Modern Family was an instant hit upon its premiere in 2009, quickly becoming the sitcom to watch. The show features an ensemble cast of chaotic but endearing characters brought to life by a talented group of actors who received considerable acclaim throughout the show's run.
Indeed, Modern Family was a juggernaut at the Emmys, accumulating 75 nominations and winning 22 trophies, including five consecutive wins for Outstanding Comedy Series for its first five seasons. And while the show's regular characters received most of the praise, some of the guest stars also earned Emmy nominations.
Modern Family Actors Who Received Emmy Award Nominations
Sofia Vergara
Gloria has one of the best character arcs in Modern Family. She works continuously throughout the series, going from stay-at-home mom to career woman without ever compromising her role as wife and mother. Played with hilarious bravado by Colombian actress Sofia Vergara, Gloria quickly became one of the show's most beloved figures.
Critics greatly lauded Vergara's performance, and the actress received four consecutive Emmy nominations. She lost twice to her co-star, Julie Bowen, and once to Glee's Jane Lynch and Nurse Jackie's Merritt Wever. Vergara also received several nominations at the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild Awards but didn't win either.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Jesse Tyler Ferguson plays Mitchell Pritchett, Jay's youngest son and Claire's brother. Mitchell is uptight, sensitive, and mild-mannered, in notorious contrast to the show's other over-the-top characters, particularly his husband, the flamboyant Cam.
Like Vergara, Ferguson was an "always the bridesmaid" case. The actor received five consecutive Emmy nods from 2010 to 2014 but never claimed the gold. He lost four bids to his co-stars, Ty Burrell and Eric Stonestreet, who won twice each. Veep's Tony Hale claimed victory the fifth time, leaving Ferguson empty-handed.
Fred Willard
The late Fred Willard played Phil's father, Frank. Like his son, Frank is extremely king and goofy, enjoying innocent pranks and jokes.
A comedian of immense talent, Willard was one of Modern Family's best guest stars. The Academy clearly thought so too because they nominated him for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for the show's first season. Willard lost the award to Neil Patrick Harris, who won his long-overdue Emmy for his one-episode stint on Glee. Willard returned to Modern Family several times more, but he never received another Emmy nomination for his work.
Ed O'Neill
Thanks to his role in the subversive sitcom Married... With Children, Ed O'Neil was already a household name when Modern Family premiered. O'Neil played Jay Pritchett, the family's patriarch, famous for his overly serious and, at times, rude behavior. However, Jay hides a sensitive side that comes out with his family.
O'Neil was notoriously the only adult cast member not to receive an Emmy nomination for the show's first season. The Television Academy rectified the snub the following year, and he eventually earned three consecutive nods. However, he never won, losing twice to his co-stars, Burrell and Stonestreet, and once to Veep's Tony Hale.
Nathan Lane
Pepper Saltzman could be Cam and Mitchell's best friend, but he could also be a problematic enemy. Played by the iconic Nathan Lane, Pepper was a wedding planner almost as dramatic as Cam. He was often hilarious, but there's no denying he was also somewhat mean-spirited and overly judgemental.
Lane is no stranger to the Emmys, having been nominated for his guest roles on Frasier, Mad About You, and The Good Wife. He received three mentions for his work on Modern Family but failed to win any, losing to Justin Timberlake in 2011, Bob Newhart in 2013, and Jimmy Fallon in 2014.
Greg Kinnear
Academy Award nominee Greg Kinnear appeared on Modern Family's third season, playing Tad, one of Phil's prospective clients. Tad is overly familiar with Claire, kissing her on the lips to say hello and goodbye, which bothers her, but Phil blatantly ignores.
Kinnear received an Emmy nod for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series in 2012 but lost to Jimmy Fallon's stint as host on Saturday Night Live. Kinnear received an Emmy nomination the previous years for his leading role in the miniseries The Kennedys but lost to his co-star, Barry Pepper.
Elizabeth Banks
Like Pepper, Sal is one of Cam and Mitchell's closest friends. Played by gifted comedienne Elizabeth Banks, Sal has a bizarre relationship with the couple, at times acting like their child. In fact, Sal greatly resents Lily because Cam and Mitchell stopped spending time with her after they adopted the child.
Banks' performance earned her a nomination for the 2015 Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. However, the actress lost against Joan Cusack's stint on Shameless. Banks had already appeared four times on Modern Family before earning her first Emmy nomination, and she'd go on to appear twice more.
Modern Family Actors Who Won Emmy Awards
Eric Stonestreet
In many ways, Cameron Tucker is the most overtly comical character in Modern Family. He is Mitchell's dramatic husband, known for his agreeable and enthusiastic personality. Cameron is one of the show's most memorable characters, and fans only remember many of his scenes, like when he showed up dressed as a clown to one of Modern Family's worst birthday parties.
Stonestreet was the first cast member to claim an Emmy, prevailing on his first nomination. Coincidentally, he won for "Fizbo," the previously mentioned episode in which he wears his clown outfit. Stonestreet would win again in 2012 while also earning an extra nomination in 2011. However, he never received another mention from the Television Academy.
Ty Burrell
Phil Dunphy, played by Ty Burrell, is Claire's husband and Luke, Alex, and Haley's father. Phil is sweet and wholesome, desperately trying to be a "cool" father, much to his family's chagrin. Despite having somewhat of a crush on Gloria, Phil is a devoted husband and father.
Without a doubt, Burrell was Modern Family's most lauded actor. He won two Emmys in 2012 and 2014 out of eight nominations. To this day, Burrell is the third-most nominated actor in the category, only surpassed by Harry Morgan and David Hyde Pierce, who received nine and eleven nominations, respectively.
Julie Bowen
During a sketch at the 2014 Emmys, Billy Eichner referred to Julie Bowen as a "perennial nominee," and it's hard to argue otherwise. Bowen played Claire Dunphy, everyone's favorite TV mom during the 2010s. Indeed, Claire was strict but loving, intense but caring; in short, she was the ultimate mom, and fans loved her for it.
The Television Academy also adored her, showering her with praise for half of Modern Family's run. Bowen received six consecutive Emmy nominations for her performance, winning twice in a row in 2011 and 2012 for her work in seasons two and three.