Fox's first primetime series, Married…with Children, remains notable for both its risqué
jokes and abrupt cancellation—as well as delivering the fledgling FOX network a ratings
hit.
Have you wondered what the members of the lovably low-class Bundy clan have been up
to since they went off the air?
Here's what they're working on now.
Ed O'Neill
Since finding fame as curmudgeonly shoe salesman Al Bundy, Ed O’Neill has had a pretty steady
career.
That isn't to say he hasn't suffered through a few dry spells, though.
O'Neill starred in a number of short-lived, obscure projects after Married… with Children.
Remember John from Cincinnati, Big Apple, or the 2003 relaunch of Dragnet?
We don’t either.
Things turned around in 2009, when he landed the role of Jay Pritchett on ABC's award-winning
Modern Family.
Aside from moving him into a higher tax bracket in both his personal and fictional lives,
this also means O'Neill gets paid to pretend Sofia Vergara is his wife—a job most guys
would do for free.
O'Neill has also found the time to earn a black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu—not bad
for a guy who recently turned 70.
Katey Sagal
After ditching Peg Bundy's giant red helmet of hair, Sagal has worked pretty consistently.
In addition to a long-running gig as the voice of Leela on Matt Groening's animated Futurama,
Sagal starred in 8 Simple Rules.
She then went on to score a role on a little show about a group of motorcycle enthusiasts
called Sons of Anarchy.
Sagal's work as the vicious Anarchy matriarch Gemma Teller Morrow was a far cry from her
days as Peg; instead of scarfing down bonbons, she proved she was just as good at kicking
butt and taking names.
Of course, the fact that she's Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter's wife didn't hurt her chances
of nabbing the part, but she definitely made the most of the opportunity.
Sagal took home a Golden Globe and a Prism Award for the role, and she only had to kill
a few people to get there.
Christina Applegate
As lovable blonde bombshell Kelly Bundy, Applegate was a fan favorite, but finding another hit
series hasn’t been easy.
Her first starring sitcom role in NBC's Jesse lasted only two seasons, and her next TV project,
ABC's Samantha Who?, was canceled after two seasons as well.
Her third shot at post-Married sitcom hit, Up All Night, was also off the air after,
you guessed it, two seasons.
She's continued to work in film, co-starring in hits like The Sweetest Thing and the Anchorman
movies, but it hasn't improved her television luck.
All that professional turmoil is nothing compared to the personal battle she faced in 1998,
when Applegate discovered she had breast cancer.
Luckily, it was found in its early stages, and after a double mastectomy, she emerged
cancer free.
David Faustino
Bud Bundy proved to be the height of David Faustino's acting career.
While he's worked consistently, most of his gigs have been one-off appearances, like his
appearance in Entourage where he plays himself.
On the other hand, his voice acting career has been more prosperous.
He's lent his vocal talents to popular kid-focused series like Winx Club and The Legend
of Korra.
But the best thing about Faustino's post-Married…with Children life, aside from shedding that glorious
mullet, is his ability to stay out of trouble.
Unlike many former child actors, Faustino hasn't amassed a collection of mug shots.
He does have one arrest for marijuana possession in 2007, according to Fox News, but other
than that, Faustino's been an angel.
Maybe some of that good karma will pay off and his rumored Married…with Children spinoff
series will be a hit, unlike previous spin-off attempts.
Amanda Bearse
If it seems like Amanda Bearse, who played Bundy neighbor Marcy Rhoades-D'arcy, disappeared
from the TV, it's because she pretty much has.
Since 2001, she's only appeared in front of the camera only seven times.
However, her directing career's taken off.
She's lent her camera talents to programs like Dharma & Greg, MADtv, and the Rosie O'Donnell-produced
The Big Gay Sketch Show.
Off the set, Bearse revealed some real-life animosity between her and her television adversary
Ed O'Neill.
When she wed Carrie Schenken in 2010, O'Neill didn't get an invite because Bearse feared
he'd laugh during the ceremony.
After teasing her about her chicken legs for over a decade, what'd he expect?
Ted McGinley
Known as much for his role on The Love Boat as his work playing male bimbo Jefferson D'Arcy,
Ted McGinley has worked consistently since 1997 without landing anything permanent.
His most prominent role came courtesy of Hope & Faith, which catapulted Kelly Ripa's career...and
no one else's.
In fact, many consider McGinley's series presence so lackluster that he's been accused of carrying
the “McGinley Curse,” which claims that adding him to a show guarantees its cancellation.
McGinley counters that accusation by pointing out that many of the shows he's appeared on
lasted for several seasons after he came aboard.
We see your point, McGinley… but please, don’t audition for Game of Thrones.
David Garrison
Since gaining fame as Steve Rhodes, David Garrison has continued to work in television
from time to time, post-Married…with Children.
Garrison's made dozens of one-off appearances on shows like Arliss, The West Wing, and The
Good Wife.
However, his first love has always been the theater, to which he returned—and it's a
good thing he did.
In addition to appearing in Broadway productions of Bells Are Ringing and The Visit, Garrison
was part of the original cast of the hit Wicked, in which he played the Wizard of Oz… and
a very weird, off-Broadway Hannibal Lecter.
Michael the dog
Known to most as Buck, the Bundys' self-preserving Briard, Michael retired in 1995.
As true fans know, Buck was replaced by Lucky, the Cocker Spaniel possessed by Buck's reincarnated
spirit.
Sadly, Michael actually died less than a year after his final appearance in 1996, so he
didn't get to enjoy retirement for very long.
Michael was 92 in dog years when he passed.
Even though that's only 13 in human years, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he had
a fuller life than most of us ever will...
Thanks for watching!
Subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch more videos like the one you just saw.
And leave us a comment to let us know which TV show casts you’d like to catch up with...