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YSU to honor ‘Modern Family’ patriarch
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O’Neill
By GUY D’ASTOLFO
YOUNGSTOWN
Ed O’Neill, the Emmy-nominated actor who was born and raised in Youngstown, will return home this spring to pick up an honor from his alma mater.
The star of the ABC sitcom “Modern Family” will receive an honorary doctor of arts degree from Youngstown State University at the school’s spring commence- ment May 18, according to Ron Cole, director of university communications. O’Neill also will speak at the ceremony, which will start at 10 a.m. in Beeghly Center.
About 1,000 undergraduates will receive diplomas at the ceremony. To accommodate the expected large number of people wishing to attend, YSU will require tickets for entry, Cole said. Each graduate will be allotted a certain number of tickets, although that number hasn’t been set yet.
“Our priority is to graduates and their friends and families,” said Cole. “We’re hoping to set up a system so that students who don’t take advantage of the tickets can return them so that they will be available to other students.”
As of now, only graduating students will have access to tickets, Cole said. “While we are still developing the details of ticket distribution, we are committed to ensuring that graduates receive tickets before tickets would go to the general public,” he said. “We’re always filled to the rafters as it is, and we’re anticipating more than usual [at the ceremony] this year.”
Later in the day on May 18, university President Cynthia E. Anderson, who retires June 30, will speak at the commencement ceremony for the roughly 200 graduate students. Due to the smaller number of students receiving graduate diplomas, tickets are not required for the afternoon ceremony, which will start at 2:30 p.m.
O’Neill attended YSU in the 1960s but never received a degree. While an undergraduate, he was a defensive lineman for the Penguins football team and also acted in university theater productions. The North Side native also is a graduate of Ursuline High School. Before coming to YSU, he attended Ohio University.
In 1969, O’Neill was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers but was cut in training camp.
He returned to Youngstown where he worked as a teacher and held other jobs, while appearing in local stage productions.
In 1977, O’Neill moved to New York to pursue an acting career. He did stage and film work there until 1987, when he landed the role that would catapult him to fame: the sad-sack shoe salesman Al Bundy in the Fox sitcom “Married ...With Children.” O’Neill relocated to Los Angeles, and “Married” enjoyed an 11-year run.
In 2009, O’Neill’s career hit the heights again when “Modern Family” debuted. He plays Jay Pritchett, patriarch of a California family, in the acclaimed ABC sitcom, now in its fourth season.
In 2011 and 2012, he was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his work on the sitcom.
O’Neill’s other television credits include roles in “Dragnet,” “Miami Vice,” “The West Wing” and “John from Cincinnati.” He also has appeared in numerous movies, including “The Bone Collector,” “Little Giants,” “Dutch” and the “Wayne’s World” series.
The 66-year-old has been married to actress Catherine Rusoff since 1986. They have two daughters, Claire and Sophia.
In 1996, O’Neill was awarded the Penguin of the Year award from YSU’s Penguin Club, which supports athletics.