Christina Applegate was 15 when she started playing Kelly Bundy on Married… with Children in 1987. The show ran for 11 seasons; she was 25 when the final episode aired in 1997. During that time, she reportedly earned over $125,000 per episode.
Doubts About the Show’s Success
Katey Sagal, Ed O’Neill, and Christina Applegate openly admitted to harboring doubts about the show’s potential success when they first signed on.
However, despite their reservations, they were won over by the humor and wit of the pilot script, which ultimately convinced them to participate in the project.
Katey Sagal portrayed Peggy Bundy, Christina Applegate portrayed Kelly Bundy, David Faustino portrayed Bud Bundy, and Ed O’Neill portrayed Al Bundy on “Married… with Children (Credit: Fox)
Casting Changes and Premiere
The show’s original pilot featured Tina Caspary as Kelly Bundy and Hunter Carson as Bud Bundy. However, the producers were unsatisfied with their performances and believed Caspary and Carson would be better suited for other acting opportunities with a different tone.
The first episode of Married… with Children was broadcast on April 5, 1987, when Christina Applegate was 15. She celebrated her 16th birthday on November 25, 1987.
Main Cast Ages at Premiere
During the premiere of “Married… with Children” on April 5, 1987, Katey Sagal, who played Peggy Bundy, was 33 years old, born on January 19, 1954. Ed O’Neill, who portrayed Al Bundy, was 40 years old and was born on April 12, 1946.
David Faustino, who played Bud Bundy, was just 13 years old during the show’s premiere, born on March 3, 1974.
During the premiere of “Married… with Children” on April 5, 1987, the main cast members were at different stages of their lives: Katey Sagal (Peggy Bundy) was 33 years old, Ed O’Neill (Al Bundy) was 40 years old, Christina Applegate (Kelly Bundy) was 15 years old, and David Faustino (Bud Bundy) was 13 years old (Credit: Fox)
Show’s Final Episode and Applegate’s Age
The last episode aired on June 9, 1997, when Christina Applegate was 25. She was born on November 25, 1971, and turned 26 on November 25, 1997.
While Katey Sagal portrays Christina Applegate’s mother on the show, the age difference between the two actresses is not as significant as their on-screen relationship might suggest. Katey Sagal is not quite 18 years older than Christina Applegate.
Wigs and Hair Changes
While filming the 10th season of the show, Christina Applegate had to wear a long blonde wig. This change was necessary because she had dyed her hair red for a role in the 1997 American black comedy drama film Nowhere, which was shot during the summer of 1995, between the 9th and 10th seasons of the show.
Learning About the Show’s Cancellation
Ed O’Neill, who played Al Bundy, said he was on vacation when he learned of the cancellation. He was reading the newspaper when he came across an article that said that Married with Children had been canceled. He was so surprised that he bought the couple staying next to him a meal as a thank-you for telling him the news.
Christina Applegate learned of the cancellation from two friends. She was home when they called and told her the show had been canceled. She was devastated by the news.
Christina Applegate’s co-stars have praised her as an intelligent and talented actress who is unlike her character Kelly, with Ed O’Neill commending her ability to portray the “dumb blonde” archetype convincingly and consistently deliver outstanding performances in just one or two takes (Credit: Fox)
Applegate’s Impact as Kelly Bundy
Applegate’s portrayal of Kelly Bundy as a ditzy, promiscuous high school student made her a household name. In 2004, she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in Friends.
Christina Applegate’s portrayal of the character Kelly Bundy on the show has often been praised by her co-stars, who have emphasized that she is quite different from her on-screen persona. They have described her as an intelligent and talented actress, showcasing her range and versatility.
One of her co-stars, Ed O’Neill, who played her on-screen father, praised her performance. He acknowledged that portraying the “dumb blonde” archetype requires a high skill level, and he commended Christina for convincingly pulling off the character. He further expressed his admiration by stating that only an actress of her caliber could successfully bring such a character to life.
On-Screen and Real-Life Birthdays
Kelly Bundy’s birthday, as depicted on the show, is November 25, 1971, which also happens to be Christina Applegate’s real-life birthday.
