Ed O’Neill was already a sitcom veteran when he joined Modern Family. He had spent 11 seasons as Al Bundy on Married… with Children, one of the longest-running comedies of its time.
Experience Pays Off
With that much experience behind him, O’Neill knew what a promising sitcom script looked like. He had seen plenty of pilots come and go, and he understood how rare it was for a new show to have real staying power.
A Bold Prediction
When he read the Modern Family pilot for the first time, he reportedly recognized its potential right away and predicted the show would run for at least 10 years.
At the time, that was a big call. Most new sitcoms never make it past their first season, let alone a decade.
He Was Right
He was remarkably close. The series ran for 11 seasons, from 2009 to 2020, and became one of the most successful and beloved family sitcoms of its generation.
Two Very Different Dads
That means O’Neill has now led two 11-season sitcoms as two very different fathers.
As Al Bundy, he played a miserable, sarcastic shoe salesman who constantly complained about his family. As Jay Pritchett, he played a gruff but ultimately loving patriarch who slowly learned to open up to the people around him.
The Heart of the Show
Jay’s journey, from a stubborn traditionalist to a dad who fully embraces his son Mitchell and his growing family, became one of the emotional backbones of Modern Family.
O’Neill’s dry delivery and impeccable timing made him the perfect anchor for the ensemble.
Not a bad track record for spotting a hit. Clearly, Ed O’Neill knows a good sitcom when he reads one.