Ed O’Neill has been signing books, selling artwork, and offering other items for $1,000 pledges. The actor is using the money to create a documentary about late U.S. congressman James Traficant. The congressman is from O’Neill’s native northeast Ohio.
Director Eric Murphy tells has created a crowdfunding campaign to raise the $17,500 needed to finish the production. The documentary is titled, Traficant: Congressman of Crimetown. The Kickstarter campaign has raised $9,890 with the assistance of 52 backers. Two backers have purchased the $2,500 lunch tickets with O’Neill and Murphy. They are responsible for their own travel to Los Angeles for the lunch meeting.
Former Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. passed away in September, following a tractor accident on his family’s farm in Greenford, Ohio. Traficant was 73-years-old at the time of his death.
James Traficant was best known for his crazy toupees and his colorful presence on the House floor. He would often use the term “Beam me up!” during his speeches.
In 2002, Traficant was kicked out of Congress he was convicted on federal corruption charges. In 2009, the former congressman was released from prison after serving seven years.
Backers who pledge at least $2,500 get to have lunch with Ed O’Neill, the veteran actor who helped put Fox TV on the map with Married with Children and who currently stars in the hit TV series Modern Family.