Jean Stapleton (born Jeanne Murray; January 19, 1923 – May 31, 2013) was an American character actress of stage, television and film who is perhaps best known for playing the part of Edith Bunker, the wife of Archie Bunker in the 1970s sitcom All in the Family.
Her Agatha Christie connection came in 1986 when she portrayed crime writer Ariadne Oliver in the 1986 made-for-television adaptation of Dead Man’s Folly opposite Peter Ustinov.
Jean Stapleton had also turned down the role of Jessica Fletcher in "Murder, She Wrote". The part went to Angela Lansbury.