.

He was also a writer and director and said that a guy like Archie Bunker wouldn't have been allowed in his house growing up. He was raised by very intelligent and tolerant people and had a very broad view of things. He had his battles with Norman Lear over scripts and storylines in the early years, but that was out of his passion for the character and wanting the show to be the best it could be.