“Married With Children” Cast Members Fans Simply Can’t Forget
At first, no one, including the cast, thought anything was going to come out of the sitcom Married...with Children. Well, 11 seasons later and it is, to this day, Fox's longest-running live-action sitcom. Obviously, the show gained a big following and found a lot of success.
Of course, that success wouldn't have come without the creative genius of each of the castmates and various guest stars. And while names such as Katey Sagal, Ed O'Neill, and E.E. Bell used to be common household names, where are the actors now? Married, working, or maybe taking it easy, these stars have done lots of different things since the final episode of Married...with Children aired.
Katey Sagal: Then
Actress Katey Sagal played the matriarch of the Bundy family, Peggy. While not a typical housewife of the time and not necessarily enjoying her domestic "responsibilities," she was still considered a fan favorite during the show's run. Sassy, opinionated, and never with a box of chocolates far behind her, Sagal did a great job bringing the character to life.
Ironically, Sagal didn't think the show was going to amount to anything since it was being aired on Fox, an unknown network at the time. Obviously, she and the rest of the cast didn't have to worry about losing their day jobs, as Married...with Children ran for 11 seasons.
Katey Sagal: Now
After her 11-season run on Married...with Children, actress Katey Sagal didn't have to look far for roles. Two actually came right away, in the form of voice acting. You might recognize her voice as Turanga Leela in Futurama as well as Spinelli's mom in Recess.
But her biggest role after the '80s-'90s sitcom had to have been her character Gemma Teller Morrow, the "mama bear" of the Sons of Anarchy motorcycle club in the hit series of the same name. She actually married the show's creator, Kurt Sutter, four years before its premiere in 2008. Sagal also contributed to the SOA soundtrack.
Christina Applegate: Then
Blonde, beautiful, and able to play the role of the stereotypical ditzy teenage daughter to a T, Christina Applegate was the perfect Kelly Bundy in Married...with Children. During the show's run, Applegate played the oldest Bundy child, the boy-crazy shopaholic Kelly. And while she's the type of girl no parent would want their daughter to be friends with, she held a soft spot in many fans' hearts.
She might make fun of her little brother, mispronounce simple words, and spend her father's money without a care in the world, but she still loved her family. You know... in her own superficial way.
Christina Applegate: Now
After 11 seasons on Married...with Children, Christina Applegate continued in the entertainment industry with a focus on comedic roles. While some of her more well-known roles in the genre include Anchorman, Hall Pass, and Bad Moms, she is also a very accomplished drama and stage performer.
Applegate even earned a Tony nomination for her role in the Broadway production of Sweet Charity. Most recently, she has played the lead role of Jen Harding in Netflix tragicomedy Dead to Me, a performance that earned the actress three Primetime Emmy nominations as well as a Golden Globe nomination.
David Garrison: Then
You might remember actor David Garrison as the man who played the Bundy's next-door neighbor Steve Rhoades. Marcy's first husband, a banker, and a bit of a nerd, Steve was often roped into Al's various schemes and ventures without much of a say (like frequenting "male clubs").
Well, Marcy and Steve ultimately got divorced because Garrison decided to end his contract with Married...with Children. As much as fans of the show were sad to see Garrison go, he did so for a very good reason!
David Garrison: Now
Actor David Garrison opted to end his contract with Married...with Children to return to a life on the stage. That's right, Garrison is a huge theater buff and has had quite a successful career after leaving television. He's appeared in numerous high-profile shows, such as Guys and Dolls, and he was even the Wizard in the original production of the Broadway favorite Wicked.
The Tony Award-nominated actor is last credited for his 2017 performance in the show Kid Victory. It looks like Garrison made the right move for his career when he left the cast of Married...with Children.
Matt LeBlanc: Then
Actor Matt LeBlanc was a reoccurring face in the Bundy household. As one of Kelly's boyfriends, LeBlanc's character Vinnie Verducci appeared in four episodes of Married...with Children. And, if you're familiar with Kelly's character, you know what personality traits Vinnie had throughout his short time on the show!
Even though he was in so few episodes, fans really enjoyed the ditzy male character of Vinnie. So, the showrunners decided to do two spin-off series starring LeBlanc. Unfortunately, neither found success and both were canceled after one season.
Matt LeBlanc: Now
After Matt LeBlanc's short stint with the Married...with Children cast, he had a bit of trouble finding work. That is, until 1994 when his entire life changed in the form of Friends and the character Joey. LeBlanc played the role of the fun-loving friend for ten years, even starring in the spin-off Joey when it came to an end.
