Ed O’Neill Biography: Movies, TV Shows, Age, Net Worth, Awards, Instagram, Wikipedia, Parents, Siblings, Height, Children

Edward Leonard O’Neill, commonly known as Ed O’Neill is an American actor, comedian, and former football player, best known for his role as Al Bundy on Married… with Children (1987–1997), earning two Golden Globe nominations.

He later gained further acclaim as Jay Pritchett on Modern Family (2009–2020), receiving three Emmy nominations and four Screen Actors Guild Awards.

His filmography includes Cruising (1980), Wayne’s World, Dutch (1991), Little Giants (1994), The Bone Collector (1999), and voice roles in Wreck-It Ralph and Finding Dory. He also appeared in The West Wing and portrayed Donald Sterling in Clipped on FX.

Profile

• Full Name: Edward Leonard O’Neill
• Stage Name: Ed O’Neill
• Born: 12 April 1946
• Age: 79 years old
• Birthplace: Youngstown, Ohio, United States
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: American actor, comedian, and former football player
• Height: 1.85 m
• Parents: Ruth Ann Quinlan, Edward Phillip O’Neill Sr.
• Siblings: 4
• Spouse: Catherine Rusoff (m. 1986)
• Children: Sophia O’Neill, Claire O’Neill
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $65 million

Early Life And Education

Edward Leonard O’Neill was born on April 12, 1946, at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown, Ohio. He is the son of Edward Phillip O’Neill, a steel mill worker and truck driver, and Ruth Ann (née Quinlan), a homemaker and social worker. As the eldest of five siblings, O’Neill has two younger brothers and two younger sisters, although further details about his family remain private.

O’Neill attended Ursuline High School in Youngstown, where he was an active participant in football, earning a scholarship to Ohio University. At Ohio University, he pursued a major in history and became a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity.

After his sophomore year, he transferred to Youngstown State University, where he continued his football career as a defensive lineman and joined the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity. He is of Irish-American descent, and he practices Catholicism.

Career

Ed O’Neill began his acting journey with a local production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. While working in steel mills and teaching social studies, he pursued acting classes and soon realized his passion for the stage.

His determination led him to New York, where he worked as a waiter and performed in off-off-Broadway productions like Requiem for a Heavyweight. O’Neill‘s breakthrough moment came when he became an understudy for the Broadway play Knockout, which caught the attention of renowned director William Friedkin.

His early film roles in the 1980s, including Cruising alongside Al Pacino and The Dogs of War with Christopher Walken, helped build his reputation in Hollywood.

In 1987, O’Neill‘s career took a significant turn when he was cast as Al Bundy, the sarcastic shoe salesman, on the hit Fox sitcom Married… with Children. The show ran for ten seasons, becoming a cultural phenomenon and earning O’Neill two Golden Globe nominations.

This role cemented his place in television history, with O’Neill‘s comedic portrayal of the long-suffering father making him a household name. In addition to his work on Married… with Children, O’Neill appeared in several films, including Dutch, Little Giants, Wayne’s World, Blue Chips, and The Bone Collector. He also starred in TV movies like The Whereabouts of Jenny and took part in miniseries such as The 10th Kingdom.

O’Neill‘s career reached new heights in 2009 when he joined the cast of Modern Family as Jay Pritchett, the patriarch of a blended family. The series ran for eleven successful seasons, earning him three Primetime Emmy nominations and four Screen Actors Guild Awards as part of its ensemble cast.

His role introduced him to a new generation of viewers, further solidifying his status as a TV icon. Beyond live-action roles, O’Neill has found success in voice acting, lending his talents to animated films like Wreck-It Ralph, Ralph Breaks the Internet, and Finding Dory, proving his versatility and enduring presence in the entertainment industry.

Social Media

• Instagram handle: @_edoneill
• YouTube Channel: Ed O’Neill

Personal Life

Ed O’Neill has been married to actress Catherine Rusoff since 1986, and the couple has two daughters, Claire and Sophia O’Neill. Known for their private nature, they have kept their personal lives away from the public eye, avoiding social media. Despite facing challenges in their relationship, O’Neill and Rusoff have remained together for nearly four decades, demonstrating a strong and enduring partnership.

Filmography

Film:

• Cruising (1980)
• The Dogs of War (1980)
• Disorganized Crime (1989)
• K-9 (1989)
• The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990)
• Sibling Rivalry (1990)
• Dutch (1991)
• Wayne’s World (1992)
• Wayne’s World 2 (1993)
• Blue Chips (1994)
• Little Giants (1994)
• Prefontaine (1997)
• The Spanish Prisoner (1997)
• Spartan (2004)
• Steel Valley (2005, short)
• Redbelt (2008)
• Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
• Entourage (2015)
• Finding Dory (2016)
• Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018)
• The Last Shift (2020)
• Sun Dogs (2017)

Television (Selected):

• Married… with Children (1987–1997)
• Dragnet / L.A. Dragnet (2003–2004)
• The West Wing (2004–2005)
• John from Cincinnati (2007)
• Modern Family (2009–2020)
• Clipped (2024)
• All’s Fair (upcoming)

Voice Roles (Animation):

• Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
• Finding Dory (2016)
• Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018)

Net Worth

Ed O’Neill‘s estimated net worth is $65 million, primarily earned from his iconic television roles, including Al Bundy on Married… with Children and Jay Pritchett on Modern Family, where he earned up to $500,000 per episode in later seasons.

His wealth is further boosted by film roles, voice acting in animated films, commercial endorsements, and syndication royalties from his successful TV shows.