Ed O’Neill reveals his Father’s Day run-in with Leonardo DiCaprio at Hollywood restaurant


Once upon a time in Hollywood, Al Bundy met Jack from Titanic.

Ed O’Neill reveals a run-in he had with Leonardo DiCaprio this past Father’s Day at the Hollywood restaurant Rao’s, as he visited the establishment with his daughters Claire, 24, and Sophia, 21.

O’Neill, 73, said his older daughter initially objected to making the drive from Santa Monica to Hollywood, but O’Neill insisted on going to the Italian eatery.

Out and about: Leo was snapped last month in NYC

The latest: Ed O’Neill, 73, reveals to Ellen Monday a run-in he had with Leonardo DiCaprio, 45, this past Father’s Day at the Hollywood restaurant Rao’s, as he visited the establishment with his daughters

‘I like Rao’s, so we went and we had a little booth and we sat down and we had just ordered and she was on her phone, and I saw her look up, and all of a sudden she was stricken, I really thought there was something wrong with her.’

He continued, ‘I turned around and it was Leo DiCaprio … my daughter has had a crush on Leo since Romeo and Juliet.’

He said he offered to introduce his daughters to the A-lister, but they demurred, fearing an embarrassing run-in.

‘I said, “Alright, forget about it … so all of a sudden, I heard, “Hey Ed, Happy Father’s Day,” I said, “Oh thanks Leo!”‘

Oops! O'Neill, 73, said his older daughter initially objected to making the drive from Santa Monica to Hollywood, but O'Neill insisted on going to the Italian eatery

TV stalwart: Ellen welcomed on Ed as Modern Family wraps up an 11-season run

Oops! O’Neill, 73, said his older daughter initially objected to making the drive from Santa Monica to Hollywood, but O’Neill insisted on going to the Italian eatery

Say what? O'Neill said Fox never bothered to tell him Married... with Children was canceled in April of 1997

Say what? O’Neill said Fox never bothered to tell him Married… with Children was canceled in April of 1997

He said he introduced his daughters to Leo, and on the way out, Dicaprio told her ‘Sophia, it was really nice meeting you, sweetheart.’

‘We got in the car and I said, Rao’s isn’t all that far to go,’ said O’Neill.

And while the Modern Family cast is enjoying a well-earned victory lap as the show wraps up after 11 years, O’Neill said he wasn’t so fortunate with Married… with Children, as Fox never bothered to tell him the show was canceled in April of 1997, and didn’t give him or his castmates any gifts to commemorate the series, as custom dictates. 

The veteran TV star, who played Al Bundy on Married… with Children from it’s 1987 debut until its final season in 1997, said that the series ‘was cancelled in between seasons.’ 

Strange end: O'Neill said, adding that Fox execs finally contacted him six weeks later, groveling, 'Someone dropped the ball on this' on the lack of communication

Strange end: O’Neill said, adding that Fox execs finally contacted him six weeks later, groveling, ‘Someone dropped the ball on this’ on the lack of communication 

Fortunate: O'Neill told Ellen that he was lucky to snare another 11-season run on a hit sitcom, playing Jay Pritchett on Modern Family

Fortunate: O’Neill told Ellen that he was lucky to snare another 11-season run on a hit sitcom, playing Jay Pritchett on Modern Family

O’Neill said he learned about it outside of a bed and breakfast in his native Youngstown, Ohio, when a newlywed couple approached.

‘We were all off doing our own thing,’ said O’Neill. ‘Bride gets out in the bridal dress, guy with the tux, they go, “Oh my God! Married… with Children! Oh, we love your show, we’re so sorry about it though.”

‘I said, “What do you mean, you’re sorry about it?”‘ to which they newlyweds told him, ‘It’s all over the radio, it was canceled!” I said, “I’d rather hear it from you!”‘

‘They never called me,’ O’Neill said, adding that Fox execs finally contacted him six weeks later, groveling, ‘Someone dropped the ball on this.’

O’Neill said he told the execs that the comedy’s success in the late 80s and early 90s came at a time of critical growth for the network, and they deserved parting gifts after its run.

‘I know the Golden Girls got Mercedes Benzes or something,’ he said. ‘I said, “I have a question for you guys, eleven years we kept you in the black, no gifts for the cast? You know, I’m kind of speaking for the cast.’

Gruff: Ed said he was the least emotional on the day of the final Modern Family taping, citing his working class roots

Gruff: Ed said he was the least emotional on the day of the final Modern Family taping, citing his working class roots 

He said Fox officials promised him and the cast gifts, but never delivered: ‘I never got a gift – but it makes a better story!’

According to the April 19, 1997 edition of the Los Angeles Times, the show was canceled amid declining ratings (after its broadcast night was switched twice in its last season); and the high salaries of the cast, which also included Katey Sagal, Christina Applegate and David Faustino.

O’Neill told Ellen that he was lucky to snare another 11-season run on a hit sitcom, playing Jay Pritchett on Modern Family.

Asked who was most emotional when the cast of the ABC filmed the show’s last episode, O’Neill responded, ‘I’d have to say Julie, Julie Bowen – I thought she was going to have to be sedated and carried out.’

He said he was the least emotional on the day of the taping, citing his working class roots.

‘Everybody was having their moments, and I’m going, “Let’s get it done’ – I’m more Youngstown, Ohio, steel mill [mentality] – let’s get it done,’ he said. ‘And they said, “But you don’t cry, you’re not emotional.”

‘I said, “Four months from now, I’ll be getting a massage, I’ll burst into tears, no one will know why!’