Afterward, LeBlanc took a break from acting, returning in 2011 to the show Episodes. The series earned him four Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe win. Most recently, the actor is a series regular in and the executive producer of Man with a Plan.
David Faustino: Then
For the show's 11-season run, David Faustino played the role of the youngest Bundy, Bud. not only was he Al and Peggy's only son, but he is their only child to complete both high school and college, making him a first-generation graduate! But his grades didn't exactly make him the popular kid in school.
Bud was often bullied throughout the series and had the worst luck when it came to relationships, meaning he didn't have any. But, real talk here, if his parents wanted him to have a normal social life, they probably should have thought twice about naming him Bud with the last name Bundy.
David Faustino: Now
After spending his childhood on the set of Married...with Children, actor David Faustino ventured down other career paths. While he still acts, Faustino also dabbles in the music industry as a rapper under the name D' Lil, as well as the radio industry. You can find him on Skee 24/7 Dash Radio on Old Scratch Radio.
But back to his acting. Aside from playing himself in a lot of shows, Faustino got into voice acting after Married...with Children. One of his more famous roles is the firebender Mako in the popular Nickelodeon series The Legend of Korra.
Ed O'Neill: Then
Unlike most of the television dads of the time, Ed O'Neill's character Al Bundy, the patriarch of the Bundy family, left much to be desired. A shoe salesman, Bundy did little but relive his high school glory days as a football star (gag).
He's also not the best father or husband, going off with his friends and being part of a "no girls club." We mean, seriously, the guy acted as though he were still in high school! Anywho, the role earned O'Neill an innovator award from TV Land as well as two Golden Globe nominations.
Ed O'Neill: Now
Actor Ed O'Neill didn't stray too far from playing the patriarch of the family in his Married...with Children follow-up role. While he had many roles after the 1987 show, his most famous and memorable has to be his role as the patriarch Jay Pritchett in Modern Family.
The mockumentary-style show ran from 2009 until 2020 for a total of 11 seasons. And O'Neill's cranky, stubborn, and yet lovable character Jay earned the actor three Emmy nominations. His most recent work was in the film comedy film The Last Shift, of which is set to release in September of 2020.
Denise Richards: Then
If you watched Married...with Children, then you might not even remember Denise Richards being part of the cast. Well, that's because she had such a tiny role in one episode that her character didn't even have a name! She was cast as Girl #2 in the episode "Kelly Does Hollywood: Part 2."
The episode shows the Bundy family traveling to Hollywood, where Kelly dreams of making it big in the entertainment industry. Richards was only 20 at the time. And while her role was very small, she wound up with a pretty successful career on-screen.
Denise Richards: Now
Today, Denise Richards isn't exactly known for her role as Girl #2 in Married...with Children. Instead, she's known for her successful modeling career and for being a Bond girl in the 1992 movie The World is Not Enough. More recently, though, Richards is known for her pursuits in reality television.
From 2008–2009, the actress starred in her own show on E! called Denise Richards: It's Complicated. As you probably guessed from the one year it aired, the show wasn't popular. Then 2019 hit, and Richards joined the cast of women on the Bravo reality series The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. If you haven't seen it, talk about drama!
Vanna White: Then
Where do we even start with Vanna White's character in Married...with Children? We see her on the season finale of the seventh season as Helen Granowinner or Coco. We're really not entirely certain of her name since Al doesn't remember. Regardless, Al sees Coco on a commercial and recognizes her as a girl he went to high school with.
So, after she frequents his shoe store, Al invites her to the house. The next move is obvious (not), Coco offers Peggy half a million dollars for Al! Being the anti-housewife, Peggy accepts the offer, only to turn it down before the final credits rolled.
Vanna White: Now
After Married...with Children, Vanna White made quite a name for herself. Since the beginning of the game show Wheel of Fortune, White has been the face known to continuously clap for contestants and turn over the letters on the game board for everyone to see.
In 2013, White was even presented with a Guinness World Record certificate for being the most frequent clapper! Since the show's 30th episode, it's estimated that White has clapped a solid 3,480,864 times. As of today, she can still be found on the Game Show Network turning the Wheel of Fortune tiles.
Tia Carrere: Then
Who can forget Tia Carrere's guest appearance in Married...with Children? The actress played the role of Piper Bauman in the episode "Kelly Bounces Back." And while Piper was nothing other than another girl looking to land a car commercial, she quickly became Kelly's arch-enemy.
