Biography for
Ed O'Neill (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

12 April 1946, Youngstown, Ohio, USA

Birth Name

Edward O'Neill

Height

6' 1" (1.85 m)

Mini Biography

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 Ed, 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'Neil 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 gradating, 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'Neil playing the role originated by Gene Hackman). The television movie and O'Neil'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 12 years, until June 1997, and made O'Neil 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'Neil has been married to actress Catherine Rusoff. They have two daughters, Claire and Sophia.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Jon C. Hopwood

Spouse

Catherine Rusoff

(1986 - present) 2 children

Trade Mark

Frequently plays ordinary working class family men

Sarcastic world weary sense of humour

Trivia

Was nearly cast as Sam Malone in the situation comedy "Cheers" (1982); the role went to Ted Danson instead.

Taught Social Studies in Youngstown before acting.

Expected "Married with Children" (1987) to be canceled within the first 6 episodes.

Was considered for the role of patriarch Steven Keaton in "Family Ties" (1982); the role went to Michael Gross instead.

He graduated from Ursuline High School

Often plays policemen on television shows or movies. On an episode of "Married with Children" (1987), he dreamed that he was a detective.

Learned (and still practices) Brazilian Ju-Jitsu from the famous Gracie family.

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.

Invented the popular sandwich called the "Boone" at the famous Se-port Deli in Setauket, New York.

Plays handball.

Father, with Catherine Rusoff, of daughters Claire O'Neill and Sophia O'Neill.

In 2007, Ed earned his black belt in Brazilian Ju-Jitsu after 15 years of training.

O'Neill was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1969 as an outside linebacker. He was released before the start of the 1969 regular season.

Lives in Los Angeles and Santa Monica, California.

Irish-American.

Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on August 30, 2011. Was joined by his television wives, Katey Sagal and Sofía Vergara, and his real-life wife, Catherine Rusoff.

Personal Quotes

When I read the pilot [for "Married with Children" (1987)], it just reminded me of my Uncle Joe...just a self-deprecating kind of guy. He'd come home from work, and the wife would maybe say, 'I ran over the dog this morning in the driveway'. And he would say 'Fine, what's for dinner?'"