She has also starred in several films, including Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead, The Big Hit, The Sweetest Thing, and Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.
Applegate and Sagal’s Friendship
Starring together on the sitcom Married… with Children for ten years and eleven seasons, Katey Sagal and Christina Applegate became close friends.
“I met Katey when I was 15 years old, so, it’s been about 10 years since we met,” Applegate joked when Sagal received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2014.
Actors Christina Applegate, Katey Sagal, David Faustino, and Ed O’Neill attend Katey Sagal’s star ceremony on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame on September 9, 2014, in Hollywood (Credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock)
“I’ll never forget the day I met her: We walked into the rehearsal hall for Married with Children, and I’d never seen someone look that good in a white T-shirt and jeans in my entire life. The fact that your body is better now than it was then makes me sick, because I’m wearing a Fitbit trying to get rid of all my baby weight.”
Sagal supported Applegate when she received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in November 2022.
David Faustino, Katey Sagal, and Christina Applegate pose with Christina Applegate’s star during her Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony at Hollywood Walk Of Fame on November 14, 2022, in Los Angeles, California (Credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock)
Despite their close relationship, Sagal and Applegate had not appeared on-screen together since Married… with Children ended in 1997.
So, it was a special treat to see them reunite for a single, moving scene in the third and final season of Dead to Me.
Red Carpet Style Without Designer Shoes
You don’t need Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin, or Jimmy Choo to look great on the red carpet. Just ask Christina Applegate.
Christina Applegate pulls her blonde hair back at the Los Angeles premiere of “Bad Moms” held July 26, 2016 (Credit: FayesVision / Apega / WENN)
In July 2016, Christina nailed her non-designer shoe look at the “Bad Moms” premiere in Los Angeles. Christina stepped out in a black-lined red lace dress from Rebecca Vallance’s Spring 2016 Collection, which featured sheer sleeves, a midi hemline, and a high neck.
Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Annie Mumolo, Christina Applegate, and Kathryn Hahn attend the premiere Of STX Entertainment’s “Bad Moms” at Mann Village Theatre on July 26, 2016, in Westwood, California (Credit: FayesVision / Apega / WENN)
She wore heavy mascara and dangling earrings, sweeping her blonde hair back into a simple ponytail.
Christina Applegate wears a red lace Rebecca Vallance dress on the pink carpet of the “Bad Moms” premiere (Credit: FayesVision / Apega / WENN)
The actress paired the look with JustFab’s “Artois” studded sandals, which retail at $10. You read that right, folks — her shoes are pretty easy on the bank account.
Applegate’s Tattoos and Their Meanings
Christina Applegate has adorned her left ankle with a braided vine tattoo, while her right ankle boasts a flourish design. Adding to her collection, she also sports a meaningful tattoo on her right ankle that bears the word “Agape,” which represents unconditional love in Greek.
Interestingly, this word not only carries deep personal meaning for her, but it also aligns with the name of her church, further highlighting the connection between her faith and the symbolism behind her tattoo choices.
Christina Applegate has intricate tattoos on both her ankles, including a braided vine on her left ankle and a flourish design on her right ankle (Credit: FayesVision / Apega / WENN)
Faith and Overcoming Challenges
Christina Applegate revealed in an interview that her faith helped her through a difficult time when she injured her foot. The actress was rehearsing for a Broadway show when she fell and broke her foot in two places. She was told she would need surgery and could not walk for several months.
Applegate said that she turned to her faith for strength during this time. She attended Agape International Spiritual Center, a nondenominational spiritual center founded by Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith. She said she found comfort in the center’s teachings about the power of positive thinking and visualization.
Affordable Red Carpet Look
As much as we commend her for her bravery in wearing synthetic budget heels on the red carpet, this look was pretty meh. We would have enjoyed seeing her in something more fresh than a lace dress and ankle strap heels.
Christina Applegate’s feet in JustFab’s “Artois” sandals (Credit: FayesVision / Apega / WENN)
You can order the affordable “Artois” studded sandals on JustFab.
JustFab “Artois” Studded Sandals, $10