Ed O'Neill may be best known for playing lovable sitcom dads, but off-screen the Modern Family star is a devoted father to two daughters who have mostly stayed out of the spotlight.
Ed, who turns 80 on Sunday, April 12, 2026, has been married to actress Catherine Rusoff since 1986, and together they share daughters Sophia and Claire. While the actor tends to keep family life private, he has occasionally opened up about fatherhood – and the sweet bond he shares with both his girls.
© Getty ImagesSpeaking on the MeSsy podcast with Christina Applegate and Jamie-Lynn Sigler in November 2024, Ed reflected on the influence his own father had on him.
"He was a good father, a great father," Ed said. "That could ruin a whole life, if that position's not filled well."
That thoughtful approach to parenting has clearly shaped the way Ed raised his own children.
Sophia O'Neill
© WireImageHis eldest daughter, Sophia, was born around 2000 and has grown up largely away from the public eye, although Ed has shared a few hilarious stories about her celebrity crushes over the years.
During a 2019 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Ed revealed that Sophia once had to watch him film a kissing scene with Dylan O'Brien – who happened to be her crush at the time.
"I was working with Dylan O'Brien, who’s a young, handsome actor, who my daughter has a slight crush on," Ed revealed. "And in the story, we kiss. And she had to witness this and was very upset that it was me and not her."
© Getty ImagesHe also shared another funny moment involving Sophia during a Father’s Day dinner at Rao's, where she came face-to-face with her longtime crush, Leonardo DiCaprio.
"My daughter has had a crush on Leo since Romeo + Juliet," Ed recalled. "She freaked out."
Sophia has occasionally joined her famous dad at high-profile events, including the premiere of Wreck-It Ralph and several Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremonies. In recent years, she has also begun showing more of her personality online, posting playful videos on TikTok and joking in one comment that Ed was not just TV’s favourite grandpa – "he is my father."
Claire O'Neill
© Disney via Getty ImagesEd's younger daughter, Claire, was born around 2007 and has also stepped out with him at a handful of public events over the years, from family-friendly premieres to charity galas.
In 2023, Claire joined Ed at a Modern Family reunion party hosted by Sofía Vergara – and quickly discovered what it was like to be recognised because of her dad.
Speaking on the Dinner's on Me podcast with former co-star Jesse Tyler Ferguson in January 2024, Ed admitted he was slightly overwhelmed by the attention Claire received.
© WireImage"I brought my 17-year-old daughter … and it just blew up," he said. "She loved it, of course, but I didn’t. I wasn’t crazy about that."
Still, the actor made clear that family remains at the centre of his world. Despite decades in Hollywood, Ed has always prioritised being present for Sophia and Claire – and from rare red carpet outings to sweet stories about celebrity crushes, it’s clear he’s just as loved at home as he is on screen.
