Modern Family Star Ed O’Neill Recalls An Argument He Once Had With Gene Kelly

While on the “Fly on the Wall” podcast, Ed O’Neill shared at the 52-minute mark or so that he was once invited to Gene Kelly’s house because someone he knew was friends with Kelly’s wife. The actor said he was excited to go because he could meet Kelly, but they two ended up in a geographical dispute. 

O’Neill told Kelly he is from Youngstown, Ohio, and Kelly was excited because he was from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Kelly eventually mentioned Sharon, Pennsylvania, and O’Neill said he used to drive there all the time, surprising Kelly, who thought it was more than 100 miles from Youngstown. O’Neill said Kelly mocked him all night over the seeming error. Later, however, O’Neill had a map delivered to Kelly showing he was wrong. Kelly, in turn, sent O’Neill a handwritten note. 

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“It’s Gene Kelly stationary: ‘Dear Ed, They must’ve moved Sharon, Pennsylvania, since I was there. The Rolling Rock and the humble pie are on me. Your friend, Gene Kelly,” the actor recalled on the “Fly on the Wall” podcast. O’Neill also revealed Kelly’s wife told him the legendary performer looked through maps after O’Neill’s note until he had to admit he was wrong. 

“I called his wife and said, ‘he’s so gracious’ and she said, ‘hey, that did not come easy. He was up there pouring over his maps, cursing, and finally, he realized he was wrong where Sharon, Pennsylvania, was,'” he said.