What The Cast Of Married… With Children Looks Like Today

In contrast to the sweet family comedies like “The Cosby Show,” “Family Ties,” and “Diff’rent Strokes” dominating TV in 1987, networks were flooded with proposals for sitcoms featuring harmonious families teaching life lessons. Fortunately, Fox network was seeking unique, bold programming to attract a younger audience, and writers Michael G. Moye and Ron Leavitt capitalized on this by creating a show about a contentious family of vultures, who instead of getting along, spent their time bickering and enjoying their own misery. This series ran for 11 seasons.

In Chicago, the story revolved around Al Bundy, a struggling women’s shoe salesman (played by Ed O’Neill), his laid-back housewife Peg (Katey Sagal), their daughter Kelly (Christina Applegate), who is not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed, their son Bud (David Faustino), and their dog, Buck. The Bundys’ neighbors, Steve and Marcy Rhoades (portrayed by David Garrison and Amanda Bearse), often express disdain for the Bundys’ questionable conduct, but things change when Marcy’s second husband, Jefferson D’Arcy (Ted McGinley), starts siding with Al.

Despite ceasing broadcast in 1997, “Married… with Children” continues to entertain modern audiences through syndication and streaming platforms. This gives rise to new generations who can enjoy the show’s bawdy humor and cynical wit. In this piece, we’ll catch up on where the cast members are today, exploring their lives post-“Married… with Children.

Ed O’Neill (Al Bundy)

Raised in a blue-collar family of steelworkers in Youngstown, Ohio, Ed O’Neill initially pursued a career in football before transitioning into acting, much like Al Bundy shifted from high school football star to, well, shoe salesman. He featured in films such as “Cruising” directed by William Friedkin prior to portraying Popeye Doyle in the television adaptation of Friedkin’s “The French Connection.” Despite his dramatic acting background, an unexpected turn of events led him to be cast as Al Bundy. Remarkably, it was while performing Lennie in a stage production of John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men” that he caught the attention of the show’s casting director. It was this unique history that made him the ideal fit for portraying the disgruntled, cynical Bundy patriarch.

During the time when “Married… with Children” was airing, O’Neill appeared in multiple films, including standout roles in “Wayne’s World,” “Dutch,” and “Blue Chips.” After “Married,” he aimed to distance himself from his Al Bundy character by taking on roles such as Joe Friday in “Dragnet” and Governor Eric Baker on “The West Wing.” He also gained favor with David Milch, appearing in both “Big Apple” and “John from Cincinnati,” two of Milch’s shows. Additionally, he worked with David Mamet in films like “The Spanish Prisoner” and “Spartan.

It was initially hesitant, but eventually returning to network TV comedy on “Modern Family” that significantly transformed his screen character. In this sitcom, he portrayed Jay Pritchett, a mature businessman dealing with a second marriage to a younger woman (Sofía Vergara) and her son (Rico Rodriguez). This role earned him three Emmy nominations and four Screen Actors Guild ensemble awards. Following this success, he took on the role of Donald Sterling in the miniseries “Clipped” and lent his voice to both “Wreck-It Ralph” and “Finding Dory.

Katey Sagal (Peg Bundy)

As a gamer, I might rephrase that into:

Before venturing into acting, I had an impressive musical background, performing as one of Bette Midler’s backup singers, known as the Hartlettes. My acting journey kicked off with a run on Mary Tyler Moore’s show “Mary,” and it wasn’t too long before I snagged the role of Peg Bundy – a character who was more interested in lounging around than doing housework, and had an insatiable appetite for romance.

Initially showcasing her unique vocal talent in the kids’ cartoon “Recess,” she later landed the role as alien spaceship captain Turanga Leela in Matt Groening’s “Futurama.” This series ran for nine seasons across three broadcasters from 1999 to 2024. Alongside notable guest spots on “That ’70s Show” and “Lost,” she re-entered network sitcoms with the family comedy “8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter.” However, this series was abruptly ended following the unfortunate demise of her onscreen husband, John Ritter.

Katey Sagal’s professional journey underwent a significant shift with “Sons of Anarchy,” a series penned by her spouse, Kurt Sutter. Her portrayal of Gemma Teller Morrow, the hard-as-nails leader of a California motorcycle club, earned her a Golden Globe for best actress in a television drama. Following this, she worked alongside her “8 Simple Rules” daughter Kaley Cuoco on “The Big Bang Theory,” taking on the role of Penny’s mother. She has also shared screen time with Christina Applegate in “Dead to Me.” In her latest venture, she stars as Louise Goldufski in “The Connors,” where she develops a relationship with Dan Connor (John Goodman) after Roseanne’s passing, an interesting twist given that Roseanne, who was dismissed from her own show following contentious tweets, was initially slated to play Peg Bundy.

