Trivia

Contrary to popular belief, she was not related to All in the Family (1971) star Jean Stapleton.

She admitted to having a drinking problem and confessed that she would head for the vodka right after the curtain went down. Liquor was a fixture in her dressing room but she claims that she never appeared on stage drunk.

She did not travel by air or elevator. She traveled by rail across the country, and traveled by ship across the ocean, instead of by plane.

Stapleton had an airline phobia and turned down parts that required her to fly. She took a freighter to get to London for "Reds" as passenger boats don't run in winter.

Took over the role of Serafina delle Rosa in "The Rose Tattoo" because Anna Magnani (who was old enough to be her mother) didn't speak English well enough to essay the role on Broadway, so this young Irish Catholic from Troy played an Italian "Earth Mother" to critical and popular acclaim.

Following her second divorce, she had a long affair with legendary Broadway fixture George Abbott that began when she was 43 and he was 81. It ended 10 years later when the director cheated on her with a younger woman.

Received a 1975 Grammy Award nomination in the Best Spoken Word category for her recording of "To Kill a Mockingbird".

Although she played Dick Van Dyke's mother in Bye Bye Birdie (1963), she was only six months his senior.

In 1981, Hudson Valley Community College in her hometown of Troy, New York, named their theatre after her.

Once joined the Actors Studio, whose members included Marlon Brando who sometimes crashed in her one-room NY apartment.

She originated the role of Serafina in Tennessee Williams' "The Rose Tattoo" on Broadway in 1951 and Lady Torrance in Williams' "Orpheus Descending" in 1957. Both roles were played by Anna Magnani in the movie versions. Stapleton appeared in the film version of "Orpheus Descending", retitled The Fugitive Kind (1960), but in a supporting role.

Is one of 17 actresses to have won the Triple Crown of Acting (an Oscar, Emmy and Tony); the others in chronological order are Helen Hayes, Ingrid Bergman, Shirley Booth, Liza Minnelli, Rita Moreno, Jessica Tandy, Audrey Hepburn, Anne Bancroft, Vanessa Redgrave, Maggie Smith, Ellen Burstyn, Helen Mirren, Frances McDormand, Jessica Lange, Viola Davis and Glenda Jackson.

Inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame on April 5, 1981.

In 1981, she became the tenth performer to win the Triple Crown of acting. Oscar: Best Supporting Actress, Reds (1981), Tony: Best Supporting Actress-Play, 'The Rose Tattoo' (1951), and Emmy: Best Actress-Drama, Among the Paths to Eden (1967).

Made her Broadway debut at age 22 in the starring role in "The Rose Tattoo".

Has won two Tony Awards: in 1951, as Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Dramatic) for "The Rose Tattoo," and in 1971, as Best Actress (Dramatic) for "The Gingerbread Lady." She has also been nominated four other times: as Best Actress (Dramatic), in 1959 for "The Cold Wind and the Warm," in 1960 for "Toys in the Attic," and in 1968 for "Plaza Suite;" and in 1981, as Best Actress (Featured Role - Play) for "The Little Foxes."

Received the Actors Studio Award in 1980 for her contributions to the theatre.

Received a special tribute as part of the Annual Memorial tribute at The 79th Annual Academy Awards (2007).

She studied drama at HB Studio in Greenwich Village in New York City.

In 1959 she became the first actor to receive an Oscar, Emmy and Tony nomination in the same year (for Lonelyhearts (1958), All the King's Men (1958) and "The Cold Wind and the Warm", respectively).

Mother of two children by her first husband, Max Allentuck: Daniel Allentuck and Katherine Allentuck (Bambery).

Studied acting under Herbert Berghof and at the Actor's Studio in New york.

Is the fourth of four consecutive winners of the Best Supporting Actress Oscar to have the initials "M.S.". The others are: Maggie Smith (California Suite (1978)), Meryl Streep (Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)) and Mary Steenburgen (Melvin and Howard (1980)).

Was the 86th actress to receive an Academy Award; she won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Reds (1981) at The 54th Annual Academy Awards (1982) on March 29, 1982.

Returned to work 7 months after giving birth to her son Daniel Allentuck to begin performing in the Broadway play "The Rose Tattoo".

Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Actors Branch)

Gave birth to her 2nd child at age 29, a daughter Katherine Allentuck on October 16, 1954. Child's father was her 1st husband, Max Allentuck.

Returned to work 6 months after giving birth to her daughter Katherine Allentuck to begin performing in the Broadway play "All in One".

Grandmother of Alexandra Bambery (b. April 10, 1984) via daughter Katherine Allentuck.

Was 5 months pregnant with her son Daniel Allentuck when she completed her run of the Broadway play "The Bird Cage".

Gave birth to her 1st child at age 25, a son Daniel Allentuck on July 8, 1950. Child's father was her 1st husband, Max Allentuck.