Christina Applegate’s friends and former co-stars including Ed O’Neill and Katey Sagal are reportedly “distressed” about her health following her recent hospitalization, and have even reached out to her.
“They don’t think this is her fate. She’s not going to die right now, but they wanted to leave things unsaid,” a source close to Applegate who worked on “Married with Children” said in an interview with the Daily Mail published Friday.
“They said they loved each other.”
Dead to Me co-star Linda Cardellini, Anchorman co-star Will Ferrell and Jean Smart, who played her mother in 2007’s Samantha Who?, were also among the list of celebrities who reportedly sent words of support.
But the message from O’Neal, who played her father in “Married…With Children,” was important to Applegate, and the two remain close.
A source close to O’Neal said: “I don’t want to say that Ed is like a father figure to her, but they’ve been in touch since their days on ‘Married with Children’ and are very, very close.”
“They’ve always been like that: texting, meeting, calling.”
The source added, “When he heard the news that she was hospitalized, he immediately texted her and asked if he could help, telling her he loved her and was here for her in any way she needed.”
O’Neal is “suffering” and “very worried about her,” the source continued.
“He loves her very much. Obviously she’s not on her deathbed, but she’s not in good shape and anything could happen,” the source said.
“He hated to see her suffer, and it really bothered him. So he gave whatever he could to help. He’s family to her.”
Representatives for Applegate, O’Neal and Sagal did not immediately respond to Page Six’s requests for comment.
Applegate was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2021 and was hospitalized in Los Angeles late last month. However, it was unclear whether the reason was related to her autoimmune disease.
“We do not comment on whether she is hospitalized or what her treatment is,” a rep for the actress told Page Six in a statement at the time. “As evidenced in her memoir and podcast, she has a long history of complex medical conditions, about which she is refreshingly open.”
Applegate later shared an update on her health via Instagram, telling her followers that she was “feeling better every day.”
“Thank you for the outpouring of love and blessings. Despite my health issues, I am a strong chick and am getting stronger and better every day.”
“I’m taking some time to focus on my health, but I want to talk to you again soon.”
