Married... With Children Actors Who Sadly Passed Away

When it comes to a television show as iconic as "Married... with Children," it's normal for fans to wonder what the cast is up to today. While Katey Sagal — aka the mom from "Married... with Children" — has pursued opportunities on Netflix, her television husband, Ed O'Neill, starred on the hit sitcom, "Modern Family," for 11 seasons. While things have worked out well for Sagal and O'Neill, the same cannot be said about other members of the cast. The duo's on-screen daughter Christina Applegate has suffered tremendously as a result of several illness, including cancer and multiple sclerosis. Speaking about her MS diagnosis on the "MeSsy" podcast, Applegate revealed that she'd been hospitalized 30 times in three years. "That is unimaginable," she lamented.

Over the course of the past decades, other "Married... with Children" stars have sadly died, including actors with recurrent roles, as well as those who appeared on the show to make a quick cameo. From Joseph Bologna, who played Al Bundy's good pal, to Cindyana Santangelo, who interpreted an exotic dancer from the Jiggly Room, there is plenty of talent that will be greatly missed. 

One truth about Roseanne Barr you probably didn't know is that she and comedian Sam Kinison were reportedly the inspiration for "Married... With Children," and the two were offered the roles of Peg and Al Bundy if they wanted them. While both opted out, Kinison did eventually appear on the show's 1989 Christmas special titled "It's a Bundyful Life." Kinison played an angel in the holiday episode, which was inspired by "It's A Wonderful Life." In the episode, Al Bundy sees what life would be like for his family if he wasn't alive. Kinison is sent to make sure Al doesn't end his life (even though he wasn't planning to).

Sadly, Kinison died three years later in 1992 at the age of 38. He was killed in a head-on collision near Needles, California, and his wife was injured in the same accident. The New York Times reported, "On Friday night, he was on his way to perform at the Riverside Resort Hotel and Casino in Laughlin, Nev., when his sports car collided with a pickup truck on U.S. Highway 95 about 200 miles east of Los Angeles. His wife, Malika, whom he married only last Sunday, was injured in the crash and was taken to Needles Desert Community Hospital in serious condition."

Even if you don't know the name Jean Speegle Howard, you've definitely heard of her son, prolific filmmaker Ron Howard. The legendary actor appeared in countless TV shows and movies, such as "Apollo 13," "Cocoon," and of course, "Married... With Children," portraying four different characters on the sitcom from 1994 to 1996.

Speegle Howard took a break from her theater career to raise sons Ron and Clint, transitioning to film and TV work once they were both grown. She was subsequently forced to retire early due to ill health and died as a result of complications from a heart and respiratory illness in 2000 at the age of 73.

Reflecting on the success of "Apollo 13," 25 years after the film's release, director Ron admitted he initially didn't think his mother was old enough to play her role. "I'm so happy my dad twisted my arm," the filmmaker told ET, admitting to being "nervous about it because I knew what a pivotal role it was." Still, Ron acknowledged his mother killed the performance. 

"Married... With Children" featured a running gag of different women coming and going from Al Bundy's shoe shop. The women all have one thing in common: They consistently make Al Bundy's life more complicated. Diana Bellamy played one of these women on the show, but actually also appeared on the show as Kathleen Morgan, who made a pass at Joseph Bologna's Charlie Verducci and had a third appearance as Nancy, who was the leader of an organization called Crimes Against Obesity.

Bellamy's real life intersected with her career later in her life. The treatment she received for cancer interacted with her diabetes and caused her to go blind. She ended up explaining, "I had tried crying and being in a snit about [blindness] but that was real boring. I've learned to live with it as best I can, and I feel very blessed that this has happened" (via the Los Angeles Times). Bellamy passed away in 2001.

Kathleen Freeman had a curious role in the sitcom. As the voice of Peg Bundy's mother, she never actually appeared on the show. 

Freeman's career kicked off in 1948's "The Naked City," and she went on to have roles in hundreds of movies and TV shows. She also directed, composed, and was the founder of the SAG-AFTRA Conservatory. Freeman once said of her career that she was only interested in doing the best work possible. "I'm not interested in ever showing up without doing my best," she said (via The Focus). "I've been trained. You've got to be great every time, not once." 

Freeman also once told the Associated Press (via Backstage) that making people laugh was her life's work. "This will sound very corny and I'm sorry, but I have always had the sense I was put here to do this," Freeman explained. "I am somebody who is around to help the world laugh. I have always had that sense. Corny but absolutely true." Freeman died in 2001 following a battle with lung cancer.

Many performers are considered character actors, but when it comes to Steve Susskind, the moniker is particularly fitting. Over the years, Susskind made his mark on everything from "Friends" to "Frasier," "Seinfeld," "Scrubs," and "Married... With Children," in which the actor played Al's BFF, Barney, for eight seasons. In fact, it's likely you've seen Susskind in several different projects and not even realized you were watching the same guy. 

