Editing Ed O'Neill (section)

==Early life and education==
Ed O'Neill was born into an [[Irish-American]] [[Catholic]] family in [[Youngstown, Ohio]], on April 12, 1946.<ref name= "irish-in-y-town">{{cite book| last = Pallante| first = Sally|author2=Scotty Hanahan |author3=Jim Dunn |author4=Paul Miller |author5=Martin Pallante |author6=Terry Dunn | title = Irish in Youngstown and the Greater Mahoning Valley| year = 2004| publisher = [[Arcadia Publishing]]| location = [[Charleston, South Carolina]] | isbn=0738532185 | page = 105 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OKdVjSR9CawC | access-date=October 7, 2007}}</ref><ref name="T Guide" /><ref name= Biography.com>{{cite web|title=Ed O'Neill - Biography| url=http://www.biography.com/people/ed-oneill-575134| work=Biography.com|publisher=A&E Television Networks|access-date=January 21, 2011}}</ref> Both sides of his family are the descendants of Irish immigrants who came to the United States in the 1850s.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=az6qD6q87gI/ | title=Modern Family's Ed O'Neill chats with Stephen Byrne | website=[[YouTube]] | date=February 23, 2017 | access-date=11 March 2024 | archive-date=1 April 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401220940/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=az6qD6q87gI | url-status=live | quote="My mother and my father came over in the 1850s."}}</ref>

His mother, Ruth Ann ([[married and maiden names|née]] Quinlan) (1924–2017), was a homemaker and social worker, and his father, Edward Phillip O'Neill (1921–2008), was a [[steel mill]] worker and truck driver.<ref name= Biography.com/> O'Neill attended [[Ursuline High School (Youngstown, Ohio)|Ursuline High School]] where he played [[American football|football]]. At 14, he worked in construction, then at a steel mill.<ref name="wealthsimple">{{cite web |last1=Rothbart |first1=Davy |title=How to Go From Working in a Steel Mill to Being the Highest Paid Actor on TV |url= https://www.wealthsimple.com/en-us/magazine/ed-oneill |website=[[Wealthsimple]] |access-date=January 18, 2021 |language=en |date=January 12, 2021}}</ref>

He was awarded a [[Ohio Bobcats football|football]] scholarship to [[Ohio University]], where he majored in history, and was a member of the Mu chapter of the [[Delta Tau Delta]] fraternity.<ref name=tca>Stated on ''[[Inside the Actors Studio]]'', 2011</ref> He left the university after his sophomore year. He admits he spent more time playing sports and partying than studying.<ref name=tca/> He also feuded with his coach.<ref name="wealthsimple"/>

He transferred to [[Youngstown State University]], where he lettered as a defensive lineman from 1967 to 1968.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Youngstown State YSU Penguins Football Media Guide {{!}} ysupenguins.com {{!}} goguins.com | url=https://www.ysupenguins.com/sportspages/football/media_guide/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702132757/http://ysupenguins.com/sportspages/football/media_guide/ | access-date=2025-04-27 | archive-date=2014-07-02}}</ref> As an undergraduate, he pledged [[Delta Sigma Phi]] and was initiated into the Delta Sigma chapter there.<ref name=Biography.com /> While at [[Youngstown State Penguins football|Youngstown State]], he played in a game against [[Roger Staubach]], who was [[Roger Staubach#U.S. Navy officer|playing for the Pensacola Naval Station]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/2254588/hall-of-fame-quarterback-remembers-goshawks-playing-time/|title=Hall of Fame Quarterback Remembers Goshawks Playing Time|work=U.S. Navy|date=August 28, 2017}}</ref> O'Neill said that his team was penalized 15 yards when he hit Staubach out of bounds.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVIz0i99dvk|title=That Time Ed O'Neill Got Flagged for a Late Hit on Roger Staubach|date=August 28, 2018|work=YouTube}}</ref>