Stephanie Mills (All in the Family)
Encyclopedia
Stephanie Mills was a character on the 1970s American
television situation comedy
All in the Family
and the follow-up series, Archie Bunker's Place
.
She was portrayed by child actress Danielle Brisebois
, who joined All in the Family in 1978. Danielle continued in the role until Archie Bunker's Place ended its run in 1983. She was born in c. 1969.
as the 9-year old niece of Archie
and Edith Bunker
(although she was actually the daughter of Edith's step-cousin). Stephanie was abandoned at the doorstep of the Bunkers' home by her father, a chronic alcoholic, Floyd Mills. Floyd was Edith's step-cousin from her aunt's second marriage. Stephanie's mother- Floyd's wife, Marilyn-had died some time earlier in a car accident.
Edith is more than delighted to take in Stephanie, but Archie is decidedly less so, especially since he was finally looking forward to some peace and quiet after his daughter and son-in-law, Gloria
and Mike "Meathead" Stivic
moved to California. Eventually, Stephanie wins over Archie and he grows to love her as his own daughter.
Shortly after moving in with the Bunkers, Stephanie reveals herself to be Jewish, something that at first upsets Archie. While he learns to live with Stephanie's religious beliefs, Archie was not stopped from making his usual bigoted remarks against Judaism
from time to time. She eventually becomes a member of the Temple Beth Shalom.
Stephanie proved to be very talented as a singer and dancer, showcasing her talents on several episodes of All in the Family and Archie Bunker's Place. She once applied to a fine arts school (despite Archie's decidedly reluctant support), but she was turned down because of her less-than-stellar grades.
On several occasions, Stephanie's relatives tried to take Stephanie away from the Bunkers. Not long after Edith died, Stephanie's wealthy grandmother Estelle Harris (portrayed by Celeste Holm
), sued Archie for custody, citing his bigoted attitudes and blue collar
background. A judge sides with Archie but grants Estelle liberal visitation rights. Stephanie's father Floyd (Ben Slack) re-appears on occasion, asking to take his daughter back; however, the Bunkers manage to foil him each time.
Stephanie first attended an unnamed elementary school, and later Ditmars Junior High School. Her best friend (and sometimes rival) was classmate Amy Bloom (played by Seven Anne MacDonald).
In the latter years of Archie Bunker's Place, Stephanie would be one of two teen-aged girls living under Archie's roof, the other being Archie's 18-year-old niece Barbara Lee "Billie" Bunker (portrayed by Denise Miller
). Stephanie would also make fewer appearances during the final two seasons of the series.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television situation comedy
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
All in the Family
All in the Family
All in the Family is an American sitcom that was originally broadcast on the CBS television network from January 12, 1971, to April 8, 1979. In September 1979, a new show, Archie Bunker's Place, picked up where All in the Family had ended...
and the follow-up series, Archie Bunker's Place
Archie Bunker's Place
Archie Bunker's Place is an American sitcom originally broadcast on the CBS network, conceived in 1979 as a spin-off and continuation of All in the Family. While not as popular as its predecessor, the show maintained a large enough audience to last for four seasons, until its cancellation in 1983...
.
She was portrayed by child actress Danielle Brisebois
Danielle Brisebois
Danielle Anne Brisebois is an American actress, producer, songwriter and singer. In the 1990s she recorded two solo albums, Arrive All Over You and Portable Life, and was a member of the New Radicals...
, who joined All in the Family in 1978. Danielle continued in the role until Archie Bunker's Place ended its run in 1983. She was born in c. 1969.
Character background
Stephanie was introduced in the All in the Family's ninth season premiereSeason premiere
In North America, a season premiere is the first episode of a new season of a given television show. It often airs in September or October, after several months of reruns.-Evaluating the changes:...
as the 9-year old niece of Archie
Archie Bunker
Archibald "Archie" Bunker is a fictional New Yorker in the 1970s top-rated American television sitcom All in the Family and its spin-off Archie Bunker's Place, played to acclaim by Carroll O'Connor. Bunker is a veteran of World War II, reactionary, bigoted, conservative, blue-collar worker, and...
and Edith Bunker
Edith Bunker
Edith Bunker is a fictional 1970s sitcom character on All in the Family , played by Jean Stapleton. She was the wife of Archie Bunker , mother of Gloria Stivic, mother-in-law of Michael "Meathead" Stivic, and, after 1975, grandmother of Joey Stivic...
(although she was actually the daughter of Edith's step-cousin). Stephanie was abandoned at the doorstep of the Bunkers' home by her father, a chronic alcoholic, Floyd Mills. Floyd was Edith's step-cousin from her aunt's second marriage. Stephanie's mother- Floyd's wife, Marilyn-had died some time earlier in a car accident.
Edith is more than delighted to take in Stephanie, but Archie is decidedly less so, especially since he was finally looking forward to some peace and quiet after his daughter and son-in-law, Gloria
Gloria Stivic
Gloria Stivic , is the name of the supporting character played by Sally Struthers on the American situation comedy All in the Family, which aired on the CBS television network from 1971 until 1979...
and Mike "Meathead" Stivic
Michael Stivic
Michael Casimir Stivic is a fictional character on the long running American television sitcom of the 1970s, All in the Family. He was the live-in son-in-law of the series's lead character, the bigoted and undereducated Archie Bunker, who frequently called him "Meathead". Michael was the husband...
moved to California. Eventually, Stephanie wins over Archie and he grows to love her as his own daughter.
Shortly after moving in with the Bunkers, Stephanie reveals herself to be Jewish, something that at first upsets Archie. While he learns to live with Stephanie's religious beliefs, Archie was not stopped from making his usual bigoted remarks against Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
from time to time. She eventually becomes a member of the Temple Beth Shalom.
Stephanie proved to be very talented as a singer and dancer, showcasing her talents on several episodes of All in the Family and Archie Bunker's Place. She once applied to a fine arts school (despite Archie's decidedly reluctant support), but she was turned down because of her less-than-stellar grades.
On several occasions, Stephanie's relatives tried to take Stephanie away from the Bunkers. Not long after Edith died, Stephanie's wealthy grandmother Estelle Harris (portrayed by Celeste Holm
Celeste Holm
Celeste Holm is an American stage, film, and television actress, known for her Academy Award-winning performance in Gentleman's Agreement , as well as for her Oscar-nominated performances in Come to the Stable and All About Eve...
), sued Archie for custody, citing his bigoted attitudes and blue collar
Blue collar
Blue collar can refer to:*Blue-collar worker, a traditional designation of the working class*Blue-collar crime, the types of crimes typically associated with the working class*A census designation...
background. A judge sides with Archie but grants Estelle liberal visitation rights. Stephanie's father Floyd (Ben Slack) re-appears on occasion, asking to take his daughter back; however, the Bunkers manage to foil him each time.
Stephanie first attended an unnamed elementary school, and later Ditmars Junior High School. Her best friend (and sometimes rival) was classmate Amy Bloom (played by Seven Anne MacDonald).
In the latter years of Archie Bunker's Place, Stephanie would be one of two teen-aged girls living under Archie's roof, the other being Archie's 18-year-old niece Barbara Lee "Billie" Bunker (portrayed by Denise Miller
Denise Miller
Denise Miller was an American actress who appeared in television sit-coms Archie Bunker's Place, Fish, and the made-for-television movie Sooner or Later....
). Stephanie would also make fewer appearances during the final two seasons of the series.