In the last episode of All In The Family,Edith was very ill with phebitis and that scar on her leg that she couldn't walk very far and she was cooking stuff for Archie's St. Patrick's Day Bash at the bar!!! What I was wondering is if that would have anything to do with Edith's death in any way,since she died of a stroke on ABP!!! Comments,please!!!

They were very unclear as to how Edith died, just that it was in her sleep. Barney said it was her heart, but the way he said it I was unsure if he was talking about Edith or about his cousin who lost his wife in his sleep, just like Archie did.

I think that Edith's death was not connected to her plebitis. For one thing, Archie insisted that she do the cooking for the St. Patricks Day party at the bar and if that eventually led to her death, Archie would not be looked upon very kindly. We can forgive Archie for his silly takes on politics and life but we could never forgive him if his actions led, even indirectly, to Edith's death.

It is a shame to watch the episode "Too Good Edith" knowing that Edith really will pass away a year later. Too bad a compromise couldn't be worked out with Jean as I discussed in the thread on the ABP board.

I've read two different causes for her death. One was a heart attack and the other was a stroke. I always thought it was a stroke. But, as you mentioned Jon123, it was never confirmed on the show. I remember "Too Good Edith" she had a bruise on her leg. I watched Archie Alone 1 and 2 yesterday, that always gets to me.

one was stroke and the other was she died in her sleep...still unsure as to which it actually is...they could not make a huge deal of it since edith was so loved and it was bad enough as it was...:(

she was such a sweetheart

Killing off Edith was a big mistake in my opinion.

It was said on the show that Edith died of stroke in her sleep. I don't think the phlebitis that she had in the AITF episode "Too Good Edith" had anything to do with it because she was fine during the 1st season of ABP

Originally posted by Brian Damage
Killing off Edith was a big mistake in my opinion.


but jean stapleton wanted out...she had already drastically phased down her appearances to just a trickle...what else was left for them to do?
i can't even imagine another actress playing that role...so i am thinking that a recast just would not have worked, even if it wound up being someone really good...there would have been no pleasing the audience with any substitute dingbats...:)

Originally posted by shadowgirl



but jean stapleton wanted out...she had already drastically phased down her appearances to just a trickle...what else was left for them to do?
i can't even imagine another actress playing that role...so i am thinking that a recast just would not have worked, even if it wound up being someone really good...there would have been no pleasing the audience with any substitute dingbats...:)

I hate that they killed off Edith, but what else could you do? Jean did want out and death was really the only situation that answered the 'Where did Edith go?' question.

I do kind of wish that Jean signed another contract just appearing on occasional eps, like she did in the first season. Just didn't turn out that way. Recast was out of the question and so was divorce.

in a bizarre plot twist, i guess they could have had her run off with that butcher who had the hots for her...;)

in a bizarre plot twist, i guess they could have had her run off with that butcher who had the hots for her

You're joking, I hope. Actually since Jean played a dual role as the butcher's new girlfriend, she actually could have returned to the show after Edith died playing that role.

But the best way would have been for Jean to appear in about 10 episodes a year and then Edith could have stayed alive.

i am DEFINITELY joking here...no offense intended...:)

Originally posted by jon123

But the best way would have been for Jean to appear in about 10 episodes a year and then Edith could have stayed alive.

Once an actor is talked out of leaving a show, they still wonder if they made the right choice. If Jean Stapleton was persuaded/coaxed/shamed (pick a word) into staying, she may well have ended up leaving under worse conditions. Of course, this is just speculation on my part.

The wisest action, IMO, would've been to end the series at that time and go out on a high note. No death of Edith, no ABP and no painful memories of a great show that went out with a whimper.

Originally posted by TVgen62

The wisest action, IMO, would've been to end the series at that time and go out on a high note. No death of Edith, no ABP and no painful memories of a great show that went out with a whimper.
I couldn't agree more. However, I have hesitated to ever mentioned my wish for ABP to never have been created. I know many people enjoyed it, and just because I don't think it was worth it doesn't mean they don't think otherwise. But for me, the lasting impression of Edith dying isn't one I think should exist just to get some more entertainment from Archie and his gang for a few more years. When a character that we have all been accustom to seeing has to be killed off just because an actor wants out of a long lasting show--a show that could just call it quits--is fruitless to me.

I can see this thread is turning into a discussion about ABP. I'll move it there.

In the last episode of All In The Family,Edith was very ill with phebitis and that scar on her leg that she couldn't walk very far and she was cooking stuff for Archie's St. Patrick's Day Bash at the bar!!! What I was wondering is if that would have anything to do with Edith's death in any way,since she died of a stroke on ABP!!! Comments,please!!!

No, Edith was fully recovered in season one of Archie's Place to the point she even got a job at the mental institution.