Actor Ed O’Neill, known for playing Jay on ‘Modern Family’, faced a challenging period in his life in his 20s when he was financially ruined, before pursuing his career in Hollywood.
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He shared this experience in an interview on the ‘Dinner on Me’ podcast, hosted by Jesse Tyler Ferguson, his co-star on the comedy series. Currently, at 77 years old, the actor revealed that, in 1969, when he had just been released from the Pittsburgh Steelers, an American football team, and found himself without resources, he received an invitation to join the mafia.
At the time, Ed was lost about what to do with his life after his football setback. He mentioned having friends involved in organized crime, including an old colleague named Jim who lived in his hometown in Ohio. Jim invited him for a conversation, during which he suggested to Ed the possibility of entering the world of crime as a financial solution. Ed recalled that during a car ride, Jim addressed the situation by saying, “You got cut off, you got no money.” As a result, Ed witnessed Jim bribing a waiter at a fancy restaurant in search of information about a person.
Jim propositioned Ed, offering him illicit activities in exchange for protection and financial gain. Ed, however, responded that he needed to think and mentioned his intention to pursue a career in acting, which led to a critical conversation with his father that night. The father questioned whether Ed would be able to serve time, to which Ed responded in the negative. With this perspective in mind, Ed decided to decline Jim’s offer, thanking him and choosing to head to New York in search of new opportunities. This choice was crucial to the future course of his life.