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Ed O'Neill

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For other people named Ed O'Neill, see Ed O'Neill (disambiguation).
Ed O'Neill
Ed O'Neill in 2010
Born
Edward Phillip O'Neill, Jr.

(1946-04-12) April 12, 1946 (age 78)
Youngstown, Oh, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1970–present
SpouseCatherine Rusoff (1986–present)

Edward Phillip "Ed" O'Neill, Jr. (born April 12, 1946) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as the main character, Al Bundy, on the Fox TV Network sitcom Married... with Children, for which he was nominated for two Golden Globes.[1] Since 2009, he can be seen on the award-winning ABC sitcom Modern Family, in the role of Jay Pritchett, for which he has been nominated for two Emmy Awards and won two Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Early life

O'Neill was born into an Irish Catholic family in Youngstown, Ohio.[2][3] His mother, Ruth Ann (née Quinlan), was a homemaker and social worker, and his father, Edward Phillip O'Neill, Sr., was a steel mill worker and truck driver.[4] O'Neill attended Ursuline High School and won a football scholarship to Ohio University, where he majored in history.[5] O'Neill left Ohio after his sophomore year: he spent more time playing sports and partying than studying[5] and also feuded with his coach. He transferred to Youngstown State University, where he was a defensive lineman.[4] O'Neill was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1969, but was cut in training camp.[6][3][4] Later, on Married... with Children, O'Neill played a former high-school football star who had failed to make it big and constantly reminisced about his "glory days" at Polk High ("I once scored four touchdowns in a single game"). As part of this theme, former Pittsburgh Steelers great and hall of fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw also made two guest appearances on the show. O'Neill was also a social studies teacher at Ursuline High School, before becoming an actor.[4]

Career

O'Neill reenrolled at YSU after being cut by the Denver Broncos and was one of the first students at the school's then new theatre program. He played Lennie in a stage production of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1985, O'Neill appeared alongside Jeff Kinsland in a Red Lobster commercial eating fish and made a brief guest appearance in The Equalizer. In 1986, he was cast as the character of NYPD Police Detective Jimmy "Popeye" Doyle for the planned television series Popeye Doyle. The Popeye Doyle character originally appeared in the motion picture The French Connection (played by Gene Hackman). The two-hour made-for-television movie/pilot was filmed and shown on network television. O'Neill received good reviews for his performance, and the pilot received good ratings, but the series was not picked up for production.

O'Neill is primarily known for playing the lead role of Al Bundy in Married... with Children, a long-running American sitcom about a dysfunctional family living in Chicago.[4] It was the first primetime television series to air on the Fox Network as a midseason replacement, debuting on April 5, 1987 and concluding June 9, 1997.

During and following the success of Married... with Children, O'Neill appeared in several movies, including The Bone Collector, Little Giants, and Dutch. He also had small parts in Wayne's World and Wayne's World 2, and appeared as Relish the Troll King in The 10th Kingdom. O'Neill made a brief appearance on the comedy variety show In Living Color, playing the "Dirty Dozens" champion who defeats the challenger, played by Jamie Foxx. He also made a cameo on the sitcom 8 Simple Rules where he was the ex-boyfriend of Cate S. Hennessy (played by Katey Sagal, who portrayed O'Neill's TV wife Peg Bundy on Married with Children). He also appeared in the movie The Adventures of Ford Fairlane with Andrew Dice Clay and in Cruising with Al Pacino. During the mid 1990s, he had a long string of appearances in commercials for 1-800-COLLECT.

Law & Order franchise creator Dick Wolf cast O'Neill as Sgt. Joe Friday in his 2003 remake of Jack Webb's classic TV crime series Dragnet. The series was canceled by ABC in its second season. O'Neill went on to appear as Governor Eric Baker (D-PA), a recurring character on NBC's The West Wing. Baker, a strong candidate for the Democratic Presidential Nomination, assumed the office of the Vice President under Matt Santos at the end of the series.

O'Neill also played Bill on HBO's television series John From Cincinnati.

In 2008, O'Neill appeared in an advertisement for then-presidential candidate Barack Obama as "Al the Shoesalesman".[7]

In January 2009, O'Neill reunited with David Faustino (Bud Bundy from Married with Children) for two episodes of Faustino's show Star-ving.[8] O'Neill also appeared with the entire cast of Married with Children again when they were honored at the 7th Annual TV Land Award show in 2009, presented by Dr. Phil.

Since 2009, O'Neill has played the role of Jay Pritchett on the ABC sitcom Modern Family, a role that earned him Emmy award nominations in 2011 and 2012.[9][10][11]

Personal life

Since 1986 O'Neill has been married to actress Catherine Rusoff, who appeared in two episodes of Married... with Children. In 1989, the couple separated but reconciled in 1993. They have two daughters, Claire in 1996 and Sophia in 1999.

After being introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by his friend writer/director John Milius, O'Neill has trained in the martial art for 22 years under the mentoring of Rorion Gracie. In December 2007, O'Neill received his black belt.[12][13] In the 2011 TV documentary I Am Bruce Lee, O'Neill states that he considers getting his black belt "the greatest achievement of my life, apart from my children."

