What Is Actor Ed O’Neill Up To Now?

Ed O’Neill turns 80 on April 12, 2026, and if you grew up watching sitcoms, you probably know him from at least two huge shows. He starred as Al Bundy in Married… with Children through the late ’80s and ’90s, then came back years later as Jay Pritchett in Modern Family, which ran from 2009 to 2020 and introduced him to a whole new audience. In honor of his special birthday, let’s find out what he’s been up to in recent years.

Before becoming a TV star, O’Neil almost had a completely different career. In 1969, he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent under head coach Chuck Noll, but he was cut during training camp while competing against rookies Joe Greene and L.C. Greenwood, who would go on to become key pieces of the team’s “Steel Curtain” defense in the ’70s.