Ed O’Neill, renowned for his role in the iconic sitcom ‘Married… With Children’, recently delved into the origins of his long-standing feud with co-star Amanda Bearse. On Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s podcast ‘Dinner’s On Me’, the ‘Modern Family actor candidly discussed the events that led to the bitter rift between him and Bearse.
The discord, O’Neill revealed, was rooted in a situation from their time on ‘Married… With Children. “I did a thing on the show that involved Amanda Bearse that I regretted,” he admitted. Despite their initial strong friendship, things took a turn after an incident involving a TV Guide cover shoot.
According to O’Neill, the conflict began when Bearse and David Garrison, who played the roles of Marcy D’Arcy and Steve Rhoades respectively, were excluded from the cover. This exclusion, O’Neill believes, was due to their characters being ‘the neighbors’ in the show. Reflecting, the 77-year-old actor expressed regret over not standing up for Bearse and the other co-stars during this pivotal moment.
O’Neill recalled a specific rule at TV Guide regarding the number of cast members allowed on the cover, noting that exceptions were only made for shows like ‘MASH’ and ‘Dallas’. “That was an exception, they weren’t doing it for us,” he said. The opportunity to be featured on the cover in their sixth year was a significant moment for the cast, yet it also marked the beginning of the feud.
Bearse had expectations of O’Neill taking a stand. “We were on the soundstage, and she said, ‘We expect you to go to [co-creator] Ron Leavitt and tell him this doesn’t work. We’re all on the cover,’” he recalled. His hesitation and failure to advocate for his castmates at that moment is something he now looks back on with regret.
O’Neill’s reflection on this episode offers a poignant glimpse into the challenges and dynamics of television show casts, especially in situations involving recognition and representation. It’s a candid admission of missed opportunities to support colleagues, underscoring the importance of solidarity and advocacy in the entertainment industry.