Role: Al Bundy
Birthday : 12th April 1946
Birthplace : Youngstown, Ohio, USA
Recent Role : Bill Jacks on John from Cincinnati
Birth Name : Edward O’Neill
Height : 6′ 1″ (1.85 m)
Gender : Male
Ed O’Neill was born to Ruth Ann and Edward Phillip O’Neill. His mother was a housewife and a social worker while his father worked at a steel mill and was also a truck driver. Ed studied at the Ursuline High School and later completed his higher studies at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Later, he also studied at the Youngstown State University.
In 1969, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed O’Neill as an outside linebacker, but released him before regular season started that year. O’Neill returned to the Youngstown State University, to teach social studies and remained there till the time he chose acting as his career.
Ed loves to play handball and he also contrived Se-port Deli’s popular sandwich called the “Boone”. He was introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by his friend John Milius, who is a writer and a director. He has now been practicing the martial art for 15 years under the guidance of Rorion Gracie. Ed O’Neill received a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, in December 2007.
Ed married actress Catherine Rusoff in 1986. Catherine also appeared in two episodes of Married with Children along with Ed O’Neill. The couple separated for a few years in 1989, but later, got together again in 1993. Ed and Catherine are the proud parents of two young daughters.
Ed started his acting career with the play Of Mice and Men, in which he played the part of Lenny. He was seen in a movie for the first time when he appeared in Deliverance as a deputy. He then worked in numerous other movies like, Cruising, The Adventures of Ford Fairlane, Wayne’s World, Little Giants, The Bone Collector, Nobody’s Baby, Redbelt, and many more.
Even though Ed is primarily known for his role of Al Bundy on Married With Children, he had done numerous TV shows before and after that. His most prominent shows on TV include The Day the Women Got Even, A Winner Never Quits, Police Story: Gladiator School, Nick’s Game, The 10th Kingdom, Big Apple, Dragnet, The West Wing and John From Cincinnati etc.
In addition, Ed also appears in the AOL’s online video service advertisements, at present. He has also starred in the commercials for 1-800-COLLECT.
Ed O’Neill has been nominated for two Golden Globe Awards in 1992 and 1993. Both the times he was nominated under the category of Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical for his work in Married With Children. In 2009, he along with his co-stars won the Innovator Award at the TV Land Award, for his work in Married With Children.
Role In Married With Children
In Married With Children, he plays the role of Al Bundy, the head of the Bundy family. He had been a promising fullback for a fictional Polk High School. But his budding career was cut short by his decision to marry his girlfriend, whom he had unintentionally impregnated. He resents his family since he feels that they are responsible for the failures in his life. He is not opposed to the idea of cheating on his wife and does not like marital sex. That is why he often visits nudie bars and strip joints with his friends. However, in spite of everything, Al is committed to his family which becomes evident through his various actions that he carries out to protect them and support them.