If you remember, Piper steals Kelly's move, the "Bundy Bounce Back," winning the part. Of course, that wasn't going to fly with the oldest Bundy child. So, obviously, she ties Piper up and sticks her in the trunk of a car, ultimately winning the role in the commercial. We can only hope she felt sorry for the act, but we wouldn't bet on it.
Tia Carrere: Now
After her short time on Married...with Children, Tia Carrere found success in both live-action and voice acting roles. One of her more well-known voice acting roles was that of Nani in the Disney animated film Lilo & Stitch, reprising the role in the television series as well as the three straight to video spin-off films.
Other than voicing the guardian of an alien-loving sister, Carrere is also recognized for her role as Cassandra Wong in the Wayne's World films. Some of her more recent credits include Chow Lin in Blue Bloods, Teresa in Dollface, and Lady Danger in the 2020 Netflix series AJ and the Queen.
Krista Allen: Then
Actress Krista Allen only appeared in one episode of Married...with Children, but boy did she leave a lasting impression. Allen played the role of Crystal Clark, a co-ed at Trumaine University, where Bud attended. And, obviously, Bud had a wee bit of a crush on her.
So, he recruited Crystal for the cover girl spot for the Girls of Trumaine calendar he was putting together for an entrepreneurial class. The thing is, Bud doesn't know Crystal was born a boy, leaving him in a state of depression when he learns the truth. Needless to say, Allen's character was one of the more memorable guests on the show!
Krista Allen: Now
Like many of her Married...with Children co-stars, Krista Allen landed many acting gigs after her time on the show. The thing is, many of them were one-and-done deals, meaning she only appeared for an episode or two before moving on to another audition.
But, in 1996, Allen's luck turned around when she landed the role of Billie Reed in the soap opera Days of Our Lives. Then, in 2000, her luck turned around when she landed the role of Jenna Avid in the series Baywatch. While it only ran for one season, Baywatch later became one of the most-watched shows in the world.
Jane Lynch: Then
Comedian Jane Lynch was one of many iconic guest actors to appear on Married...with Children. For her role, Lynch portrayed the wealthy woman Greta in the "Valentine's Day Massacre" episode in the eighth season of the show.
And while Lynch isn't on-screen for very long as Greta, she made quite the impression with her inappropriate jokes and wit. You also might remember her as the character who harassed Bud in the hotel while he's searching for a "Valentine girl." It was a nice change of pace for the character of Bud!
Jane Lynch: Now
Actress Jane Lynch's role as Greta was only a taste of what we had in store for us when it came to her talent. After her brief stint on Married...with Children in 1997, Lynch went on to appear in many television series, but only for an episode or two.
It wasn't until Two and a Half Men in 2004 that we start to see Lynch in more frequent character roles. Then, in 2009, she landed the reoccurring role of Sue Sylvester, the hot-headed, narcissistic teacher in Glee. Honestly, her one-liners and dry humor made the show! Most recently, she's been part of the show The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Amanda Bearse: Then
One of the main actors with Married...With Children through its entirety was Amanda Bearse, aka Marcy Rhoades D'Arcy. As the Bundy family's next-door neighbor, Marcy was Peggy's best friend, although she was Al's arch-enemy, making the friendly neighbor concept not all that friendly.
Regardless, it made for some fun arguments! Not to mention her transformation that was most likely due to her relationship with the Bundys. When fans first see Marcy, she's a product of the time: a good housewife. Then, in later seasons, we see an edgier side to the character, taking on a very Peggy-like persona.
Amanda Bearse: Now
After Married...With Children wrapped up, Amanda Bearse stayed active in the entertainment industry. Apart from acting, Bearse dipped her toes in the directing pool while on the show, something she continued to enjoy after the final episode of Married.
Some of her most recent credits include appearances in two popular television series. The first role was as Judge Jodi Corliss in the Lifetime series Drop Dead Diva, and the other as Rita in Anger Management. Of course, she has an upcoming 2020 project in the form of Sky Sharks. We don't know about you, but that title has a solid Sharknado vibe.
Tiffani Thiessen: Then
Actress Tiffani Thiessen appeared as Bud's love-interest, Heather McCoy, in Married...with Children, the pretty and popular girl with an agenda up her sleeve. Although she was only in one episode of season four, Heather's character made a lasting impression on Bud's entire social life.
When the two were in sixth grade, Heather pretended to share the same feelings as he did, only to turn around and humiliate him in front of the entire school. If you don't recall, Heather goes and puts Bud's underwear on the school flagpole, an incident that follows him around into high school.
