78-Year-Old Sally Struthers Embraces Multigenerational Fanbase

As of October 26th, 2025, 78-year-old actress Sally Struthers is still going strong in her entertainment career, defying assumptions that she has retired. Struthers, best known for her role as Gloria Stivic in the classic sitcom "All in the Family," has been actively working in theater productions and even landed a role in the recent Netflix series "A Man on the Inside."

Despite her continued success, Struthers often encounters fans from her early career who assume she has stepped away from the industry. "People come up to me on the street -- they're always taller, so I'm always looking up at them -- and they always sound a little obsequious and they say things like, 'Oh, it's so good to see you, dear. We don't see you on television anymore. We miss you. Are you retired?'" Struthers recounts with a laugh.

However, the veteran actress is quick to set the record straight, explaining that she has been touring the country with various stage productions. "I've been doing these plays and national tours, and yet people come up to me on the street... and they'll say, 'Oh, well, we don't go to the theater.'" Struthers responds, "But you're just assuming I don't work anymore. I'm trying to tell you I work all the time!"

Struthers' enduring popularity has earned her a diverse fanbase, with younger viewers recognizing her from her role as Babette on "Gilmore Girls," while older fans still associate her with the iconic Gloria. "It's funny, a 20-year-old young lady will approach me and call me Babette because of Gilmore Girls. And then her mother, if she's with her, will go, 'No, darling, she's Gloria,'" Struthers shares.

As Struthers continues to thrive in her theatrical pursuits, she remains grateful for the opportunities to connect with fans of all generations. "There are always offers. And I've gotten to the point at 78 years old where they don't even make me audition anymore. It's the most wonderful, delicious existence in the world," she says.