Aside from his impressively varied onscreen work, Susskind was also a seasoned voiceover artist, lending his impressive pipes to Disney movies, such as "The Emperor's New Groove" and "Monsters, Inc.," among others. Susskind died in 2005 at the age of 62 when the limousine he was driving was hit by another car. Susskind's memorial was held at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills — a fitting goodbye for someone of his impressive caliber.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a character name better than "Spare Tire" Dixon but, in reality, the actor who portrayed him boasted an even cooler moniker — Bubba Smith. Funnily enough, although he played a wannabe football star who frequently sparred with high school rival Al Bundy in "Married... With Children," Smith was actually a former NFL player offscreen.

Bubba Smith enjoyed a lucrative second career as an actor, having said goodbye to football after the 1976 season. He was most well known for playing Moses Hightower in the "Police Academy" movies, but "Spare Tire" was just as beloved a character. In keeping with the former athlete's lovable reputation on and off the field, the pro footballer actually parlayed a commercial job with the beer brand Miller Light into a successful acting career, with appearances in "Blue Thunder" and "Good Times" alongside "Married... With Children." Smith died in 2011 after suffering with chronic traumatic encephalopathy as a result of repeated head injuries.

Actor Janet Carroll was a living legend. Her role as Tom Cruise's mother in "Risky Business" propelled her to stardom. Her IMDb page lists a whopping 105 acting credits, including high-profile parts in "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Scrubs," "Ally McBeal," and plenty more. Carroll appeared on "Married... With Children" from 1994 to 1997 as Gary, the owner of Gary's Shoes, where Al Bundy worked. Considering her male-sounding name, the show played with the idea Gary was a man to frequently hilarious ends, but once Carroll actually showed up, it was clear nobody else could possibly be the boss. 

Born in Chicago, Carroll began her acting career immediately after finishing high school, quickly graduating from the stage to the screen after moving to California. Among other productions, she appeared in "Lady Windemere's Fan," alongside Lynn Redgrave and John Lithgow. The actor died in 2012 at the age of 71, after a battle with brain cancer.

Kevin Curran was a veteran comedy star, but he wasn't known predominantly as an actor. In fact, Curran's sole onscreen role was in "Married... With Children." Funnily enough, he mostly provided the voice of family dog Buck, who only actually appeared as his human self in Season 6's "Psychic Avengers," no doubt making an impression. Curran was a writer and producer on "Married... With Children" too, providing his talents to the show in different ways. However, Curran was primarily known for the 15 years he spent writing on "The Simpsons," earning three Emmys for his talents, and five years writing for "Late Night with David Letterman."

Kevin Curran was a Harvard graduate, and he actually met future "Simpsons" showrunner Al Jean while studying at the Ivy League institution. "He was one of the funniest guys I ever met," Jean told Variety. "He also had one of the sweetest, biggest hearts. He really was a terrific guy." Curran died in 2016 at 59 following complications with cancer.

Alan Thicke actually played two characters on "Married... With Children." The legendary Canadian portrayed Henry, who dated Kelly, and later Bruce, who dated Peggy. His career was hugely impressive, with roles in the likes of "The Love Boat" and "The Bold and the Beautiful" giving way to funny cameos on modern fare such as "How I Met Your Mother." In one of his final interviews, with The Hollywood Reporter, the beloved actor opined, "There's not much that I haven't done in my life, but there's lots of things that I'd like to do better." 

The "Growing Pains" star died suddenly in 2016 of a heart attack while in the middle of a hockey game with his son, Carter Thicke. He was 69.

His other son, pop star Robin Thicke, told the Los Angeles Times some of his father's last words were "a compliment to his son on a nice shot." Looking back on his father's final moments, Robin explained, "The good thing was that he was beloved and he had closure. I saw him a few days ago and told him how much I loved and respected him."

Joseph Bologna was featured in two episodes of "Married... With Children" and actually enjoyed a successful career both on TV and in movies. His first role was in "Lovers and Other Strangers," a play he co-wrote and co-starred in with his wife, Renée Taylor.

Bologna played Al Bundy's construction worker friend Charlie Verducci. His character was joined by his son, Vinny — a famed sitcom star you forgot was on "Married... With Children" —a young Matt LeBlanc. The episode was titled "Top of the Heap," and even led to a spin-off series by the same name.

Joseph Bologna died in 2017 after fighting pancreatic cancer for three years. Taylor confirmed his death to the media, noting that her husband led "a beautiful life and a beautiful death" and that he passed away only two days after the pair celebrated their 52nd anniversary (via Variety). Taylor and Bologna wrote 22 plays and worked on several programs together.

Tim Conway appeared as Peg Bundy's alcoholic father, Ephraim Wanker, in a handful of episodes. Conway also starred alongside the stunning Carol Burnett on her titular variety show. When he died in 2019 at the age of 85, many members of the "The Carol Burnett Show" remembered the star fondly, with Burnett herself releasing a statement.

"I'm heartbroken," she said (via Variety). "He was one in a million, not only as a brilliant comedian but as a loving human being. I cherish the times we had together both on the screen and off. He'll be in my heart forever." In 2012, Burnett was asked in an interview if the team on her show ever worried about running out of material, to which she answered, "No, because we could always count on Tim to go over. So there was always enough show. In fact, sometimes, because he would get on a roll and do stuff we had never seen before, so maybe a four-minute sketch would turn into a 10-minute sketch — thanks to Conway — and we could then bank another sketch that we were going to do that week for another week."

