Modern Family first came to our screens in 2009 and was for over a decade, finishing up in 2020 with its 11th season. One of the best modern sitcoms, the hit show earned critical and commercial praise, winning 22 Primetime Emmy Awards, six Writers Guild of America Awards, and even a Golden Globe for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy.
Perhaps the most captivating thing about Modern Family is its ensemble cast. All the actors had great chemistry and have won numerous individual awards, becoming long-standing pop-cultural figures due to their appearance on the show. The cast have come from very different backgrounds and have shared some facts which you might not know. Here are 7 interesting facts about the cast of modern family.
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7 Nolan Gould is a Genius
ABC
Nolan Gould plays Luke Dunphy and his character is famously not the most intelligent, and a lot of his charm lies in his naïveté and inability to grasp situations. The irony in his casting is that Gould is a genius and at only 13 years of age, he was able to graduate from high school, something that takes the average student far longer to complete. He has an IQ of 150 and is a member of Mensa, per The List, which is the largest high IQ society in the world. Clearly, he is starkly different to his on-screen character.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
6 Eric Stonestreet Studied Criminal Justice Before Becoming an Actor
Eric Stonestreet plays Cameron, who, with Modern Family, became a fan-favorite LGBTQ+ TV character; however, he revealed that his plan was not always to become an actor. Indeed, it wasn’t until he was in college that he realized acting could be something he could do when he starred in a play and received positive feedback. Before he realized acting could be an option, he wanted to be a warden at a penitentiary. If this was where he stayed, his life would have turned out very different.
5 Ariel Winter Has a Purple Belt in Taekwondo
Ariel Winter is very different from her on-screen character, Alex, and Taekwondo isn’t necessarily something we would associate her character being an expert in. Nonetheless, this is the case for the real-life actress. In the real world, Winter is extremely keen on exercise and trains almost every day in a variety of disciplines. She shares a coach named Gunnar Peterson, who coaches many celebrities including the Kardashians.
4 Sofia Vergara Thought Ed O’Neill Spoke Spanish
Sofia Vergara has become a huge name since her time on Modern Family, and she revealed that Ed O’Neil, who plays her husband onscreen, had been a part of her life well before they met on the show. She stated that she would watch Married…With Children, in which he starred, however, the voices were dubbed in Spanish as it was being broadcast to a Spanish audience. This caused her to believe that he spoke Spanish, and she was disappointed when she met him as this was not the case.
3 Ty Burrell Lived in a Van
Ty Burrell plays Phil, and he has revealed that his life was difficult before he made it big as an actor. He told interviewers that before he hit the big time, there was a period during which he, per USA Today, lived in a van while he attended grad school. He reflected fondly on the period as providing some of the best memories of his life. Clearly, his new life is a long way away from his old one.
2 Nolan Gould is Also a Musical Genius
Not only does Nolan Gould have an impossibly high IQ, but he also possesses a mastery of instruments, and he can play several instruments well, including double bass, banjo, sitar, mandolin and even the theremin. He clearly possesses a lot of talents, and has revealed he would perhaps release an album in the future.
1 Julie Bowen Was Pregnant in the Pilot Episode
Julie Bowen plays Claire Dunphy and during her audition for the role she was pregnant with twins. She revealed that she thought this would certainly mean she wouldn’t get the role, however, they ended up casting her anyway. What’s more, she was still pregnant when they shot the pilot. Her stomach was strategically hidden behind cereal boxes and other objects throughout filming.
