Ed O'Neill

Ed O’Neill’s starring role as the patriarch on Modern Family has garnered him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, the first in his long and accomplished career.

Born in Youngstown, Ohio, O’Neill attended Ohio University in Athens, OH, and Youngstown State University. Signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was cut in training camp and worked as a social studies teacher before becoming an actor. He has appeared in a number of movies, including The Bone Collector, Little Giants, Dutch, Wayne’s World series and several films for Pulitzer Prize-winning screenwriter David Mamet: The Spanish Prisoner, Spartan and the indie film Redbelt.

Best known for his role as the main character, Al Bundy, on the FOX Network’s long running sitcom, Married... with Children, O’Neill’s other television credits include the reincarnation of Sgt. Joe Friday on Dick Wolf's remake of Dragnet, the recurring role of Baker (D-PA), a potential Vice Presidential candidate on the NBC drama The West Wing, the role of Detective Michael Mooney on David Milch’s CBS series, Big Apple, and most recently that of a retired cop on HBO’s John from Cincinnati, from the creator/producer of NYPD Blue and Deadwood. O’Neill also had stints on Broadway starring in the productions Lakeboat and Keep Your Pantheon.