Tiffani Thiessen: Now
Beyond her one episode of face-time in Married...with Children, actress Tiffani Thiessen went on to have a very successful career throughout the late '90s and early 2000s. In 1989, she landed her breakout role as the popular girl Kelly Kapowski in the teenage sitcom Saved by the Bell.
She was also in the running for the role of Rachel on Friends, but the showrunners thought she was too young in relation to the other cast members. Instead, she went on to appear in Beverly Hills 90210. Today, she is happily married to actor Brady Smith, with whom she has two kids.
Fergie: Then
Before she became an international superstar, Fergie went by her birth name, Stacy Ferguson. We know, weird, right? Anyway, "Ferguson" appeared very briefly in the episode "Nooner or Nothing" of Married...with Children, in season eight. Of course, her character Ann swindles Bud into doing something.
If you don't see the pattern, it's that Bud has horrible luck with girls. Regardless, Ann asks Bud if she can cut him in line to buy tickets for a show. He agrees, only to find out that Ann was paid to cut him. Oh, and he's also sent to the back of the line. Whoops.
Fergie: Now
After her very brief performance in Married...with Children, Stacy Ferguson quickly became Fergie to the world, an international superstar. As the female vocalist for the group The Black Eyed Peas, Fergie found fame in the music industry, releasing hit after hit. Even when she decided to go solo, nothing was stopping this woman from staying at the top.
Her most recent album Double Dutchess was released back in 2017. Since then, she's actually done a bit of television voice work, lending her vocals to various characters such as April in Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil and Jill/Mrs. Richter/Vanessa in The Cleveland Show.
Ted McGinley: Then
After David Garrison ended his Married...with Children contract, resulting in his and Marcy's divorce, Ted McGinley stepped in. After meeting McGinley's character Jefferson D'Arcy at a bar, Marcy wakes up only to realize the two tied the knot! We mean, worse things have happened, right?
Anyway, Jefferson is pretty much the male version of Peggy: lazy, self-centered, and not at all ready to be a husband. Honestly, those traits are probably the reason why he and Al become fast friends in the series.
Ted McGinley: Now
Actor Ted McGinley already made a name for himself in Hollywood prior to Married...with Children, something that helped him move forward with his career once the Fox series wrapped up. He's probably best known for his role as Charley Shanowski in Hope & Faith, a performance that we consider to be his "last big-shot role."
We say this because aside from appearances in television series here or there, he plays minor roles and is also in the business of television movies. And, let's be honest, those things are never that great, especially if they're of the Christmas variety.
Keri Russell: Then
In the Married...with Children episode "Radio Free Trumaine," you might recognize one of the guest stars as a young Keri Russell. In fact, Russell was only 19-years-old when she played the role of co-ed April Adams, aka Bud's girlfriend and Marcy's bank intern.
Interestingly, the episode was originally slotted to be the pilot of a spin-off series, one that never aired. But the showrunners saw the episode for what it was -- comedic genius -- and decided to air it in the original series.
Keri Russell: Now
After her short time on Married...with Children, Keri Russell became something of a television and movie star. She has appeared in numerous blockbuster franchises, including Mission Impossible, Planet of the Apes, and Star Wars. But her biggest role to date is arguably the Americans.
During the series' six seasons, Russell plays Elizabeth Jennings, a KGB agent living in America during the time of the Cold War. The role earned her a Satellite Award for Best Actress, a Television Critics Association Award for an Individual Achievement in Drama, and three Primetime Emmy nominations.
Eric Dane: Then
Actor Eric Dane appeared on one episode of Married...With Children, before his character got expelled from school! In the first episode of season nine, viewers are introduced to Trumaine University student Oliver Cole, one of the school's radio hosts. Unfortunately, he and his co-host run an unconventional program that gets them in a bit of trouble.
If you remember the episode, then you know that the two boys decide to divulge secrets about the new dean of the school, Steve Rhoades. The little stunt gets them in a bit of trouble. Who are we kidding; the "gag" gets them expelled. Whoops.
Eric Dane: Now
Even though he only appeared in one episode of Married...With Children, Eric Dane made quite a name for himself in Hollywood. The actor went on to play Dr. Mark Sloan, aka "McSteamy," in the critically acclaimed medical drama Grey's Anatomy.
He also co-starred in a few films, including Marley & Me, Burlesque, and Valentine's Day. Dane's most recent role, though, is on the hit HBO series Euphoria, where he stars as Cal Jacobs opposite Emmy Award-winning actress Zendaya.
