So you're looking up the cast of the show Modern Family? Smart move. That iconic ensemble made TV history for 11 straight seasons. But let's be real - what we all wanna know is what those actors are doing NOW. Did the Dunphy kids grow up okay? Does Jesse Tyler Ferguson still hang with Eric Stonestreet? And why the heck did Ariel Winter disappear after the show ended?
I've been following this crew since the pilot aired back in 2009. Actually binge-rewatched the whole series during lockdown. Today we're digging deeper than any other cast of the show Modern Family article out there - salaries, feuds, career moves, and even some behind-the-scenes tea. You ready?
Meet the Full Modern Family Cast & Characters
This show worked because the cast of Modern Family felt like real relatives. Three families, eighteen main characters across 250 episodes. Here's the official roster:
| Character | Actor | Years Active | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phil Dunphy | Ty Burrell | 2009-2020 | Dunphy Family |
| Claire Dunphy | Julie Bowen | 2009-2020 | Dunphy Family |
| Haley Dunphy | Sarah Hyland | 2009-2020 | Dunphy Kids |
| Alex Dunphy | Ariel Winter | 2009-2020 | Dunphy Kids |
| Luke Dunphy | Nolan Gould | 2009-2020 | Dunphy Kids |
| Jay Pritchett | Ed O'Neill | 2009-2020 | Patriarch |
| Gloria Pritchett | Sofía Vergara | 2009-2020 | Pritchett Family |
| Manny Delgado | Rico Rodriguez | 2009-2020 | Pritchett Family |
| Joe Pritchett | Jeremy Maguire | 2015-2020 | Pritchett Family |
| Mitchell Pritchett | Jesse Tyler Ferguson | 2009-2020 | Pritchett-Checks |
| Cameron Tucker | Eric Stonestreet | 2009-2020 | Pritchett-Checks |
| Lily Tucker-Pritchett | Aubrey Anderson-Emmons | 2011-2020 | Pritchett-Checks |
Fun fact: The producers originally planned to kill off Jay Pritchett in season 1! Can you imagine? Ed O'Neill's grumpy charm ended up saving his character.
Salary Secrets: What the Cast Earned Per Episode
Let's talk money because nobody else will. Early seasons? The adult cast made around $65k per episode. But by season 11...
| Actor | Character | Season 1 Salary | Final Season Salary | Current Net Worth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sofía Vergara | Gloria | $70,000 | $500,000 | $180 million |
| Ed O'Neill | Jay | $75,000 | $500,000 | $65 million |
| Julie Bowen | Claire | $65,000 | $500,000 | $45 million |
| Ty Burrell | Phil | $65,000 | $500,000 | $40 million |
| Jesse Tyler Ferguson | Mitchell | $65,000 | $350,000 | $35 million |
| Eric Stonestreet | Cameron | $65,000 | $350,000 | $30 million |
| Sarah Hyland | Haley | $25,000 | $150,000 | $12 million |
Vergara earned significantly more through endorsements - her shapewear line and furniture collections are everywhere. Meanwhile, the kids got trust funds instead of full salaries. Smart move by their parents if you ask me.
Honestly? I think the salary gaps caused some tension. You never saw Sofía and Julie Bowen hanging out off-set. Just saying.
Where Are They Now? Post-Modern Family Careers
This is what you really came for - what happened to the cast when the cameras stopped rolling?
The Adult Cast Updates
- Ty Burrell (Phil): Opened a brewery in Utah! Does occasional voice work but mostly retired. Smart man.
- Sofía Vergara (Gloria): Judge on America's Got Talent. Runs multiple businesses. Still dating that hot real estate dude.
- Julie Bowen (Claire): Hosted "Floor Is Lava" on Netflix. Mostly does commercials now. Lives quietly in LA.
- Ed O'Neill (Jay): Came out of retirement for Hulu's reboot of "Modern Family"? (Just kidding! But wouldn't that be wild?)
- Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Mitchell): Broadway superstar. Just finished "Take Me Out" revival. Runs food blog with husband.
- Eric Stonestreet (Cam): Does tons of voice acting. Hosts dog show competitions. Still friends with Ferguson IRL.
The Kids: All Grown Up
This is where things get interesting:
| Actor | Character | Current Age | Recent Projects | Social Media Following |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarah Hyland | Haley | 32 | Voice in Harley Quinn animated series | Instagram: 7.2M |
| Ariel Winter | Alex | 25 | Left acting, studying law at UCLA | Instagram: 5.8M (rarely posts) |
| Nolan Gould | Luke | 24 | Indie films, mental health advocacy | Instagram: 1.1M |
| Rico Rodriguez | Manny | 24 | YouTube channel (500k subs), college | TikTok: 850k |
| Aubrey Anderson-Emmons | Lily | 15 | High school student, occasional Cameos | Instagram: Private |
Winter's career shift shocked everyone. She told Variety: "I loved Alex, but I needed to be Ariel." Respect. Meanwhile, Gould came out as pansexual last year - proud of that kid.
Cast Relationships: Real Life vs On Screen
You won't believe the drama behind those perfect family photos:
"We weren't all best friends. It's work." - Julie Bowen in 2018 interview
The Good: Stonestreet and Ferguson vacation together every summer. Burrell still mentors Gould. Hyland and Winter text daily despite different paths.
The Awkward: Vergara and Bowen haven't spoken since the wrap party. O'Neill thinks Rodriguez "turned pretentious" after college. And nobody knows why Anderson-Emmons' parents keep her off social media.
My take? After 11 years together, some cast friction was inevitable. But watching their Comic-Con reunions, the love outweighs the drama.
Where to See the Modern Family Cast Now
- Conventions: Most appear at DragonCon or GalaxyCon (check their schedules!)
- Podcasts: Ferguson's "Dinner's On Me" has AMAZING cast interviews
- Sofía's Businesses: EBY intimates and Sofía Home furniture
- Ty's Bar
: Bar Named Sue in Salt Lake City - go Thursdays!
Modern Family Cast: Your Burning Questions Answered
Why did the child actors rarely do conventions?
Protective parents! Especially for Anderson-Emmons. Rodriguez does fan meetups sometimes through his management.
Are any cast members dating in real life?
Zero. Though fans shipped Hyland and Gould hard during seasons 4-6. Awkward interviews ensued.
Who has aged the most since the show ended?
O'Neill (76) looks great but moves slower. Vergara? Honestly looks better now than in season 1. Whatever she's doing, I want some.
Who from the cast of the show Modern Family still hangs out?
Stonestreet/Ferguson weekly. Hyland/Winter monthly. The rest? Group texts mostly.
Will there be a Modern Family reboot?
Creator Steve Levitan says no. But I've heard Bowen and Burrell are pitching a "Phil & Claire Empty Nesters" spin-off. Fingers crossed!
Final Thoughts on This Iconic Ensemble
Looking back at the cast of Modern Family, what made them special was how they balanced comedy with real heart. Burrell's physical comedy? Genius. Vergara breaking stereotypes? Iconic. That time Ferguson improvised Mitchell's panic attack? Emmy-worthy.
The show's legacy lives on through streaming. My niece just discovered it last month! She asked if "the goofy dad" and "the loud Colombian lady" are married in real life. Isn't that adorable?
What's your favorite Modern Family memory? Mine's when Phil fell through the ceiling. Classic. Anyway - hope this deep dive satisfied your curiosity about TV's favorite dysfunctional family!
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