The actress who played Peggy Bundy on “Married… with Children” once revealed that the sitcom’s irreverent tone almost made her think it would fail. But the show’s success not only changed her career but also coincided with her journey into motherhood.
When “Married… with Children” first premiered, its brash humor and unconventional characters set it apart from other sitcoms of the time. At the center of the show was Peggy Bundy, the sharp-witted and fashionably over-the-top matriarch, brought to life by an actress who had first made her mark as a singer before turning to acting.
The actress pictured in 1986 | Source: Getty Images
While her on-screen persona exuded comedic confidence, the actress’ personal life was filled with challenges. In the early 1990s, during the height of the show’s popularity, she endured the loss of her first child. Over the years, however, she went on to raise three children, each with their own creative aspirations.
The actress photographed in California, in 1990 | Source: Getty Images
From Singing Waitress to Peggy Bundy – A Look at Her Career
Before her breakthrough on “Married… with Children,” the actress pursued a music career. She worked as a backup singer for industry icons like Bette Midler and Etta James, showcasing her vocal talents long before stepping into the spotlight as an actress.
The singer and actress performs on April 20, 1994 | Source: Getty Images
She even worked as a singing waitress, where she entertained diners with live performances of songs like “Brown Eyed Girl.” Despite her charm and musical talent, she jokingly recalled mishaps, such as spilling blue cheese dressing on customers while serving tables.
The actress and singer-songwriter, circa 1987 | Source: Getty Images
Her transition into acting came unexpectedly. She was approached to audition for “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” despite not actively seeking acting roles. “Are you kidding? I’m not even looking for a job as an actor. I’m a musician,” she said at the time.
The actress pictured on May 29, 1990 | Source: Getty Images
Still, her talent stood out, and the opportunity kick-started her acting career, leading to several roles before her big break. In 1987, she landed a role on “Married… with Children.” The sitcom was unlike anything else on television at the time, with its edgy humor and untraditional portrayal of family life.
Part of the “Married… with Children” cast pictured in Los Angeles, in 1988 | Source: Getty Images
As Peggy, she quickly became known for her bold fashion, big hair, and quick wit. In a 2021 interview, the actress recalled that for the first three seasons, she styled her own hair.
It wasn’t until the show’s growing success that the network provided her with a wig, signifying their investment in her character’s iconic look.
She also remembered the moment she and her co-star Ed O’Neill realized the show had become a hit. While on a promo tour, they participated in a parade, where fans cheered and waved at them enthusiastically.
The actress and Ed O’Neal pictured on the set of “Married With Children” in 1987 | Source: Getty Images
“We thought nobody was gonna really watch it because it was so irreverent and so not like anything else on TV,” she said. But the show went on to air for 11 seasons, solidifying Peggy as one of the most memorable characters in television history.
During the height of the show’s popularity, the actress experienced a heartbreaking tragedy that profoundly shaped her journey into motherhood.
The Heartbreaking Loss of Her First Child
In October 1991, the actress experienced a devastating loss when her daughter, Ruby, was stillborn at nearly eight months. At the time, her pregnancy had been written into the show’s storyline, but following the tragedy, it was removed and later dismissed as a dream sequence.
The loss was a deeply traumatic event for the actress, who later revealed her struggles with coming to terms with what had happened. She shared that she initially blamed herself, questioning whether she had overworked during her pregnancy or overlooked signs of illness.
“This is what they say about stillbirth, that 60 percent of it is God’s will and there’s no medical reason—and that’s what I was told. And I just couldn’t let go of the control of somehow, [the notion that] I had done something wrong,” she recalled.
For months following the tragedy, the actress rarely left her home except to visit doctors and psychic healers, seeking answers and comfort. It wasn’t until a close friend offered her a spiritual perspective that she began to heal.
The actress poses for a photo in 1988 | Source: Getty Images
“Sometimes we have these little souls that come in and out [of our lives], and their mission is completed,” her friend told her. This perspective, she said, gave her solace and helped her begin to move forward.
In the years that followed, she went on to become a mother to three children, but Ruby’s memory has remained a significant part of her life story.
The Eldest: Sarah White
Three years after the loss of her first child, Ruby, the actress welcomed her daughter Sarah Grace White in 1994. Sarah is now 30 years old and has pursued both acting and music. She studied drama in college and spent time abroad in London, which she later credited for helping her grow as a performer.
In 2015, Sarah made her screen debut in FX’s “The Bastard Executioner,” a series created by her stepfather, Kurt Sutter, and one in which her mother also played a role.
Sarah humbly acknowledged the connection that helped her land the part, describing it as “a little nepotism,” but also as a dream come true.
In addition to acting, Sarah has pursued a music career, releasing her first single in October 2022. Fans have often commented on Sarah’s appearance, leaving comments such as, “Wow, she is beautiful,” and “A beauty like her mom!!! 💜💜💜” on social media posts featuring her.
The Middle Child: Jackson White
Born in 1996, Jackson is the actress’ second child and has become a rising star in Hollywood. Although he was initially discouraged by his mother from pursuing acting until he turned 18, Jackson eventually followed his passion and gained widespread attention for his work in film and television.
The actress with her children Sarah and Jackson attending the premiere of the film “Shrek 2” on May 8, 2004 | Source: Getty Images
After briefly studying music at the University of Southern California, Jackson realized that college wasn’t for him and turned to acting. He made his debut in 2019 with HBO’s miniseries “Mrs. Fletcher,” which earned him recognition as a breakout star.
