Michael Stivic | |
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Mike "Meathead" Stivic (Rob Reiner, top) with rest of Bunkers, Archie (Carroll O'Connor, bottom). Edith (Jean Stapleton, left), and Gloria (Sally Struthers, right) in cast photo
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First appearance | "Meet the Bunkers" (All in the Family) |
Last appearance | "Thanksgiving Reunion: Part 2" (Archie Bunker's Place) |
Created by |
Norman Lear Based on Mike Rawlins, a character created by Johnny Speight |
Portrayed by | Rob Reiner |
Information | |
Occupation | College student, then professor (1975-) |
Family |
Edith Bunker (mother in-law) 1971-1980, her death Archie Bunker (father in-law) 1971-1982 (?) Casimir "Cas" Stivic (uncle) Alexsander "Alex" Stivic (uncle) |
Spouse(s) | Gloria Bunker Stivic (1971-1982)(?) |
Children | Joey Stivic (son) |
Michael Casimir "Mike" 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' lead character, Archie Bunker, who frequently called him "Meathead". Michael was the husband of Archie's daughter Gloria (played by Sally Struthers). Rob Reiner played the role of Michael Stivic throughout the series.
The character of Michael Stivic is an Americanized version of the British original: Til Death Us Do Part's Mike Rawlins, the Trotskyist "Randy Scouse Git" who arouses the passionate ire of his arch-conservative father-in-law Alf Garnett. For the American version of this character, the Trotskyist angle was drastically softened: Michael Stivic is a social liberal and a leftist, but not an adherent of any form of communism and is presented as possibly a Democrat who is sympathetic to the Students for a Democratic Society movement (SDS), which is hinted by his occasional use of SDS ally and Yippie leader Abbie Hoffman's guerrilla theatre antics.
Michael Stivic is a Polish-American from Chicago. He was orphaned at a young age, with his parents having been killed in a car crash. He was raised by his uncle Casimir Stivic, an ex-Marine lieutenant turned florist, who calls him "Mickey" with great affection. He also has an uncle Alex.