Christina Applegate (Kelly Bundy)

It’s intriguing to ponder how the series “Married… with Children” might have unfolded if the initial pilot had featured Tina Caspary and Hunter Carson as Kelly and Bud Bundy instead of Christina Applegate. However, when it was time for a recast of Kelly, the producers stumbled upon Christina Applegate, who at 15 years old had an impressive acting background with roles in “Days of Our Lives,” “Silver Spoons,” and “Family Ties” already under her belt.

Kelly Bundy, characterized by her free-spirited and intellectually unchallenging persona, catapulted Applegate to stardom. During its airtime, she graced the screen in movies like “Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead,” “Mars Attacks!,” and “Nowhere.” Following the conclusion of “Married… with Children” in 1997, Applegate assumed the lead role in the brief-lived sitcom “Jesse.” Post-“Married… with Children,” her television presence remained vibrant. It began with a 2003 Emmy win for portraying Jennifer Aniston’s sister Amy on “Friends”; she received an additional nomination for the show the following year. Applegate reappeared in Emmy contention as an amnesiac on “Samantha Who?” and a suburban widow on “Dead to Me,” sharing the screen with Linda Cardellini.

During that period, she graced numerous films, with standout performances in “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,” “Hall Pass,” and “Bad Moms.” Notably, she was nominated for a Tony award when she played Charity Hope Valentine in the 2005 revival of “Sweet Charity.” However, her career has faced challenges in recent years after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, which made filming the last season of “Dead to Me” in 2021 particularly tough. In 2023, she shared that due to her illness, she might step away from on-camera acting, but intends to continue working as a voice-over artist.

David Faustino (Bud Bundy)

Fortunately for David Faustino, the producers of “Married… with Children” chose to replace the initial actor portraying Bud Bundy, who was Hunter Carson in the original pilot. At 13 years old, Faustino had already made appearances in shows like “Little House on the Prairie,” “The Love Boat,” and “Family Ties” before he got the role. By that time, he was perfectly cast as the mischievous younger brother who transforms into a teenage character with a strong interest in sex.

During the 11-year stretch of “Married,” Faustino simultaneously starred as Bud Bundy in two sitcoms, “Parker Lewis Can’t Lose” and “Top of the Heap.” These were among three unsuccessful spinoffs of “Married… with Children” (the others being “Radio Free Trumaine” and “Enemies”). Faustino also made appearances on “Blossom,” “Burke’s Law,” and “MADtv.” Furthermore, he attempted to kickstart a music career with the rap album “Balistyx,” which was satirized on “Married… with Children” through Bud’s character, Grandmaster B.

After his role in “Married… with Children,” Faustino appeared on Christina Applegate’s short-lived sitcom “Jesse,” and took on guest roles in shows like “Nash Bridges,” “The X-Files,” and “The Bernie Mac Show.” Following a stint on the reality TV show “Celebrity Boot Camp,” Faustino transitioned into internet television with “Star-ving,” where he portrayed a struggling actor character based on himself, trying to succeed in Hollywood. During its 12-episode run, his “Married… with Children” co-stars – Applegate, Ed O’Neill, and Katey Sagal – made appearances. Faustino also played himself in two episodes of “Entourage,” and has since been seen on shows like “Bones,” “Robot Chicken,” and “Modern Family,” where he was reunited with O’Neill.

Amanda Bearse (Marcy D’Arcy)

In the time before “Married… with Children,” horror movie enthusiasts would recall Amanda Bearse from her notable debut in “Fright Night.” Here, she portrayed a suburban teen who was drawn into the clutches of a charismatic vampire (Chris Sarandon), who had just moved next door to her boyfriend. This role then led to her casting as Marcy Rhoades, a forward-thinking career woman living across the street from the Bundy family with her husband Steve. Marcy was often a confidante for Peg and an adversary for Al, but found herself alone when Steve left her. Later, she remarried the playboy Jefferson D’Arcy after a single night together, subsequently changing her surname to Marcy D’Arcy.

In 1993, Bearse gained media attention when she publicly acknowledged her sexuality as gay, serving as a trailblazer for other TV personalities to openly express their identities. During this period, she was featured in the gritty road movie “The Doom Generation,” which was directed by renowned figure of New Queer Cinema, Gregg Araki.

As a devoted fan looking back, I can’t help but marvel at Christina Applegate’s versatile journey in the world of entertainment. Starting off as an iconic cast member on “Married… with Children,” she unexpectedly unveiled her knack for directing and steered 31 episodes of that show. Post her tenure on “Married… with Children,” she flourished as a sought-after sitcom director, lending her skills to series like “The Jamie Foxx Show,” “Dharma and Greg,” “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” “Reba,” “George Lopez,” and “Jesse.” Her talent extended beyond directing into sketch comedy, making significant contributions to “MADtv” and “The Big Gay Sketch Show.” Despite a brief absence from on-camera roles, she’s made a triumphant return to acting in recent years, gracing us with appearances on “Anger Management,” “Smothered,” and the movie “Bros.