Awards

O'Neill received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 30, 2011.[14][15]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1980 Cruising Detective Schreiber
1980 The Dogs of War Terry
1980 The Day the Women Got Even Ed
1982 Farrell for the People Detective Jay Brennan
1983 When Your Lover Leaves Mack Sher
1986 A Winner Never Quits Whitey Wyshner
1986 Popeye Doyle Popeye Doyle
1987 Right to Die
1988 Police Story: Gladiator School Sergeant Stanley Bivens
1990 A Very Retail Christmas Max Crandall
1989 Disorganized Crime George Denver
1989 K-9 Sergeant Brannigan
1990 The Adventures of Ford Fairlane Lieutenant Amos
1990 Sibling Rivalry Wilbur Meany
1991 Dutch Dutch Dooley
1991 The Whereabouts of Jenny Jimmy O'Meara
1992 Wayne's World Glen
1993 Wayne's World 2 Glen
1993 Nick's Game Ron Hawthorne
1994 Blue Chips Ed
1994 Little Giants Kevin O'Shea
1995 W.E.I.R.D. World Dr. Monochian
1997 Prefontaine Bill Dellinger
1997 The Spanish Prisoner FBI team leader
1999 The Bone Collector Detective Paulie Sellitto
2000 Lucky Numbers Dick Simmons
2001 Nobody's Baby Norman Pinkney
2004 Spartan Burch
2005 Steel Valley Congressman Cardone Short film
2008 Redbelt Hollywood producer
2012 Wreck-It Ralph Mr. Litwak Voice only

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1970 All My Children Unknown episodes
1984 Miami Vice Arthur Lawson / Artie Rollins Episode: "Heart of Darkness"
1985 Hunter Dan Colson Episode: "The Garbage Man"
1985 Braker Danny Buckner
1985 The Equalizer Doctor Episode: "The Children's Song"
1985 Spenser: For Hire Buddy Almeida Episode: "Widow's Walk"
1987–1997 Married... with Children Al Bundy
1988 Midnight Caller Hank Episode: "Twelve Gauge"
1990 Saturday Night Live Guest host January 13, 1990
1991 Top of the Heap Al Bundy Episode: "Top of the Heap"
1994 In Living Color himself Episode: "The Dirty Dozens Tournament of Champions"
2000 The 10th Kingdom Relish the Troll King
2001 Big Apple Detective Michael Mooney 8 episodes
2003–2004 L.A. Dragnet Lieutenant Joe Friday 22 episodes
2004 In the Game Buzz
2004 The West Wing Governor Eric Baker
2005 8 Simple Rules Matt Episode: "Old Flame"
2005 In the Game Buzz
2005 The West Wing Governor Eric Baker
2006 Inseparable Alan
2006 Twenty Good Years Brock Manley Episode: "Between Brock and a Hard Place"
2006 The Unit William Partch Episode: "Silver Star"
2007 John from Cincinnati Bill Jacks 10 episodes
2009–present Modern Family Jay Pritchett Handy Manny 
Mayor Thompson
2011 Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil Grandpa Episode: "Truth or Daredevil"
2012 The Penguins of Madagascar Hunter's father Episode: "Operation: Antarctica"

Awards and nominations

Year Award Show Category Title Of Work Result
1992 Golden Globe Award Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical Married...with Children Nominated
1993 Golden Globe Award Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical Married...with Children Nominated
2009 TV Land Award Innovator Award Married...with Children Won
2010 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Modern Family Nominated
2011 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series Modern Family Nominated
2011 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Modern Family Won
2011 Monte Carlo TV Festival Golden Nymph for Outstanding Actor - Comedy Series Modern Family Nominated
2011 Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Modern Family Nominated
2012 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Modern Family Won
2012 Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Modern Family Nominated

See also

References

  1. ^ Romero, Frances (September 16, 2011). "Ed O'Neill: From Al Bundy to Jay Pritchett". Top 10 TV Character Chameleons. Time Magazine. Retrieved March 16, 2012.
  2. ^ Pallante, Sally (2004). Irish in Youngstown and the Greater Mahoning Valley. Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing. p. 105. ISBN 0738532185. Retrieved October 7, 2007. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ a b "Ed O'Neill: Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Ed O'Neill Biography". Biography.com. A&E Networks. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  5. ^ a b Stated on Inside the Actors Studio, 2011
  6. ^ "It's Evening in America". Vanity Fair. May 2012. Page 156.
  7. ^ Al the Shoesalesman Gets a Tax Cut on YouTube
  8. ^ Faustino, David (2009). Star-ving: The Complete First Season (NTSC). Sony Pictures. ASIN B002HMDSOY. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
  9. ^ "Ed O'Neill". Emmys.com. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
  10. ^ Pond, Steve (July 14, 2011). "Snubs, surprises and favorites for Emmy gold". Reuters. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
  11. ^ O'Neil, Tom (September 14, 2011). "Finally, Emmy jackpot for Ed O'Neill?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
  12. ^ Al Bundy Gets Black Belt on YouTube
  13. ^ "Ed O'Neill Practices Jiu-Jitsu With Billy Bush!". Access Hollywood. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
  14. ^ Nededog, Jethro (August 30, 2011). "'Modern Family's' Ed O'Neill Gets Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 16, 2012.
  15. ^ Oldenburg, Ann (August 30, 2011). "Ed O'Neill gets Walk of Fame star". USA Today. Retrieved March 16, 2012.

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