Bio: Ed O'Neill is an American actor best known for playing Al Bundy on Married... with Children (1987), the most iconic working class character on television since Archie Bunker. Upon his debut on the world stage in Youngstown, Ohio on April 12, 1946, he was christened Edward Philip O'Neill, Jr. Both his father, Ed, Sr., a steelworker and truck driver, and his social worker mother, the former Ruth Ann Quinlan, were Irish-Americans.A gifted athlete, the 6'1" O'Neill attended Ohio University on a football scholarship, but transferred after his sophomore year to Youngstown State University, where he played as a defensive lineman. In 1969, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, but was cut in training camp. (Al Bundy was a former high-school football star constantly reminiscing about his glory days on the high school gridiron. Terry Bradshaw, the Hall of Fame Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, twice appeared on "Married with Children".)After being cut by the Steelers, O'Neill went back to YSU to join the new theater department. After graduating, he became a social studies teacher at his alma mater, Ursuline High School, before fully committing to acting. He was a member of the company at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts, one of the top regional theaters in America.After numerous supporting parts in movies and television, he was cast as the New York City detective Popeye Doyle in the 1986 television movie that was a pilot for a proposed television series. "Popeye Doyle" was based on the classic police drama The French Connection (1971), with O'Neill playing the role originated by Gene Hackman). The television movie and O'Neill's performance got good reviews, but it was not picked up as a series.A year later, O'Neill was cast as Al Bundy in the sitcom "Married with Children", which debuted on the then-new Fox Network in April 1987. It ran 10 years, until June 1997, and made O'Neill a star.During the production of "Married with Children" and after its cancellation, O'Neill appeared in movies, guested on television shows, and made television commercials. The second iconic fictional policeman role that O'Neill took over was Sgt. Joe Friday in his 2003 remake of Jack Webb's classic crime series Dragnet (2003), which appeared on ABC. The network canceled the show during its second season. Since 2009, O'Neill has played Jay Pritchett on the ABC's sitcom Modern Family (2009), for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2011.Since 1986, O'Neill has been married to actress Catherine Rusoff. They have two daughters, Claire and Sophia.
Tivia: He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 7021 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood, CA on 8/30/011. Was joined by his television wives, Katey Sagal and Sof��a Vergara, and his real-life wife, Catherine Rusoff.Expected Married... with Children (1987) to be canceled within the first six episodes.Learned (and still practices) Brazilian Ju-Jitsu from the famous Gracie family. He has achieved black belt level.Taught Social Studies in his hometown of Youngstown, OH, before acting.In 2007, he earned his black belt in Brazilian Ju-Jitsu after 15 years of training.In both real life and on his series Modern Family (2009), he has a daughter named Claire.Was set to board a flight to Hawaii when a fan came up to him and politely asked for a picture with him. Ed reluctantly said yes and took a picture with her not realizing the fan was Britney Spears.Invented the popular sandwich called the "Boone" at the famous Se-port Deli at 301 Main Street, East Setauket, New York 11733.Father, with Catherine Rusoff, of daughters Claire O'Neill and Sophia O'Neill.Was nearly cast as Sam Malone on Cheers (1982); the role went to Ted Danson instead.Was considered for the role of Steven Keaton on Family Ties (1982); the role went to Michael Gross instead.The first actor from Fox to host Saturday Night Live (1975) in 1990; three years later his Married... with Children (1987) co-star, Christina Applegate hosted the show.Often plays policemen on television series or movies. On an episode of Married... with Children (1987), he dreamed that he was a detective.Was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Pittsburgh Steelers under first-year coach Chuck Noll (1969). Also among the Steelers' rookies that year were "Mean Joe" Greene, L.C. Greenwood and Jon Kolb, all of whom were named to the Steelers All-Time Team in 2007. He was released before the start of the 1969 regular season.Started working construction when he was 14 years old. During college he worked in the steel mills in his hometown of Youngstown, OH, as an apprentice boilermaker.Because of his signature role of Al Bundy, a character who had no interest in politics outside of some extremely conservative/reactionary episodes, fans assumed 'Neill was also conservative and/or a Republican. In real life, he is a longtime Democrat who publicly opposed the Iraq War in 2003 and did a campaign ad for Barack Obama in 2008 (playing a character named "Al the Shoe Salesman").Attended and graduated from Ursuline High School, a former all-girls school, in Youngstown, OH.After the end of the run of Married... with Children (1987), he starred in television commercials for Collect Phone Calls in 1998 and 1999.Ed O'Neill is exactly one year older than Dan Lauria whose iconic character, Jack Arnold on The Wonder Years (1988) wore the same beige jacket that Ed O'Neill's character, Al Bundy, wore. Al Bundy is also one year older than Jack Arnold from an "original air date" standpoint, as Married... with Children (1987) premiered the year before The Wonder Years (1988). In addition, Al Bundy's birthday (November 7, 1948) is the day after Jack Arnold's (November 6, 1927).