It feels like forever ago that we first met the O’Neals, that "perfect" Catholic family from Chicago whose lives completely imploded in the pilot episode. ABC really had something special here. When you look back at the cast The Real O'Neals brought together, it wasn’t just a group of actors hitting marks. They had this frantic, messy, deeply loving chemistry that made the show's cancellation after only two seasons feel like a genuine gut punch to fans.
Honestly, the show was ahead of its time. It tackled coming out, divorce, and religious deconstruction with a sense of humor that was sharp but never mean-spirited. Martha Plimpton and Jay R. Ferguson anchored the chaos as the parents, Eileen and Pat, but the kids were the ones who really drove the narrative home.
The Breakout: Noah Galvin as Kenny O'Neal
Noah Galvin was the literal heart of the show. Playing Kenny, the middle son who comes out as gay and inadvertently triggers a domino effect of family secrets, Galvin brought a manic energy that was infectious. He wasn’t playing a stereotype. He was playing a kid trying to figure out how to be himself in a house where his mom literally had a "shame" drawer.
Galvin’s journey since the show ended has been kind of incredible to watch. He didn't just stay in the sitcom lane. He went straight to Broadway, taking over the title role in Dear Evan Hansen. It’s funny how things work out; he actually met his fiancé, Ben Platt, through that world. Talk about a power couple.
He also landed a recurring, then series-regular role on The Good Doctor as Dr. Asher Wolke. If you’ve seen him on that show, you know he still has that specific ability to mix high-stakes drama with a dry, biting wit. But for many of us, he'll always be the kid who imagined a literal "Gaydar" machine in his bedroom.
Martha Plimpton: The Glue That Held the Chaos Together
You can’t talk about the cast The Real O'Neals featured without bowing down to Martha Plimpton. She played Eileen O'Neal, a woman so obsessed with appearances and Catholic guilt that she almost missed her family’s reality. Plimpton is a veteran. She’s been in everything from The Goonies to Raising Hope, and she brought a certain "don't mess with me" gravitas to the role of Eileen.
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Since the show wrapped in 2017, Martha hasn't slowed down. She’s moved between high-brow theater in London and voice work for major franchises. Did you catch her as Yelena in Frozen II? Yeah, that was her. She also starred in the dark comedy Mass, which was a total 180 from the bright, saturated colors of the O’Neal household. She’s one of those actors who just makes everything she touches better.
Bebe Wood and Matt Shively: The Siblings
Then you have the siblings. Bebe Wood played Shannon, the youngest, who was arguably the smartest person in any room. Shannon was a bit of a scam artist with a heart of gold, always running some sort of grift for a good cause (or just for cash). Bebe Wood has transitioned beautifully into more mature roles, most notably starring as Lake Meriwether in the Hulu series Love, Victor. It felt like a spiritual successor to the vibes of the O'Neals in a lot of ways.
Matt Shively played Jimmy, the eldest brother and resident "jock" who was actually just a big sweetheart with a very limited internal monologue. Shively has become a staple in the sitcom and voice-acting world. He’s been in Loot on Apple TV+ and has done a ton of work for Nickelodeon. He has this specific "lovable dummy" energy that is surprisingly hard to cast, and he does it better than almost anyone.
Jay R. Ferguson and the "Dad" Energy
Jay R. Ferguson played Pat O'Neal, the police officer dad who was just trying to keep his head above water while his marriage dissolved. Ferguson is one of those "Oh, that guy!" actors who has been in literally everything. Before the O'Neals, he was Stan Rizzo on Mad Men. Since the show ended, he’s found a permanent home on the Roseanne spinoff, The Conners, playing Ben. He has a way of playing blue-collar dads that feels authentic and grounded, which was the perfect foil to Eileen's high-strung personality.
Why the Show Really Got Cancelled
The ratings weren't great, let’s be real. But there was also a lot of controversy surrounding the show, mostly coming from conservative groups like the American Family Association and the Catholic League. They weren't thrilled about a show that poked fun at traditional religious structures.
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On top of that, Noah Galvin gave a pretty unfiltered interview to Vulture during the show's run where he criticized some big names in Hollywood and the way certain gay characters were portrayed. It caused a bit of a PR firestorm for ABC. While everyone eventually smoothed things over, that kind of "noise" usually doesn't help a show that's already on the bubble.
It’s a shame, honestly. By the end of season two, the show was really finding its groove. The O’Neals were transitioning from a family defined by their secrets to a family defined by their honesty. We missed out on seeing Kenny navigate actual adulthood and seeing Eileen truly find herself outside of her identity as a "perfect" wife.
The Legacy of the O'Neals
What’s interesting is how the cast The Real O'Neals helped pave the way for other LGBTQ+ centered family comedies. You can see DNA of this show in things like Schitt’s Creek or The Other Two. It took the "coming out" trope and moved past it almost immediately, focusing instead on what happens after the big reveal.
The show was loosely based on the life of activist Dan Savage, who served as an executive producer. While the show took plenty of creative liberties, that foundation of real-world experience gave the writing a bite that most network sitcoms lacked. It wasn't just "safe" TV. It was occasionally uncomfortable, often loud, and surprisingly progressive for a 2016-2017 ABC lineup.
Where to Find the Cast Now
If you're looking to follow the careers of the cast The Real O'Neals today, you have plenty of options. Here is a quick rundown of where the main players landed:
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- Noah Galvin: Check out his final seasons on The Good Doctor or look for his performance in the film Theater Camp, which he also co-wrote. He’s basically theater royalty at this point.
- Martha Plimpton: She’s often on stage in the UK or doing guest spots on prestige dramas. Keep an eye out for her name in indie film credits; she picks great scripts.
- Bebe Wood: Love, Victor is her big post-O'Neals project. She’s also a musician, so check her out on Spotify if you want to hear her original stuff.
- Matt Shively: He’s a regular on The Conners now alongside Jay R. Ferguson, which is a fun little reunion for fans of the show.
- Jay R. Ferguson: He’s firmly planted in the Lanford universe on The Conners.
It’s rare for a show that only lasted 29 episodes to have such a lasting impact on its audience. People still talk about the "The Real Book Club" episode or the "The Real Grandma" episode where things got incredibly awkward.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you're missing the O'Neals or just discovering them for the first time, here’s how to dive back in:
Streaming Options
Check Disney+ or Hulu. Because it was an ABC/Disney-owned property, it usually lives there. If it’s not currently streaming in your region, it’s available for purchase on Vudu or Amazon Prime. It’s a quick binge—you can finish the whole series in a weekend.
Follow the Creators
Follow Casey Johnson and David Windsor on social media. They were the showrunners and have since moved on to projects like Not Dead Yet. They often share "throwback" stories about the O'Neals.
Support the Cast’s Current Work
The best way to honor a cancelled show you loved is to support the actors in their new ventures. Watch The Conners or The Good Doctor. Go see a play if Noah Galvin is in town. These actors are all still incredibly active and bringing that same energy to new characters.
Engage with the Fandom
There are still active pockets of the "Real O'Neals" fandom on Tumblr and X (formerly Twitter). People still share clips and "incorrect quotes" from the show. It’s a nice way to keep the memory of the show alive, even if we never get that season three we deserved.
The show might be over, but the way it handled identity, family, and faith remains a blueprint for how to do "risky" network TV right. It was a short ride, but a memorable one.