At 72: You’d Hardly Recognize Katey Sagal From “'Married... with Children'

Katey Sagal began taking singing lessons at the age of five and dreamed of a career as a singer. In 1973, she appeared in an episode of the crime series “Columbo,” directed by her father, Boris Sagal, while also working as a backup singer for stars such as Bob Dylan and Etta James.

In 1979, Katey Sagal toured with the Harlettes alongside Bette Midler before a dispute brought the band's collaboration to an end. Afterward, she pursued solo projects and performed her own songs in nightclubs around Los Angeles.

In the little-noticed series "Mary," Katey Sagal resumed her acting career in 1985 and also appeared in the rock musical "Backstreet." During a performance, a casting agency took notice of her and invited her to audition for a major new role.

In 1987, Katey Sagal beat out about 1,200 other actresses to land the role of Peggy Bundy in “Married... with Children.” The sitcom ran until 1997 and made her an international star of television comedy during those years and an absolute style icon.

In 1991, Katey Sagal became pregnant, which surprised the producers and was quickly incorporated into the sixth season of “Married… with Children.” In her seventh month, a C-section ended tragically with the stillbirth of her daughter, while the series later resolved the storyline by portraying it as a dream her TV husband had.

In 1999, Katey Sagal took on the role of the alcoholic Edna in several episodes of “That '70s Show.” That same year, she voiced the character Turanga Leela in the animated series “Futurama,” demonstrating her versatility beyond the sitcom stage.

From 2002 to 2005, Katey Sagal played Cate Hennessy in the sitcom “8 Simple Rules... for Dating My Teenage Daughter,” alongside John Ritter, who passed away in 2003. The series carried her career forward after “Married… with Children” ended and once again showcased her as the comedic face of family television.

As the brooding leader Gemma Teller Morrow, Katey Sagal left her mark on her husband Kurt Sutter’s motorcycle series “Sons of Anarchy” from 2008 to 2014. She won a Golden Globe for the role in 2011, after having been nominated for a Satellite Award and a Television Critics Association Award in 2010.

On September 9, 2014, Katey Sagal was honored with her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a belated accolade after decades in front of the camera. The honor recognized both her roles in sitcoms and her transition to serious character acting in “Sons of Anarchy.”

After her long-running supporting role in “The Conners,” which ran until 2025, Katey Sagal has been appearing in the series “One Piece” since 2026. At 72, her appearance has changed significantly, but she still looks great and knows exactly how to make a grand entrance.