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It’s been five years since Modern Family wrapped up its final season, but honestly, doesn’t it still feel like yesterday? For over a decade, this show wasn’t just a primetime favorite, it became a comfort zone, a weekly check-in with a group of quirky, loving, deeply relatable people we started to see as our own. Whether you were Team Dunphy, Team Pritchett, or somewhere in between, chances are you saw a little bit of your own family reflected on screen, and laughed your way through it.
Debuting back in 2009, Modern Family brought a fresh perspective to family dynamics. It played with structure, broke sitcom clichés, and made room for real conversations, all under the disguise of comedy. And now that the series is part of TV history, one question lingers for fans who still revisit it like a favorite photo album: where is everyone now?
The show's legacy: More than laughs
Modern Family wasn’t just successful, it helped shape a new kind of television. It made space for same-sex couples, multicultural families, adopted kids, and all the lovely messiness that comes with real life. It didn’t feel like it was trying to teach you anything, but somehow, you walked away each week feeling seen. That’s part of why it racked up over 20 Emmy wins and remained one of the most-watched comedies of its time.
From its perfectly awkward family dinners to heartwarming season finales, the show built a legacy that still holds up. And the actors behind it all? They’ve been carving new paths, sometimes quietly, sometimes loudly, but always with the same heart.
Where are they now?
Sofía Vergara (Gloria)
Sofía didn’t slow down for a second. In 2024, she took on a dramatically different role in Griselda, portraying a notorious cartel leader, and earned serious critical praise for it. She also continues to shine as a judge on America’s Got Talent, proving she can switch from high drama to live TV charisma without missing a beat.
Julie Bowen (Claire)
Julie has been mixing it up behind and in front of the camera. She produced Prom Pact and recently starred in the thriller series Hysteria!. Beyond her career moves, she’s kept in close touch with her TV kids, even celebrating her real-life son’s 18th birthday with love from Sarah Hyland, who still calls her “Mom.”
Ty Burrell (Phil)
Rumors flew in 2023 when Ty skipped a cast reunion, but it turned out he was recovering from surgery, not anything serious, thankfully. He made a low-key comeback at the SAG Awards the following year and seems to be waiting for a project that feels right. Nothing flashy, just something meaningful.
Eric Stonestreet (Cam)
Eric is living a slower-paced, joyful life in Kansas with his fiancée and her kids. He’s still on TV as the host of Domino Masters and splits his time between entertainment and advocacy for type 2 diabetes awareness. Oh, and he owns a piece of the Kansas City Royals, so, still pretty cool.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Mitchell)
Broadway welcomed Jesse back with open arms, and a Tony Award for Take Me Out. He also officiated Sarah Hyland’s wedding, which feels like the most Mitchell thing ever. He’s active in LGBTQ+ causes, theater, and basically everything that mixes creativity with community.
Ed O’Neill (Jay)
Ed’s keeping it quiet these days but made a TV comeback in Clipped. He’s never been one for the spotlight, but when it’s the right moment, like cast reunions or meaningful projects, he shows up. You get the feeling he still carries a little Jay Pritchett in him.
The kids we watched grow up
Ariel Winter (Alex)
Ariel took a big step back from Hollywood after the series ended, and for good reason. The constant body shaming and scrutiny she faced while growing up in the public eye took a serious toll. She moved out of LA, settled down with her boyfriend Luke Benward and their dogs, and has been focusing on wellness, independence, and quiet creativity. She’s also working with an organization that fights child exploitation online, turning her pain into purpose.
Sarah Hyland (Haley)
Sarah has been thriving both personally and professionally. She starred in Bumper in Berlin, got married in 2022 (with a bunch of her Modern Family castmates there, of course), and received a Courage Award in 2024. Her acceptance speech included a touching tribute to Julie Bowen, proving the mother-daughter bond didn’t stop when the cameras did.
Nolan Gould (Luke)
Nolan kept a low profile but hasn’t left the business. He continues to act in indie films, remains active on social media, and occasionally pops up at fan events or cast gatherings. He’s still close to Ariel, which makes sense, since their sibling energy was always on point.
Rico Rodriguez (Manny)
Rico stepped back from acting for a while. After growing up on one of TV’s biggest shows, it makes sense that he’d take time to find his next move. He hasn’t disappeared, though, he stays connected with the cast and still shows up to celebrate the good stuff.
Aubrey Anderson-Emmons (Lily)
Aubrey was just a kid when she joined the show, and now she’s a teenager focused on school and growing up outside of Hollywood. While she’s not acting at the moment, she’s hinted at returning someday, once she figures out who she is outside of Lily Tucker-Pritchett.
The show that still means something
Even now, Modern Family continues to connect with people. It’s funny how a 22-minute episode can still hit so close to home. The show’s early seasons remain critically adored, and while not every episode landed perfectly, the core never wavered: family, in all its weird, chaotic, imperfect glory, is worth celebrating.
It’s no surprise that people still quote Phil Dunphy’s wisdom, or binge old episodes on tough days. The show became a warm place to return to, something we all need, now more than ever.
Final thoughts
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Five years on, Modern Family isn’t just a past favorite, it’s still part of the conversation. The cast has grown, evolved, and taken on new identities beyond the show. But the heart of what they created lives on, not just in reruns, but in the way we see families on screen today.
Because at the end of the day, it wasn’t just about who was related to whom. It was about showing up, loving hard, laughing louder, and making room for everyone at the table.
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