Ed O'Neill is an American actor. He is best known for his role as the main character Al Bundy, on the Fox Network sitcom Married... with Children, for which he was nominated for two Golden Globes.

Ed O'Neill's first stage performances were in his Youngstown, Ohio high school's plays. He was also an award-winning member of the school debate team. Although he liked the stage, O'Neill initially preferred playing football for both Ohio University and Youngstown State. He was actually drafted in 1969 by the Pittsburgh Steelers. But after being cut from the Steelers training camp, he went back to Youngstown and tried out for a production of One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest at the local playhouse.

He found his calling in the theater, but he needed money and soon found himself working in the steel mills and later teaching social studies to Grade 6 students. While teaching, he decided to enroll in a series of acting classes.

Seven years later he moved to New York in hopes of becoming a professional actor. During this time he worked as a waiter and eventually won a role in the off-off-Broadway production of Requiem for a Heavyweight. He then became the understudy for the lead in the Broadway show Knockout.

Spotted by director William Friedkin during the run of the play, he was cast in the film Cruising (1980) starring Al Pacino, followed by Dogs of War starring Christopher Walken.

O Neill's biggest break came in television. After stints in a number of TV films such as The Ferrell for the People, and Popeye Doyle, O'Neill found huge success on the hit television series Married… with Children playing the man of the house, Al Bundy. The show granted him continual work for the next ten years as well as a Golden Globe Nomination for Best TV Comedy in 1993.

With his popularity on the rise, O'Neill won lead roles on the big screen including the films Dutch (1991) and Little Giants (1994)