Modern Family is one of the best sitcoms of all time, and it’s arguably because of the chemistry of the actors, who are basically like family, similar to their characters. At this point, it's been six years since the hit ABC series ended, and the cast is still close and holding occasional reunions, whether big or small. The latest meetup involved Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ty Burrell, and Eric Stonestreet and, after the fact, Stonestreet hilariously trolled his on-screen husband.

Burrell (who played Phil Dunphy) and Stonestreet (who portrayed Cameron Tucker) paid a visit to Mitchell Pritchett actor Ferguson in New York to see him lead the off-Broadway play TRU, centered on Truman Capote. I love that Stonestreet and Burrell could see the play before it closed, and it seems their co-star was pleased as well. Ferguson shared a fun photo of himself with his fellow Modern Family alums on Instagram, and the post also includes a number of other sweet snapshots:

It’s always so great seeing the Modern Family cast get together, and the fact that it happens pretty often is even better, no matter who reunites with whom. Of course, it's not uncommon for some form of hilarity to ensue during or after one of those reunions. With that, Stonestreet didn’t waste any time in poking fun at Ferguson via his own Instagram post, and it includes pictures that might have fans doing a double take:

As can be seen above, Stonestreet's photos humorously age Ferguson significantly and, to be quite honest, if someone had never seen the latter before, they might be convinced by it.

What's worth mentioning is that this post also comes after Stonestreet reunited with his and Ferguson’s on-screen daughter, Aubrey Anderson-Emmons, in October. And, as was the case with that get-together, Ferguson later dropped funny response to Stonestreet’s latest bit of trolling, and I can just hear the exhaustion in his comment:

Even though Ferguson and Stonestreet love joking around with each other, they can still share sweet messages with one another at times. For example, in September, Stonestreet tied the knot with Lindsay Schweitzer, and Ferguson had a sweet response. It goes without saying that relationships amongst co-stars can vary by cast, but it's more than evident that there's a sincere level of love and respect between Stonestreet and Ferguson.

That aside, Ferguson was not the only Modern Family cast member who recently starred in a show in New York. Sarah Hyland’s been killing it on Broadway, including her performance as Connie Francis in Just in Time last fall. Her on-screen mom, Julie Bowen, paid her a visit and even hilariously (and maybe accidentally) took shots at her other on-screen daughter, Ariel Winter, by telling Hyland she’s the best fake daughter she could hope for.

Here's hoping that the bonds between the Modern Family stars -- including Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Eric Stonestreet and Ty Burrell -- remain intact for years to come. Fans can also stream all 11 seasons of the series using a Hulu subscription.

It’s no secret that plenty of stars moved out of Hollywood for a myriad of reasons, and more continue to do so. Regardless of whether it’s for professional motivations, such as a hiatus or personal ones, all are fully valid. Show business can be tolling and leaving the glitzy bubble has proven to be a great choice for many stars like Modern Family cast alumni Ariel Winter and her move cross country. And the idea seems to be a family affair with the Dunphy patriarch reflecting on leaving L.A. behind.

Ty Burrell’s move to Utah with his wife and two daughters isn’t anything recent. He shared with People about how pleased he is about the move to the Salt Lake City area after the finale after the ABC megahit in 2020 to raise their kids. He also revealed that when they initially arrived he felt like a fish out of water, not being the outdoorsy type, but adapted with time. The Finding Dory alumni said:

It’s wonderful to hear that the Phil Dunphy actor and his real family seemingly had a similarly positive experience as the multi-generational clan did on screen. Though the move was the reason online rumors that Burrell was dead sparked after he missed a Modern Family cast reunion. The relocation certainly makes travel logistics more complicated, but all the same, it sounds like all is well for the foursome in Utah.

As the 2025 TV schedule drums on, it marks five years since the whopping 11 Season award winning series has been on air, as well as seeing the Mr. Peabody & Sherman actor on screen. As mentioned, Burrell living well outside of Tinseltown territory has shifted his career slightly. Post Modern Family, the funnyman has been voice acting in a lot of animated titles, since it's a lot more flexible than being on a set day in and day out.

