Ed O'Neill, the legendary actor who brought Jay Pritchett to life on "Modern Family," has been a household name for years. But did you know that acting wasn’t always his first career choice? In fact, his life took a fascinating turn that almost led him down a completely different path. Let’s dive into this incredible story.
In a candid conversation on Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s "Dinner’s on Me" podcast, Ed, now 77 years old, revealed some shocking details about his past. He shared that in the '60s, he was once offered a job in organized crime. It’s hard to imagine the man we know from our TV screens considering such a life, but back then, things were very different.
Life in the '60s: A Different World
Back in the '60s, Ed was struggling to make ends meet. “I had friends whose fathers were in organized crime,” Ed recalled during the podcast. “We’re driving, and he said, ‘How you doing? You got cut, you got no money.’” At the time, Ed was at a crossroads. He was broke, unsure of what the future held, and open to any opportunity that came his way.
Read also:Tim Mcgraw Faces Tough Decision Prioritizing Recovery Over Primetime Tv Role
After visiting a local bar, Ed was presented with an intriguing business proposal that would have taken him far from the world of acting. “We left, and [Jim] said, ‘You can do this kind of stuff for me … I’ll protect you,’” Ed recounted. “‘I’ll give you easy stuff. Just you collect here. You do that. You run, you drop something off here and there. You may have to lean on a guy, but you’re good at that. You can make some good money.’”
The Moment of Truth
Ed admitted that he seriously considered the offer while waiting for his acting career to take off. But it was a heart-to-heart conversation with his father that ultimately steered him in a different direction. “He said, ‘I saw you take a ride with Jimmy … I just wanna ask you a question: Can you do time?’” Ed reflected. “‘No,’ I said. He said, ‘You couldn’t do time. You’d have a hard time being in jail, right?’ ‘No, I don’t think I could do time.’ He said, ‘OK.’”
That simple exchange was enough to change the course of Ed’s life. It wasn’t just about the risks involved; it was about understanding who he was and what he truly wanted. “I called Jimmy, and I thanked him and I said, ‘I’m going to New York. I’m gonna try this other thing,’” Ed explained.
From 'Cruising' to 'Modern Family'
Ed’s first acting role came in the 1980 film Cruising, and from there, his career took off. Over the years, he has earned dozens of credits, including his iconic role as Jay Pritchett in all 11 seasons of "Modern Family" from 2009 to 2020. Saying goodbye to the series was both bitter and sweet for Ed and his castmates. “The last two weeks of shooting, there was a buildup of emotion and you could feel it all around you,” he told The Business Journal in March 2020. “It got inside of you. People were getting choked up and it built up to that last day. The last two days were long ones because the [whole cast] was together filming for 12-hour days, and it became very emotional.”
