He was instrumental in the passage of the Drug Dealers Civil Liability Act in California. The Act states that citizens can sue drug dealers whom they feel are responsible for the drug-related deaths of family members. The Act came about as a result of his son's drug-related suicide.
His favorite expressions on "All in the Family" (1968) were "Dingbat" and "Stifle" to his wife, Edith, and "Meathead" to his son-in-law, Michael.
His only son, Hugh O'Connor, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, despondent over the disintegration of his life resulting from his long term drug addiction. He was speaking with his father on the phone at the time. O'Connor did a public service announcement shortly before his death about the perils of drug abuse.
His parents, Edward O'Connor was a New York City lawyer, and Elise O'Connor who educated young Carroll about his language and life.
His son, Hugh O'Connor, co-starred in "In the Heat of the Night" (1988) with him.
His son, Hugh, died on what would have been his third wedding anniversary. He was in the process of reconciling with his wife at the time of his death.
In 1997, he and his wife, also a University of Montana graduate, donated $1 million to the University of Montana's Center for the Rocky Mountain West, a regional studies and public policy institute. The Center was renamed "Carroll and Nancy Fields O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West" in September of 1997.
In real life, he was the total opposite of his "Archie Bunker" character. In fact, his "All in the Family" (1968) co-star Rob Reiner once remarked that O'Connor was even more liberal than Reiner himself.
In the early 1950s, while trying to launch his acting career, he worked as a substitute high school English teacher in order to pay the rent.
Listed as #20 on TV Land's Top 50 TV Icons Countdown. He beat out Alan Alda, George Clooney, Michael J. Fox, and Kermit the Frog.
Lost his restaurant in the Northridge earthquake. [17 January 1994]
Met actress Jean Stapleton on an episode of "The Defenders" (1961), years before co-starring with him on "All in the Family" (1968).
Of Irish descent.
On "All in the Family" (1968), his character lived in Forest Hills, Queens, New York, in real-life, O'Connor grew up in Forest Hills, Queens, New York.
Passed away 37 days before what would have been his golden wedding anniversary with Nancy Fields.
Performed the "Archie Bunker" role for a remarkable 12 years and 307 episodes ("All in the Family" (1968) and "Archie Bunker's Place" (1979)).
Remained friends with Rob Reiner during and after "All in the Family" (1968).
Said that he came up with the address for the Bunker family residence (704 Hauser Street) when he was driving to work in L.A. He happened to find himself on Hauser Blvd (few blocks from CBS TV City) and thought the name sounded like part of Queens, New York where Archie was supposed to live.
Second-only to O'Connor, who was a heavy smoker, his son Hugh, was also smoking marijuana. His son was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease, where he used the drug to relieve the nausea from radiation therapy.
Spent some time at the Juilliard School of Fine Arts as an acting and dialogue professor.