Amanda Bearse

Fresh-faced, perky and youthful player who became known as Marcy D'Arcy, the misguided feminist foil of Ed O'Neill's formidably oafish Al Bundy, on the long-running hit sitcom "Married...With Children" (Fox, 1987-97). After studying acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse, Bearse broke into the business with a two-year stint playing Amanda Cousins on the daytime soap "All My Children." After making her feature debut with a small part in the Goldie Hawn vehicle "Protocol" (1984), Bearse became the object of desire for Tim Robbins and Stephen Geoffreys in the amiable teen comedy "Fraternity Vacation" (1985). She graduated to leading lady status in the underrated horror-comedy "Fright Night" (1985) opposite William Ragsdale. Bearse began directing episodes of "Married...With Children" in 1991 and has continued to do so in subsequent seasons. She publicly came out as a lesbian in 1993.