One-time All In The Family actress Jean Stapleton has passed away aged 90, bringing the end to the life of one of American comedy’s most underrated stars.

Stapleton played the role of Archie Bunker’s wife Edith in the sitcom during the 1970’s, and her performance took her to three Emmy awards. That she didn’t go on to greater success on the big screen was perhaps as much due to her own decision making as it was anything else, with the actress comfortable playing character roles and having no interest in being a leading lady. She appeared on All In The Family for eight years, winning plaudits for her role, which often saw her character at odds with her husband. “No one gave more profound 'How to be a Human Being' lessons than Jean Stapleton," said the show's producer Norman Lear in a statement reported by the BBC.

In a statement, her son and daughter John and Pamela Putch said: "It is with great love and heavy hearts that we say farewell to our collective Mother, with a capital M. Her devotion to her craft and her family taught us all great life lessons," they added. As far as films went, Stapleton appeared in the 1996 film ‘You’ve Got Mail,’ with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, and 1998’s ‘Michael’, which starred John Travolta. It will be the small screen where she will be remember though.

Jean StapletonStapleton in her mid 1970's pomp

Jean StapletonJean Stapleton in All In The Family