Quotes from Ed O'Neill

'Married with Children,' we were good until the fifth or sixth season, and then we limped into the 11th season.

I was very slender and small. All my friends were on the team, so I had to make it too. I was a very aggressive player. I wanted to be one of the best, but I just ended up as one of the good ones.

I took a plane from New York City to Los Angeles for an audition. I met all the people. After that, I was told to have another audition, but I didn't want to go there again.

My goal was never to win awards. Mine was let me get to a place where I don't have to work. I don't have to do anything I don't want to.

I knew I was a good stage actor but I had no idea about movies. And I wasn't a Paul Newman type of guy. That's why I thought the stage is just right for me.

I auditioned for 'The Rainmaker.' Nothing. I auditioned for 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.' Nothing. 'Antigone' was my big break. I got a part as a Roman guard. I carried a spear.

I'd loved to wear jeans and t-shirts, but everybody was in the peace movement back then. And that was my ploy. I had to be careful not to say things like 'I like meat.' Actually I just wanted to drink beer and to screw.

When I read the pilot 'for Married with Children', it just reminded me of my Uncle Joe... just a self-deprecating kind of guy. He'd come home from work, and the wife would maybe say 'I ran over the dog this morning in the driveway'. And he would say 'Fine, what's for dinner?

I think I 'turn off' women. I've a kind of a weird personality. Women may think that I'm a mess.

Ohio's future is important to me.

All this flying around got on my nerves. But then I gave the script to Cathy to get her opinion. When she started to laugh, it was like 'That's it!'. I went to LA and I got the part.

I prefer to underplay scenes rather than, you know, be big and drive them. And sometimes you have to do that, but I like the more natural styles.

I was adrift for a while. I worked as a substitute teacher; I sold cars.

When you come from where I come from, you're trying to get approval for something - you don't know what.

I used to be a wonderful auditioner. When I was living in New York, I'd audition every day. And I like to audition. But then it got to a point where I didn't like it anymore.

Security was another reason. You never know what can happen to you when you earn a lot of money.

Comedy is not easy to do - where you make someone laugh out loud in their living room.

I've always considered myself one of the luckiest guys.