When it premiered in 2009, Modern Family went from critical favorite to one of the most popular and award-winning shows on TV. The acclaimed show, filmed in the mockumentary style that was popularized from the American remake of The Office, featured a delightful ensemble, sharp writing, and a lot of lovable moments. The series lasted 11 seasons, and it turned Sofia Vergara, Ariel Winter and others into famous celebrities all while continuing to build upon Ed O'Neill's towering television legacy, but everything must end at some point. As Modern Family concluded, several actors found their next projects while some other cast members left their future uncertain. Let's take a look at what we know about these award-winning actors and see what they're looking to pursue next.
Ty Burrell (Phil Dunphy)
Playing Phil Dunphy, the patriarch of the Dunphy family, Ty Burrell found his most well-recognized role in Modern Family. The actor rose to prominence through a Broadway run of Macbeth and several off-broadway plays, as well as roles in Black Hawk Down and the Dawn of the Dead remake, but this series is what helped Burrell turn into a household name. Since appearing in Modern Family, Burrell also booked roles in Finding Dory, Storks, Muppets Most Wanted, Rough Night, and a title role in Mr. Peabody & Sherman. Now that his two-time Emmy-winning role in Modern Family is over, Burrell has booked his next role. He provides his voice to the new animated series, Duncanville, where he serves as a regular player.
Julie Bowen (Claire Dunphy)
An established film and TV actress before she joined the cast of Modern Family, Julie Bowen was known for starring in Happy Gilmore, Lost, Dawson's Creek, Boston Legal, and Ed, to name a few titles, before she joined the popular sitcom, but it became her most famous role to date. As the matriarch Claire Dunphy, Bowen won two Emmy awards for her performance in the series. Now that the show has concluded, Bowen has a couple titled lined up next. The first is Hubie Halloween, the newest Adam Sandler Netflix comedy, which is set to come out later this year. Bowen is also attached to Raised By Wolves, the new CBS multi-camera comedy series from the creators of Will & Grace. Though there might've been speculation that she'd quit acting after Modern Family's series finale, that's evidently not the case.
Sofia Vergara (Gloria Delgado-Pritchett)
As Gloria Delgado-Pritchett, the significantly younger wife to Jay Pritchett, Sofia Vergara's profile skyrocketed thanks to the success of Modern Family. The Colombian-American actress became one of the highest paid actresses on television for several years through her Emmy-nominated performance. The former Univision co-host found herself in The Smurfs, New Year's Eve, Machete Kills, The Three Stooges, Chef, Hot Pursuit, Happy Feet Two, The Emoji Movie, and more following the show's success, and she'll continue to be a friendly face on television. Now that Modern Family has aired its final episode, Vergara has lined up her next TV gig. She'll join America's Got Talent as a judge during its 15th season. She has also done endorsements for several companies since she found international fame through Modern Family.
Ed O'Neill (Jay Pritchett)
Previously best known for playing Al Bundy in Married... With Children, O'Neill was already a comedy titan when he starred in Modern Family, though the series gave his television career a great second wave. Having also appeared in the Wayne's World movies and Little Giants, O'Neill got a plush role in this hit series and it renewed his career enormously. Since the award-winning series premiered, O'Neill has also done voice work for Wreck-It Ralph, Ralph Breaks the Internet, and Finding Dory. As Modern Family came to a close after eleven seasons, O'Neill hasn't lined up any new acting gigs, though he's soon set to be seen in the indie comedy, The Last Shift, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. As for the next project, he admitted on Ellen that he's "going along" and figuring it out in due time.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Mitchell Pritchett)
Playing Mitchell Pritchett, the husband of Cameron Tucker and Lily's father, Jesse Tyler Ferguson found himself in a major television hit with this role. The performance was nominated for five Emmy awards and it certainly helped his profile, though he was previously well-known for his standout work in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which became a huge Broadway sensation. Recently, Ferguson found himself on Broadway again in the 2016 production of Fully Committed. He also lent his voice to the audiobook, A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo, from 2018, and he appeared in Taylor Swift's 2019 music video for "You Need To Calm Down." He also voiced a character in Ice Age: Collision Course, and he appeared on Project Runway and Drop the Mic. Now that Modern Family has concluded, Ferguson will be the new host of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
Eric Stonestreet (Cameron Tucker)
Eric Stonestreet was a hard-working actor who finally found his big break with Modern Family. Playing Cameron Tucker, Mitchell Pritchett's husband and Lily's other father, Stonestreet won two Emmys and gained wide acclaim for his beloved performance. Since Modern Family, Stonestreet has also been seen or heard in American Horror Story, Monk, Identity Thief, Bad Teacher, The Loft, You're Not A Monster, and The Secret Life of Pets 1 & 2. Now that Modern Family is finished, Stonestreet doesn't currently have any upcoming acting roles formally announced, though he's taking Heidi Klum's place on America's Got Talent's fifteenth season as a guest judge. He was also recently seen on the revival of Who Wants to Be A Millionaire.