It's no secret that Fred Willard was an American treasure. The Ohio-born performer was lauded for his incredible sketch comedy skills throughout his career. While many actors and comedians bow out of Hollywood in their final years, Willard did no such thing. He actually became one of "Modern Family's" most beloved stars – ensuring his fame with a whole new generation of viewers.

Decades before he made a name for himself on "Modern Family," however, Willard participated in other television sitcoms. He even made a cameo on "Married... with Children" Season 5 in which he starred as a salesman named Stan. During the episode, Willard earned lots of laughs with his unsuccessful attempts to sell a timeshare to Peggy and Al. The episode showcased Willard's ability to use awkward moments as a way of creating comedic tension. 

In 2020, the world lost a comedic gem when Willard died of cardiac arrest. According to the actor's daughter, Hope Willard, in a post on X, "My father passed away very peacefully ... at the fantastic age of 86 years old." A military veteran in addition to an actor, Willard was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial park. 

The enigmatic Beckie Mullen had a whole other life before appearing on "Married... With Children." Known mostly by her moniker, "Sally the Farmer's Daughter," Mullen was an original member of the legendary Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (GLOW), which was the basis for the Netflix series of the same acronym.

Much like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and John Cena, Mullen was able to parlay her success in the ring into an acting career, landing roles in "MAD TV," "Renegade," and even Van Halen's music video for "Poundcake." Her appearance as Yvonne to Pamela Anderson's Yvette in a saucy dream of Al Bundy's naturally made a significant impact on male fans of "Married... With Children."

TMZ Sports broke the news of the former pro-wrestler's death in 2020 at the age of 56 after a battle with stage 4 kidney, colon, and liver cancer. She had been diagnosed in October 2019 and "fought as long as she could," according to Mullen's daughter. The former wrestler's GLOW colleague and lifelong friend Dana Felton Howard, aka "Thunderbolt," told USA Today Mullen didn't want anybody to know she was sick, sharing, "None of her fans and even many friends were not aware what was going on."

If Tawny Kitaen had one thing, it was presence. The actor first rose to prominence for her role as Debbie in "Bachelor Party," but it didn't take long for her to carve out a different sort of niche in the world of Hollywood. Throughout her career, Kitaen took on several parts in music videos — earning her the reputation as "the original music video vixen," according to People. When it came time for Kitaen to guest star in "Married... with Children" in 1994, she brought this sense of presence with her. In an episode titled "Shoeway to Heaven," Kitaen played a model who accepted a free pair of shoes from Al. Her ability to play this heartbreaker role to a tee stands as a reminder of her immense talent.

Tragically, Kitaen died of dilated cardiomyopathy in 2021. Her passing did not just represent a loss for the entertainment world but also for her two daughters, Wynter and Raine. Writing on Kitaen's Instagram page, the girls expressed their grief. "We are heartbroken and saddened to announce the death of our mom," they shared. "We just want to say thank you for all of you, her fans and her friends, for always showing her such support and love. You gave her life every day. We miss her and love her and we know her legacy will live on forever."

Comedian Gilbert Gottfried was one of the funniest men in America. Thanks to his quick delivery, edgy jokes, and signature goofy grin, Gottfried's style of comedy was viewed by many as straight-up genius. Because of this, "Married... with Children" fans were thrilled to see him make a cameo on the show in 1995. In an episode titled "Ship Happens," viewers watched the Bundys struggle after being stuck on a life raft with none other than Gottfried himself. Naturally, the comedian injected plenty of his signature humor into the episode, leaving an undeniable impact on the show.

Sadly, however, Gilbert Gottfried died in April 2022 of a rare genetic condition called recurrent ventricular tachycardia due to myotonic dystrophy type II. His death left his family feeling devastated. Even so, they urged the public to remember Gottfried for his comedic impact. As they shared on X, "Although today is a sad day for all of us, please keep laughing as loud as possible in Gilbert's honor" (via CBS News). To this day, fans of "Married... with Children" can enjoy Gottfried's comedic brilliance by watching his excellent performance in "Ship Happens."

Cindyana Santangelo was never one to fade into the background. Once referred to by Perry Farrell as "The Latin Marilyn Monroe," Santangelo had that special "it" factor that gave her a unique type of stardom. In 1996, she appeared in an episode of "Married... with Children" playing Sierra Madre — an exotic dancer who worked at the Jiggly Room. She brought a strong personality to the role, and at one point, told Jefferson to get a tattoo, creating enough confusion to generate a memorable comedic moment.

Sadly, Santangelo died in March 2025. An emergency call led authorities to rush to her home in Malibu, California. However, by the time that Santangelo arrived at the hospital, it was too late, and she was officially pronounced dead. As of the publication of this article, Santangelo's cause of death has not been made public. Per an advisory released by the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, though, authorities are conducting an investigation to discover whether or not there were sings of foul play that might have contributed to the actor's untimely death.