Actress and comedian Sally Struthers with her effervescent presence and signature smile lit upAll in the Familyas Gloria Stivic, daughter of Archie and Edith Bunker, for the eight seasons of that show. For that role, she received five Emmy Award nominations winning two for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
After theAll in the Familydays, Struthers went on to play Babette Dell inGilmore Girlsand now she plays Virginia Foldau, a sharp-tongued resident at the Pacific View Retirement Community in the Netflix sitcomA Man on the Insidestarring Ted Danson.
Struthers’ career spans decades giving her fans of all ages. “I was hiking in North Carolina when a mother-daughter team approached. The daughter shouted oh, mom, it’s Babette! And the mother said no, that’s Gloria!”
In addition to television, Struthers has accrued major stage credits. She appeared on Broadway in the female version ofThe Odd Coupleplaying Florence Unger, the obsessive-compulsive female counterpart to Felix. She lives up to her mantra You rest, you rust and travels the country doing stage work at regional theatres which brings her back to Gateway Playhouse this time in one of her favorite musicals,The Full Monty, performing one of her favorite roles, Jeanette Burmeister, the veteran showbiz pianist who talks herself into being accompanist and mentor for this group of amateur male strippers.
Struthers is at her happiest doing comedies. “For me, laughter is my music and I love music! If you tell me to choose one thing ringing in my ears to the end it would be laughter because laughter tells me that people are having a good time and my aim in life is to give people a good time.”
She credits her mom for her acting career. “My mom always said ‘Sally was born with funny.’ She talked me into going to college to act instead of becoming a doctor like my dad, something I thought of doing so he would be proud of me. My dad left when we were little. She found a theatre college, had me apply and off I went. Before each show when I’m in the wings waiting to make my first entrance, I close my eyes and talk to my mom.”
It was a delight to speak with Sally Struthers prior to opening inThe Full Montyat Gateway Playhouse in Bellport where she will be doing what she loves best, making people laugh.
The Full Montywill run from March 13 to April 12 at The Gateway Playhouse in Bellport (215 South Country Road). Visitthegateway.orgfor the full schedule and to purchase advance tickets.
What is it aboutThe Full Montythat keeps you going back to this show?
This musical is full of heart and love and the audience leaves satiated from the story. You really care about these guys. I’ll be doing this show however without my friend Joe Coots who played one of the two leads every time I did it. He passed away a year ago so while the show is a joy for me to do, I still cry when I think about Joe.
Source: LI Press