Sarah Hyland (Haley Dunphy)
As Haley Dunphy, the eldest Dunphy daughter, Sarah Hyland found her claim to fame with Modern Family. The young actress, who had previously appeared in minor roles in Private Parts and Annie, found herself in this acclaimed ensemble and it opened a few new doors. Since the show began, Hyland has been seen in Geek Charming, Scary Movie 5, Struck By Lightning, Vampire Academy, XOXO, and the Dirty Dancing remake — to name a few projects. Now that Modern Family has come to a close, Hyland is looking to pursue her next project. Specifically, Hyland is attached to headline and produce a forthcoming ABC comedy series from Oscar-nominated screenwriter Emily V. Gordon (The Big Sick) and This Is Us co-showrunners Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger. Not much is known about the untitled series at this time. Hyland also recently did a single with Jordan McGraw.
Ariel Winter (Alex Dunphy)
Playing the part of Alex Dunphy, the middle child of the fame, Ariel Winter grew in prominence and fame through her work on the popular ABC series. Thanks to Modern Family, Winter has elevated her career in a number of ways, though she primarily works as a voice actress nowadays. She has lent her voice to the lead role in Sofia the First, as well as Final Fantasy games, Phineas And Ferb, Smurfs: The Lost Village, Mr. Peabody & Sherman (also starring Ty Burrell), Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and ParaNorman, to name a few projects. She'll next be heard in the lead role of Little Audrey.
Rico Rodriguez (Manny Delgado)
In his calling card role, former child actor Rico Rodriguez became a household name when he played Manny Delgado, Gloria's sweet-natured son from another marriage, in Modern Family. Though he appeared in Cory in the House, Nip/Tuck, My Name is Earl, iCarly, Epic Movie, and NCIS in minor roles before his time in the popular ABC sitcom, his scene-stealing character made him an adorable favorite on the series, helping the actor find parts in The Muppets, Austin & Ally, and Good Luck Charlie, among other roles. Also, in 2012, the young actor published his memoir, Reel Life Lessons... So Far, which he authored alongside Laura Morton. With the series concluded, Rodriguez currently doesn't have any other roles announced presently, but the actor did recently appear in an episode of Nickelodeon's reality TV program, The Substitute.
Nolan Gould (Luke Dunphy)
In the role of Luke Dunphy, the youngest Dunphy sibling, Nolan Gould was a consistent presence throughout Modern Family. Though he hasn't found the same notoriety as his co-stars, Gould has found several new acting projects since appearing on this popular series. The same year Modern Family hit television, Gould was seen in Space Buddies, and he has been seen in Friends with Benefits, The To Do List, Good Luck Charlie, and more since then. He also made an appearance as himself in a 2014 episode of Whose Line Is It Anyway? Next, Gould has a role in Yes and he'll appear in What's Up North. He's expected to be seen in the comedy-drama, Camp. He's also been doing more music videos lately.
Aubrey Anderson-Emmons (Lily Tucker-Pritchett)
As Lily Tucker-Pritchett, the sweet young daughter of Cameron and Mitchell, Aubrey Anderson-Emmons played a more prominent role in the series as it went along. The show remains her only acting credit outside of a 2014 short film, though she has build a presence on YouTube. Specifically, Anderson-Emmons does the segment FoodMania Review with her mom, Amy. They started making videos in 2015 and they have over a million views and 19,000 subscribers.
Jeremy Maguire (Joe Pritchett)
As Joe Pritchett, the son of Jay and Gloria, Jeremy Maguire became an adorable addition to Modern Family from Season 4 onward. Outside of this show, Maguire has appeared in The Last Ship and 2017's I'm Not There. He'll next appear in the comedy-drama film, The Virgin of Highland Park. He also regularly makes videos on his YouTube account.
Reid Ewing (Dylan Marshall)
Though he only played a supporting role during the early seasons of Modern Family, Reid Ewing found himself playing a main role in the show's 11th and final season. In the role of Dylan, a love interest Haley Dunphy, the character became an endearing presence throughout the show's run, proving himself to be the man for Haley as the show progressed forward. Now that Modern Family is done, the actor-musician currently doesn't have any new acting roles announced yet. There was potentially talk of a spin-off series that would feature Ewing more prominently, but that potential series has not been announced in any official capacity — and it's hard to know if it'll ever come to be. We'll certainly keep you posted if that ever ends up happening.
Who is your favorite Modern Family actor? Let us know in the comments!