His mother proudly celebrated his success, sharing a post on Instagram with the caption, “Proud of him. The boy.” Despite her initial advice to pursue another career, the actress supported Jackson’s path in Hollywood.
Reflecting on his mother’s words of wisdom, Jackson admitted with humor, “It didn’t really work—I was still pretty childish in my early 20s—I’m still childish.” With Sarah and Jackson both carving out creative paths, the youngest sibling has grown up in a family deeply rooted in the arts.
The Youngest: Esmé Louise Sutter
In 2007, the actress and her husband, writer-producer Kurt Sutter, welcomed their daughter Esmé Louise via surrogate. At the time of Esmé’s birth, the actress was 52, and Sutter was 43. Although still young, Esmé has grown up surrounded by her family’s creative influence and achievements.
She frequently appears in her mother’s Instagram posts, drawing positive reactions from fans. In May 2023, her mother shared a photo of Esmé with the caption, “My beautiful Esmé.” Fans left comments like, “Oh, she’s like your mini-me,” “She’s so stunning,” and “She’s grown so much from her days at JAG.”
Whether sharing Esmé’s youthful charm, Jackson’s Hollywood breakthroughs, or Sarah’s creative ventures, the actress’ family photos continue to captivate fans, reflecting the life Katey Sagal, 70, has built beyond her iconic TV roles.
A family gifted with rare black & white twins receive the same blessing 7 years later
The Durrant family, a six-person unit that is not only attractive but has overcome some incredible odds, is something to behold when seen as a whole.
In 2001, Alison Spooner and Dean Durrant had their first set of twins, who immediately captured everyone’s attention.
The unpredictability of life on this planet is arguably its most amazing feature.
The unexpected can certainly be distressing or even painful at times, but there are also many situations when we’re pleasantly delighted by something we didn’t anticipate to happen.
Dean Durrant and Alison Spooner appear to be a typical couple from the outside, yet it turns out that their genes are very unique. This is demonstrated by the miracle that resulted in not only one pair of identical twins, but two…
Hayleigh and Lauren Durrant, who are black and white twins, proudly cradle their baby sisters Leah and Miya, who, amazingly, are also…Posted on Wednesday, April 8, 2015 by Talking Babies
Hayleigh and Lauren Durrant, twin sisters from Hampshire in England, were born in 2001 with various skin tones. The white twin resembled their mother, while the black twin resembled their father.
When Alison and Dean initially learned they were expecting twins, they thought the children would be like them both. However, Alison’s parents received a surprise after Laura and Hayleigh were born in 2001.
While Laura’s twin sister had largely taken after her father, Laura had inherited her mother’s fair skin, blue eyes, and red hair.
Naturally, Alison and Dean’s relatives and friends were shocked. The phenomenon is extremely unusual, yet it does occasionally occur.
Growing up wasn’t always easy as their parents had to field questions about how this could have happened and comments of disbelief, and then the girls would face questions from their friends at school.
On the twins’ 18th birthday in 2019, Hayleigh, who has dark skin and hair like her dad Dean, stated they weren’t always accepted.
“Some people can be really rude. They’ll say, ‘You’re lying, you aren’t twins – prove it!’ So we’ll reel off the same address or pull our passports out. It’s nice to see the shock on people’s faces.
“When we went to college it was difficult because there were lots of groups of Asian, white and black kids. The black group were trying to integrate me and I was like, ‘This is my white twin sister.’ No one could believe it. People look at us like it’s some kind of miracle. I’m still amazed that we are twins.”
Meanwhile, Lauren, who has her mother’s green eyes and fair hair, said, “People just assume we’re best friends rather than sisters, let alone twins.
“I’m happy with that because she is my best friend.”
There is a 1 in 500 chance that twins born to multiracial parents will have distinct skin tones.
After only seven years, Alison discovered she was expecting twins once more! When Laura and Hayleigh aged 7, their mother gave birth to another set of identical twin sisters, and the family once more made headlines.
This time, when the babies were discovered to be in the breech position, Alison was induced at 37 weeks. Due to breathing issues, the newborns had to be sent to intensive care right away, depriving Alison and Dean of the opportunity to spend quality time with them.
But when parents could finally see their newborns, they understood that they had overcome yet another obstacle. Another set of miraculous biracial twins was born!
In addition to having distinct skin tones, the daughters, Leah and Miya, made their family the only one in the world to have two sets of multiracial twins.The family of records quickly made it to the Guinness World Records.
Even non-identical twins are uncommon, Dr. Sarah Jarvis of the Royal College of General Practitioners told CBS News.
“To have two eggs fertilized and come out different colors less common so to have it happen twice must be one in millions,” she added.
“I’m almost blown away as the rest of them, there’s no easy way to explain it all,” proud dad Dean told CBS News. “I’m still in shock myself even though the first ones were 7 years ago, it’s amazing.”
Their two older sisters, who have been able to help them navigate the difficulties, assist Leah and Miya.
“The younger ones idolise the older ones and are always copying them. It’s like having two Mini-Mes,” said their father.
“They are best friends and close in every way, apart from looking different. It took me some years to understand the science of how they could appear so different,” their mom added.
Leah shared: “Lauren and Hayleigh are my heroes. I like my older sisters. We want to be like them when we are grown-up.”
Despite their physical disparities, the girls remarked that they are similar in many respects and that they are fortunate to have each other.
Hayleigh explained: “We say the same things at the same time and finish each other’s sentences. Sometimes I know exactly what she is thinking.”
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