When you have little girls, you're the coolest person in the world. I know at some point that's going to end; in their adolescence I'll become the opposite of that, especially if I'm parked outside a high school party.

He also had a starring role in the comedy horror film Piranha 3D. On April 28 2008 O'Connell appeared as a guest star on ABC's Samantha Who?. He served as producer during his fourth and final season and is credited with writing and directing several episodes.

He starred as Pete Kaczmarek in the CBS TV series The Defenders until its cancellation in 2011. He also had a starring role in the comedy horror film Piranha 3D.