Amanda Bearse Net Worth: Career, Directing Success & LGBTQ+ Advocacy
Amanda Bearse has built a career in Hollywood as an actress, director, and LGBTQ+ advocate. Known for her role as Marcy Rhoades in the sitcom Married… with Children, she has worked in entertainment for over four decades. Her net worth in 2026 reflects income from television acting, directing work, and investments.
Table Of Content
This article examines Amanda Bearse’s financial standing, career milestones, and contributions to LGBTQ+ representation in Hollywood.
Early Life and Education
| Full Name | Amanda Bearse |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | August 9, 1958 |
| Place of Birth | Winter Park, Florida, USA |
| Occupation | Actress, Director, Advocate |
| Years Active | 1982–present |
| Spouse | Carrie Schenken |
| Children | Zoe (daughter) |
| Reported Net Worth | $3 million |
Amanda Bearse was born on August 9, 1958, in Winter Park, Florida. She developed an interest in performing arts during childhood, participating in local theater and school productions.
Bearse attended Rollins College, Birmingham-Southern College, and Young Harris College, earning an associate’s degree. She completed formal training at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City.
Career Beginnings in Television
Bearse entered professional television in 1982 when she was cast as Amanda Cousins on the soap opera All My Children. This role provided early exposure and helped her transition to primetime television.
She appeared in the 1984 comedy film Protocol alongside Goldie Hawn, followed by the 1985 horror film Fright Night, which gained a cult following among genre fans.
Breakthrough Role: Married… with Children
In 1987, Bearse was cast as Marcy Rhoades (later Marcy D’Arcy) in Married… with Children, a sitcom that ran for 11 seasons on Fox. Her character served as the feminist neighbor to the Bundy family, often clashing with Al Bundy (played by Ed O’Neill) while maintaining a friendship with Peggy Bundy (played by Katey Sagal).
The show became one of the longest-running sitcoms in American television history. Bearse’s performance brought her national recognition and increased her earnings.
Transition to Directing
During her time on Married… with Children, Bearse began directing episodes of the series. She directed more than 30 episodes, gaining experience behind the camera while continuing to act.
After the show concluded in 1997, she focused on directing. Her credits include episodes of:
- Reba
- Malcolm & Eddie
- Dharma & Greg
- Veronica’s Closet
- Mad TV
- The Jamie Foxx Show
Directing became a primary income source and allowed her to work across multiple television genres.
Later Acting Work
Bearse continued acting in various projects after Married… with Children. She made guest appearances on shows including Hotel, Drop Dead Diva, and Nikki (2001).
In 2020, she appeared in the German horror-comedy Sky Sharks. In 2022, she had a role in the romantic comedy Bros, and in 2023, she worked on Tapawingo with Jon Heder and Billy Zane.
- 1982 – Television debut on All My Children
- 1985 – Appeared in Fright Night
- 1987 – Cast as Marcy Rhoades in Married… with Children
- 1991 – Began directing episodes of Married… with Children
- 1993 – Publicly came out as a lesbian
- 1997 – Married… with Children concluded
- 1997–2005 – Directed episodes of Reba, Dharma & Greg, and other series
- 2022 – Appeared in Bros
- 2023 – Worked on Tapawingo
LGBTQ+ Advocacy
In 1993, Amanda Bearse publicly came out as a lesbian, becoming one of the first openly gay actresses working in American television. Her decision to come out during the run of a major network sitcom was uncommon at the time and drew attention to LGBTQ+ visibility in entertainment.
Bearse has been involved in advocacy work supporting LGBTQ+ rights. She has spoken about the importance of representation in media and the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in Hollywood.
She is married to Carrie Schenken, and they have a daughter named Zoe.
Amanda Bearse Net Worth in 2026
Amanda Bearse’s net worth is reported to be approximately $3 million. This figure is cited in available public sources and reflects her earnings from acting, directing, and investments.
| Source | Estimated Contribution |
|---|---|
| Acting | 40% |
| Directing | 45% |
| Investments | 15% |
Acting income includes earnings from Married… with Children, residuals from syndication, and roles in films and guest appearances.
Directing has been cited as her largest income source since the late 1990s. Television directors typically earn per episode, and her extensive directing credits across multiple series have provided consistent earnings.
Investments include real estate and other ventures, which contribute a smaller portion of her reported net worth.
Professional Impact
Amanda Bearse’s work as an actress and director has spanned multiple decades. Her role in Married… with Children remains her most recognized work, while her directing career demonstrates her ability to work across different television formats.
As an openly gay actress in the 1990s, she contributed to increased visibility for LGBTQ+ individuals in mainstream media. Her willingness to discuss her identity publicly during a time when few actors did so helped create space for future generations of LGBTQ+ performers.
Her directing work on popular sitcoms influenced the television landscape of the late 1990s and early 2000s, and she continues to work in the industry.
Conclusion
Amanda Bearse’s career demonstrates longevity in entertainment through acting, directing, and advocacy. Her reported net worth of $3 million reflects decades of work in television, with directing providing the majority of her income in recent years.
Her contributions to LGBTQ+ representation and her continued work in film and television show her ongoing presence in Hollywood.
