Some TV families stay families long after the cameras stop rolling.
David Faustino, who played the scheming younger brother Bud Bundy on the iconic sitcom Married… With Children, recently opened up about his enduring friendship with Christina Applegate, his on-screen sister Kelly.
In a new interview with Extra, Faustino revealed that their bond has only strengthened over the years, particularly as Applegate navigates her multiple sclerosis diagnosis.
Their upcoming reunion event promises to be both nostalgic and meaningful, supporting a cause that hits close to home.
A Friendship That Transcends Hollywood
Faustino didn’t hesitate when describing his relationship with Applegate.
We talk often. She’s helped me with a lot of things in my life, and I’m hoping I’m being there for her.
The actor’s words paint a picture of genuine reciprocal support, far removed from typical Hollywood acquaintanceships that fade once a show wraps.
Their connection has evolved from teenage costars to lifelong friends who lean on each other through life’s challenges. It’s a testament to the authentic bonds formed during their 11 seasons together on Fox, which aired from 1987 to 1997.
Navigating MS With Humor and Honesty
Applegate publicly revealed her multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2021, opening up about a condition that affects the central nervous system and can cause a wide range of symptoms including fatigue, mobility issues, and cognitive changes.
Rather than retreating from public view entirely, she’s chosen to address her health journey head-on. Applegate co-hosts the MeSsy podcast with actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who also lives with MS, where both women discuss their experiences with candor and vulnerability.
Faustino expressed admiration for how his former costar approaches her diagnosis.
She’s getting through it with humor. She’s very sarcastic, very dry, always has been and continues to be, and she still makes me laugh.
That trademark Kelly Bundy sass apparently wasn’t just good acting—it’s part of who Applegate really is.
Reunion With Purpose: Supporting MS Research
Faustino, Applegate, Ed O’Neill (who played patriarch Al Bundy), and Katey Sagal (matriarch Peg Bundy) are reuniting Wednesday at Los Angeles’ Wiltern Theater for “An Evening with The Bundys: The Married… with Children Cast Reunion.”
But this isn’t just another nostalgia tour. Proceeds from the event will benefit Race to Erase MS, an organization funding research into treatments and potential cures for multiple sclerosis.
The choice was deeply personal. Faustino recalled the conversation that led to selecting the beneficiary:
I said, ‘Christina, which foundation would you like this to go to?’ And she said, ‘Race to Erase MS.’ The medicines and drugs that have come out from the research they’ve done have been life-changing.
Applegate’s choice reflects the tangible impact research funding can have on people living with chronic conditions.
Beyond Reunions: A Family That Never Really Separated
While the upcoming event is billed as a “long-awaited reunion,” the reality suggests these actors never really drifted apart.
Applegate has welcomed all her former costars onto her podcast, creating spaces for authentic conversations decades after their show ended. When O’Neill appeared as a guest, she praised him lavishly, calling him both “an incredible actor” and “an incredible human being.”
Actions speak even louder than podcast appearances. When Applegate received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in November 2022—a milestone achievement—both Faustino and Sagal were present to celebrate with her.
Applegate has understandably reduced her public appearances in recent years as she manages her MS symptoms, making those moments she does share with her TV family even more meaningful.
What MS Research Means for Patients
Faustino’s comments about “life-changing” medications highlight significant advances in MS treatment over recent decades.
Disease-modifying therapies can now:
- Reduce relapse frequency: Modern treatments can significantly decrease the number of MS flare-ups patients experience
- Slow disease progression: Newer medications help prevent disability from worsening over time
- Improve quality of life: Better symptom management allows many people with MS to maintain active lifestyles
- Offer multiple options: Patients and doctors can now choose from various treatment approaches based on individual needs
Organizations like Race to Erase MS fund the research that brings these treatments from laboratory concepts to accessible medications.
The Bundy Legacy Lives On
Married… With Children broke ground as Fox’s first primetime series, offering irreverent comedy that pushed boundaries and launched careers. The show’s cultural impact extended far beyond its 11-season run, influencing countless sitcoms that followed.
But perhaps its most lasting legacy is the genuine relationships forged between cast members who started as colleagues and became something closer to actual family.
Wednesday’s reunion represents more than nostalgia. It’s a family coming together to support one of their own while funding research that could help millions living with MS worldwide.
Faustino’s pride in Applegate’s resilience shines through clearly. Her approach—confronting her diagnosis with the same sharp humor she brought to Kelly Bundy—offers inspiration to others facing similar challenges.
Once a Bundy, always a Bundy. In this case, that’s not just a catchy phrase—it’s a promise these actors have kept for over three decades.