'Modern Family' star Ed O'Neill reveals he nearly joined the mob before finding success in Hollywood

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'Modern Family' actor Ed O'Neill considered pursuing a different career path before getting his big break in acting.

During a conversation with former co-star Jesse Tyler Ferguson on his 'Dinner on Me' podcast on Tuesday, January 16, O'Neill opened up about his plans to join the mob when he was broke in his 20s.

Ed O'Neill 'had friends in organized crime'

The 'Married … with Children' star, 77, disclosed that an opportunity presented itself to him in 1969 following his dismissal from the Pittsburgh Steelers, at which point he said he did not "have a clue" what he wanted to do.

He revealed that he had friends in "organized crime," as per Page Six.

The actor then informed his old friend Jim, who lived in his hometown of Youngstown, Ohio, that he was "broke." Thereafter, O'Neill was taken to a “fancy” restaurant by his mob friend that he "never would go to."

O'Neill said in the podcast, referring to his old pal Jim: "I had friends in organized crime. [Jim] called me and said ‘Hey take a ride with me. I want to talk to you."

"We’re driving and he said, ‘How you doing? You know, you, you got cut, you got no money.' I said, ‘No, I’m broke. You know, I don’t know what I’m going to do'," the actor continued.

Ed O'Neill received a job opportunity that he nearly accepted

The 'Modern Family' actor recounted an incident where his friend paid a bartender to obtain information on a person he was trying to find.

O'Neill recalled, "He started talking to the bartender. He says, ‘I’m looking for this kid, his name is whatever, Demko, his name is Jimmy Demko, do you know him?’ And the guy says, ‘No, it doesn’t ring a bell'."

"He gives him 20, and he says, ‘Look, he’s an old friend of mine, I haven’t seen him in years, you know, I’m looking to reconnect, but I’d like to surprise him. So if he comes in again, this is my, you can call this number. You can reach me'," he said.

After the two departed the eatery, O'Neill received an offer for a job from his friend that he nearly accepted.

O'Neill added, "We left and he said, ‘You can do this kind of stuff for me, you know, I’ll protect you, I’ll give you easy stuff. Just you collect here. You do that."

"You run, you drop something off here and there. You know, you may have to lean on a guy. You’re good at that. You can make some good money," his friend said.

However, the 'Wreck-It Ralph' star’s father talked sense into him by bringing up the possibility that he might end up in jail because of his connections. After that, O'Neill abandoned the plan and instead focused on acting.

O'Neill decided to pursue acting in New York after having the father-son conversations, and in a matter of months, he was performing on stage.

O'Neill's career took off when he was cast as Al Bundy in 'Married... with Children', a series that ran from 1987 until 1997.