Ed O’Neill revealed in a recent interview that he very nearly turned to a life of organized crime before turning to acting
The 77-year-old actor once aspired to be a professional football player and was born and reared in Youngstown, Ohio.He was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1969 after playing collegiate football at Ohio University and Youngstown State University, but he was eventually cut from the club.
The Modern Family star said that he thought about organized crime and claimed he “didn’t have a clue” what to do next on Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s Dinner’s On Me podcast.
“It was not a good place to live, Youngstown.” A month after declaring he was going to return his honorary doctorate to Youngstown State University following the election of a congressman who supports Trump as the institution’s new president, O’Neill acknowledged on the podcast that “there was nothing there for me.””Organized crime was the only thing I had that I could have done, and thank God that I didn’t,” stated O’Neill.He claimed to have “friends in organized crime,” including a guy from his hometown of Youngstown by the name of Jim.
Jim gave me a call and said, “Hey, come ride with me.” I wish to speak with you.” He said, “How are you doing? ” as we were driving. You are aware that you were slashed and have no money.” “No, I’m broke,” I said. O’Neill remarked, “You know, I have no idea what I’m going to do.”
“His conversation with the bartender began. He responds, “I’m looking for this kid, his name is whatever, Demko, his name is Jimmy Demko, do you know him?” The man responds, “No,
“I saw you take a ride with Jimmy,” he remarked. All I have to ask is one inquiry of you. Could you complete the time?”Recalling that he told his father he couldn’t serve time, O’Neill continued.
“You couldn’t do time,” he replied. I take it that you would find incarceration difficult? “No, I don’t think I could do time,” I said. When he said, “OK,” he made up his mind to become an actor.
O’Neill continued, saying that he was playing against fellow rookies and future Hall of Famers “Mean” Joe Greene and L.C. Greenwood when he was cut by the Steelers in the first season of famous coach Chuck Noll’s career.
Years after he became successful as an actor, the actor disclosed that someone contacted him with a
