Christina Applegate Says Ed O'Neill 'Raised Her': 'If You Don't Like Anything About Me, It's His Fault'

Mar. 15, 2025

Christina Applegate (left) and Ed O’Neill in 2012.Photo:Jason Merritt/Getty

Jason Merritt/Getty

O’Neill, 78, guest-starred on the Tuesday, Aug. 27 episode of Applegate’s podcast,MeSsy with Christina Applegate and Jamie-Lynn Sigler, where the two discussed their time working on the classic sitcomMarried… with Children. During their conversation, theDead to Meactress, 52, revealed that O’Neill basically “raised her.”

She then joked, “If you do like anything about me, also his fault.” Applegate added, “Years years of my life spent with this man and he’s an incredible actor, he’s an incredible human being.”

Christina Applegate (left) and Ed O’Neill onMarried… with Children.Columbia Pictures/Embassy Pictures/Kobal/Shutterstock

Columbia Pictures/Embassy Pictures/Kobal/Shutterstock

Applegate and O’Neill played Kelly and Al Bundy respectively from 1987 to 1997 on Fox’sMarried… with Children. The series also starredKatey Sagalas Al’s wife, Peggy, andDavid Faustinoas the couple’s son, Bud.

During the podcast, Applegate revealed she almost missed out on starring in the unconventional family comedy because she thought the script for the pilot episode was “gross.”

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“This is toilet humor and I don’t do toilet humor,” she recalled thinking at the time. However, once she saw the original pilot — which didn’t star her or Faustino — she recalled both she and her mother thought it was “f—— hysterical.”

After being cast in the show at the age of 15, Applegate revealed that she and O’Neill bonded even though she had her “armor up” during filming.

“I mean, he went through everything with me. My mom’s cancer and other things,” she said of her costar.

From left: David Faustino, Christina Applegate, Amanda Bearse, Ed O’Neill, Ted McGinley and Katey Sagal.Columbia Tristar/Fotos International/Getty

Columbia Tristar/Fotos International/Getty

As for O’Neill, he told Applegate’s co-host, 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 costars also shared how much they enjoy the way their relationship has matured over the years. Applegate noted that she loves talking to O’Neill on the phone, even though she hates talking on the phone under normal circumstances.

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“I love our relationship now, Eddie,” she said. “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.”

“You’re completely different people,” he began, before adding, “the thing that you both have that I really like is, good hearts. You know, you’re good-hearted.”

source: people.com