Where Are They Now: The Married… with Children Cast 36 Years Later
Where is the beloved cast now?
Married… with Children ran for ten years, from 1987 to 1997, so more than one generation of TV viewers grew up watching the cult sitcom. The series about the dysfunctional Bundy family is an excellent satirical portrayal of the everyday life of a typical suburban family that seems to be living the American Dream, but they really are a mess.
Fans were devastated when Fox canceled Married… with Children without ever showing us the end of the surreal and chaotic story of the Bundy family. But not too long ago, various sources reported that an animated revival, with the characters' voices provided by the original cast, was in the works.
But where are the beloved cast members now, and what have they been doing all these years?
Amanda Bearse
Before landing the role of Marcy, the obnoxious neighbor of the Bundy family and Peggy's best friend, Amanda Bearse had established herself as a successful actress, appearing in numerous movies and TV series. While starring in the sitcom, Bearse also developed a passion for directing, so she was in charge of the production of several episodes of Married... with Children, as well as other shows.
The actress didn't star in many projects during the 2000s and 2010s but recently resumed her career, appearing in the 2022 romantic comedy Bros.
David Garrison
The actor who portrayed Steve Rhoades, Marcy's first husband, is known for his many TV roles outside of Married… with Children. One of Garrison's recent TV appearances was in Tina Fey's Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
However, David Garrison is primarily a theater actor. He has starred in various plays and Broadway musicals, including Wicked, Dead Poets Society, and The Great Society.
Ted McGinley
Jefferson Milhouse D'Arcy, another husband of Marcy's, a charming womanizer, opportunist and con man, was portrayed by Ted McGinley. The actor's early prominent roles were in the 1984 comedy Revenge of the Nerds and the last two seasons of Happy Days. However, it was his role in Married… with Children that led him to become a famous TV actor, landing one of the starring roles in the sitcom Hope & Faith, among other projects.
In 2023, McGinley joined Apple TV+'s Shrinking alongside Jason Segel and Harrison Ford.
Christina Applegate
This actress was only 16 when she was cast to play blinkered but good-natured Kelly on Married… with Children. Unlike some other teenage actors whose careers fizzled, Christina Applegate's popularity only grew after the show. She went on to star in TV series Jesse, Samantha Who?, and Dead to Me, for which she was nominated for several prestigious awards.
Unfortunately, Christina was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2021, so she will no longer appear on screen, but she'll continue to work as a voice actress.
David Faustino
Despite his obsession with women, Bud was probably the most rational member of the Bundy family. David Faustino, who played him on the show, had been in front of the camera since childhood, but his role in Married… with Children was a real breakthrough for the actor. The sitcom was also a good place for Faustino to hone his acting and screenwriting skills.
In recent years, David has worked primarily as a voice actor, providing his voice for Mako, one of the main characters in the Nickelodeon animated series Avatar: The Legend of Korra.
Katey Sagal
Far from being an exemplary housewife, Peggy Bundy became as much of a cultural phenomenon as the show itself. A strong-headed and independent woman, Peggy refused to accept the role she was given and preferred to spend all of her free time watching soap operas.
For Katey Sagal, this role was just one of the first steps in her acting career. After the show ended, Sagal voiced Leela on Futurama and appeared in Sons of Anarchy, for which she won a Golden Globe Award, Shameless, and most recently in The Conners. She is also known as a great singer, continuing to release her solo albums.
Ed O'Neill
Of course, fans will never forget the father of the family — Al Bundy, a former high school football standout turned unsuccessful women's shoe salesman, perpetually dissatisfied with his family and life. Before the sitcom, Ed O'Neill appeared in such classic comedies as K-9 and Sibling Rivalry. After proving himself as one of the best comedians of his time on Married… with Children, O'Neill went on to lead the cast of the equally popular sitcom Modern Family as the head of the Pritchett family.
Outside of these projects, O'Neill has mostly landed cameo roles in various TV shows and hasn't been particularly active in the industry in recent years.