Nancy Fields O’Connor was the wife of the legendary actor Carroll O’Connor, who played Archie Bunker in the classic sitcom “All in the Family”. She was also an artist, author, activist, humanitarian, philanthropist and documentary film producer in her own right. She died on November 10, 2014, at the age of 84, of complications from Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive and irreversible brain disorder that affects memory, thinking and behavior.
A Life of Creativity and Compassion
Nancy Fields O’Connor was born on December 13, 1929, in Spokane, Washington. She met her future husband in 1951, when both were undergraduates at the University of Montana at Missoula and involved with the Drama and Fine Arts Department production of “Life With Father”. They married later that year in Ireland.
Nancy Fields O’Connor was instrumental in every aspect of her husband’s career, convincing him to take on the role of Archie Bunker despite his reservations. She also supported him through his personal struggles, such as the death of their son Hugh from a drug overdose in 1995.
Nancy Fields O’Connor was an accomplished painter, sculptor and writer, who published a memoir titled “I Think I’m Outta Here” in 1998. She also executive produced the 2007 documentary “Anita O’Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer”, which chronicled the life and career of the legendary jazz vocalist.
As a philanthropist, Nancy Fields O’Connor was a founding member of the John Wayne Cancer Institute and received, with her husband, the Institute’s Duke Award in 1990 for “their outstanding support for cancer research”. She also donated to various causes, such as the Actors Fund of America, the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, and the Alzheimer’s Association.
A Legacy of Love and Inspiration
Nancy Fields O’Connor is survived by her daughter-in-law Angela O’Connor, her grandson Sean O’Connor, her brother and sister-in-law John and Jo Ann Fields, her cousin Mary Reynolds and eleven nieces and nephews. She was laid to rest in a Roman Catholic funeral service at Our Lady of Malibu Church on November 22, 2014.
Nancy Fields O’Connor is remembered as a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, who touched many lives with her art, generosity and kindness. She is also celebrated as a partner and muse of one of the most iconic and influential actors in television history, who helped shape the American culture and consciousness with their groundbreaking work.