Ted McGinley (Jefferson D’Arcy)

When I found out that David Garrison was departing from “Married… with Children,” I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness. But little did we fans know, the exit paved the way for Ted McGinley to step into the shoes of Jefferson D’Arcy – a carefree, handsome charmer who ended up marrying Marcy after an unforgettable night of passion. Jefferson quickly became an unlikely ally to Al Bundy, joining him at the nudie bar and assisting with his numerous plots. This role seemed tailor-made for McGinley, given his past roles as the lead bully in “Revenge of the Nerds” and recurring appearances on shows like “Happy Days,” “Dynasty,” and “The Love Boat.” During his time on “Married… with Children,” he even made guest appearances in films and other TV shows, such as “Wayne’s World 2” alongside Ed O’Neill and “The John Larroquette Show.

After “Married… with Children” ended in 1997, McGinley gained recognition from Aaron Sorkin and appeared in shows like “Sports Night” and “The West Wing.” He also played Charlie Shanowski, married to Faith Ford’s Hope Shanowski, on the sitcom “Hope and Faith,” which ran for three seasons. Later, he made guest appearances on “Mad Men,” “Castle,” and “Mom.” Eventually, McGinley secured the role of Derek, supportive spouse to Christa Miller’s Liz, on “Shrinking,” earning a SAG ensemble nomination for his performance.

McGinley is often referred to as the “guardian angel of leaping into the abyss,” alluding to the instance when a struggling television series attempts to regain popularity by employing drastic actions (a term originated from an episode of “Happy Days” where Fonzie performs a daring water-ski jump over a shark). Given that McGinley gained notoriety by stepping in for departing cast members on multiple TV shows, including “Married… with Children,” this nickname seems quite apt.

David Garrison (Steve Rhoades)

In the first four seasons of “Married… with Children,” David Garrison played Steve Rhoades, a prosperous banker who lived next door to the Bundys with his wife Marcy. Prior to this TV role, Garrison had acted in shows like “Remington Steele” and “It’s Your Move” alongside Jason Bateman. However, it was mostly on the theater stage where he made a name for himself before transitioning into being both an adversary and eventually a friend to Al Bundy.

Before his role on “Married… with Children,” Garrison had notable Broadway performances. These included a Tony-nominated act in the musical “A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine,” “The Pirates of Penzance,” and “Torch Song Trilogy.” Longing to perform on stage again, Garrison departed “Married” after four years; however, he made occasional guest appearances (such as one time in Season 9’s “Radio Free Trumaine”) which served as a pilot for an unsuccessful spinoff where Garrison was set to portray a college dean.

After departing from “Married… with Children,” Garrison found success on the stage, with his most notable role being that of the Wizard in the initial U.S. tour of “Wicked.” He also graced stages in productions such as “Merrily We Roll Along,” “Guys and Dolls,” “Bells Are Ringing,” and a stage adaptation of “Dead Poets Society.” Although he didn’t entirely abandon television, his extensive small-screen credits following “Married” include appearances on “Murder She Wrote,” “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” “The Practice,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “The West Wing,” “Law and Order,” “The Good Wife,” “30 Rock,” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

Harold Sylvester (Griff)

Among the recurring characters from “Married… with Children,” one of the most notable was Harold Sylvester, who portrayed Al’s divorced shoe store colleague Griff. This character was part of “NO MA’AM” (National Organization of Men Against Amazonian Masterhood), a group that also included Jefferson D’Arcy, Bob Rooney (E. E. Bell), and Ike (Tom McCleister). As an unknowing accomplice in Al’s numerous plans, Griff frequently became the target of his anger towards their boss, Gary (Janet Carroll).

In Season 9, Sylvester debuted and went on to star in a total of 44 episodes. Prior to this role, he had an extensive film and TV career, leaving lasting impressions with his performances in movies like “An Officer and a Gentleman,” “Uncommon Valor,” and “Innerspace,” as well as shows such as “Hill Street Blues,” “A Different World,” and “NYPD Blue.” However, it was the character of Griff that catapulted him to fame.

Following the last episode of “Married… with Children” in 1997, Sylvester Stallone went on to appear in various shows such as “Moesha”, “Malcolm in the Middle”, and “CSI: Miami”. More recently, he had a guest role on “The Pitt” playing Willie Alexander. As a producer, Sylvester Stallone won a Sports Emmy in 2001 for the documentary “On Hallowed Ground: Streetball Champions of Rucker Park”, which is fitting given that he was the first African American to attend Tulane University on an athletic scholarship. Leveraging this experience, he wrote the made-for-TV movie “Passing Glory” which starred Andre Braugher and was directed by Steve James, who also directed the documentary “Hoop Dreams”.

2025-07-13 21:31