Christina Applegate credits TV dad Ed O'Neill for 'raising' her as she opens up about their deep bond
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Christina Applegate has shared that Ed O'Neill's influence extended far beyond their on-screen father-daughter dynamic in the hit sitcom 'Married... with Children'.
In the Tuesday, August 27 episode of her podcast, 'MeSsy with Christina Applegate and Jamie-Lynn Sigler', which included O'Neill, the 52-year-old actress revealed that the actor basically "raised" her, as per People.
Christina Applegate calls Ed O'Neill an 'incredible human being'
Reflecting on their time together, Christina Applegate said, "I don't even know how to explain this person. He raised me, so if you don't like anything about me, it's his fault." With a touch of humor, she added, "If you do like anything about me, also his fault."
The actress praised O'Neill, noting, "Years and years of my life spent with this man and he's an incredible actor, he's an incredible human being."
O'Neill and Applegate starred as Al Bundy and Kelly Bundy in the Fox sitcom 'Married... with Children', which ran for 11 seasons from 1987 to 1997. The show also featured Katey Sagal as Al's wife, Peggy, and David Faustino as their son, Bud.
On the podcast, Applegate shared that she almost missed out on the show due to her initial reaction to the pilot script, which she found "gross." She recalled thinking, "This is toilet humor and I don't do toilet humor."
However, after watching the original pilot, which did not feature her or Faustino, the actress and her mother found it "f*****g hysterical."
Christina Applegate opens up about her deep bond with Ed O'Neill and their current relationship
Christina Applegate, who joined the sitcom's cast at 15, ended up developing a close bond with Ed O'Neill despite her initial reservations. She shared, "I mean, he went through everything with me. My mom's cancer and other things."
O'Neill spoke highly of the 'Dead to Me' actress' professionalism and their working relationship. He told co-host Jamie-Lynn Sigler, "She was just a pro. Yeah. It was great to work with her. It's hilarious. So that was, it was always fun to work with Christina."
The former colleagues also expressed their enjoyment of their evolving relationship over the years.
Applegate mentioned her fondness for their phone conversations, saying, "I love our relationship now, Eddie. Like, our relationship now of me being 52 years old and the fact that you and I can talk on the phone for hours and giggle and talk about everything. Like, we talk a lot. I talk to you more than I talk to anyone else on the telephone."
O'Neill expressed pride in her achievements and drew a comparison between her and his other onscreen daughter, Julie Bowen, who starred as Claire Dunphy in 'Modern Family'.
He remarked, "You're completely different people. The thing that you both have that I really like is good hearts. You know, you're good-hearted."
