Last week Modern Family took home its fifth Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series. That's five years of being the best comedy on TV, which let's face it, it totally is. Every single cast member on Modern Family is competely crucial to its success. We've spent five years with the actors and we don't really know too much about them. We know some obvious things, like Sofia Vergara is dating that really hot guy from True Blood (heyo, Joe Manganiello!) or that Ariel Winter has had some family problems, but has totally moved on from that drama, but there are loads of things we don't know. For instance, we bet you didn't know that in real life Ed O'Neill, AKA Jay Pritchett, has a daughter named Claire, just like he does on the show. Okay, that was a lame example, but it's because all the good ones are in the photo gallery we made for you. Consider it your inside guide to your favorite TV family.
Season six begins in a few weeks and besides USA's consistent reruns, we need something to hold us over until the show begins. In honor of their big Emmy win and the premiere of the new season, here are 17 things you need to know about the cast of Modern Family.
1. Cam isn't gay in real life!
Even though he is the absolute best at acting like a gay man, Eric Stonestreet is straight.
2. Nolan Gould is a genius. Seriously.
Even though he plays the unintelligent Luke Dunphy, Nolan Gould has been a member of MENSA since he was just four years old.
3. Ed O'Neill was almost a football player.
In 1969 he was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an outside linebacker, but was released before the regular season began.
4. Sarah Hyland has kidney dysplasia.
She was diagnosed when she was nine, and last year her father donated a kidney when she needed a transplant.
5. Sofia Vergara's son is named after a 'Scarface' character!
Her son Manolo was named after Steven Bauer's character in the movie. Maybe you recognize Steven Bauer as Avi from Ray Donovan.
6. Julie Bowen was in 'Happy Gilmore.'
Yes, it's true, Claire Dunphy is the same girl that helped Adam Sandler beat Shooter McGavin in Happy Gilmore. Mind = Blown.
7 . Ty Burrell owns a bar in Utah.
Phil Dunphy used to live in Salt Lake City and co-owns a bar with his brother Duncan called "Bar-X".
8. Jesse Tyler Ferguson came out multiple times.
Like his character on the show, Jesse Tyler Ferguson had to come out to his father on multiple occasions until his father finally believed him, hence the inspiration for Mitchell having to keep coming out to Jay.
9. Cam was almost a prison administrator.
In college, Stonestreet was studying criminal justice before he landed an acting career.
10. Rico Rodriguez's older sister is also an actress.
Manny's real-life sister Raini is known for her roles in Mall Cop, Girl in Progress and her Disney show, Austin & Ally.
11. Ariel Winter is one tough girl.
Alex Dunphy isn't just a book nerd. Ariel has her purple belt in Taekwondo.
12. Julie Bowen wears a pacemaker.
The actress has been wearing a pacemaker since her 20s due to heart problems.
13. Craig T. Nelson was offered the role of Jay Pritchett.
Although he turned it down, he has had quite the success playing Zeek Braverman on Parenthood.
14. Ed O'Neill is a black belt!
It took 15 years, but Jay Pritchett has his black belt in Brazilian Ju-Jitsu.
15. Nolan Gould plays the banjo.
On an episode of Ellen, she gave him a brand new banjo and he played her a song.
16. Sofia Vergara battled cancer.
Sofia Vergara was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2000 when she was 28 years old, but had a full recovery after treatment.
17. Julie Bowen went into labor on a set!
While she was on the set of Boston Legal she was doing a fake labor scene and she actually went into labor with her son Oliver at the tail end of filming the scene.
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