The 57-year-old was a part of the animated comedic series Duncanville and has more on the way. First is a comedic podcast series, entitled The Good Life, which he created, and is based on his childhood in the PNW. The other, Tightrope!, is in pre-production and will be a humorous animated reinterpretation of the 1950s show for Roku.

For me, If it’s the closest we can get to Ty Burrell’s comedy vibes without actually streaming Modern Family, with a Hulu subscription or a Peacock subscription, I’ll gladly be sat for both. Thankfully though, the Utah resident did admit he’s dreaming of performing in a non-animated project eventually, so fans can breathe a little easier knowing he’ll return from the mountains someday.

But for now, it seems that the like (on-screen) daughter, like (on-screen) father, decision to kick a California zip code is working just fine for Ariel Winter and Ty Burrell.

It’s hard to believe one of the best sitcoms ever, Modern Family, has been off the air for nearly 5 years. Though, given how often the former castmates post photos together, you'd think the show was still in production. One member of the Dunphy/Pritchett clan was noticeably missing from a recent reunion of the entire cast, and the internet thought the man in question, Ty Burrell, was dead. However, everyone’s favorite TV dad is alive and well, and he has finally explained the reason for his absence.

Back in 2023, Sofia Vergara (Gloria) held an unofficial Modern Family reunion at her house. No TV crew, just chosen family and friends catching up. They did take a group picture though and, in it, Ariel Winter (Alex Dunphy) is holding a sweet picture of her TV dad.

Naturally, the internet assumed Ty Burrell had died and that his image was being memorialized. To clear his name of these morbid rumors, the Mr. Peabody and Sherman actor was convinced to join a mini cast reunion at the 2024 SAG awards. Unfortunately, it might be challenging for Burrell to make frequent appearances like these, and he recently told People why.

So Ty Burrell has moved out of Hollywood. He’s not alone, as many actors have moved away from LA in recent years, including Matthew McConaughey and Anthony Mackie. Burrell’s own Modern Family co-star, Ariel Winter. moved from LA to Virginia, but she was still able to make the reunion.

While living in Utah does mean he sees his former TV set family a lot less, it doesn’t mean they’ve fallen out of touch. The Muppets actor said they have a group chat that they text in frequently.

They truly do feel like they are a real family. It's not always the case that actors become close while working together, even after doing so for years. Some can grow to love each other, while others might despise each other. Thankfully, it was the latter in this case, and this cast is more tight-knit than most.

For the Dunphy kids who grew up on the show, Sarah Hyland, Ariel Winter, Nolan Gould, their onscreen parents were almost like actual guardians. Hyland’s husband, Wells Adams, even asked Burrell and Julie Bowen for their permission to marry her, and her TV dad was supposed to officiate the wedding. However, due to unexpected circumstances, he had to miss this unofficial Modern Family reunion as well, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson stepped in at the last minute.

I really love to see the continued bond shared among the stars of Modern Family (which can be streamed with a Peacock subscription), and I'd personally love to see a reboot. Should that not come to pass, though, I'll just revel in the fact that these stars remain close. Also, please show up to more reunions, Mr. Burrell, as we don't need anymore confusion involving your supposed death.

Though you won’t find it on the 2025 TV schedule, there’s no question that Modern Family's place in peak TV history still has fans regularly revisiting its finest moments. While we still don’t know if that hypothetical Dunphy/Pritchett revival series is happening, a real-life adventure story seems to have proven that actor Ty Burrell wouldn't take long to get back into character as Phil Dunphy.

On an episode of the podcast Dinner’s On Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson, the host (and fellow Modern Family alum) mentioned a backpacking trip to the Grand Canyon that Burrell and his wife had taken with his co-star Nolan Gould. According to his TV dad, the actor who played the youngest Dunphy, Luke, is a bit of an adventurer, which makes the following involving some rough waters during kayaking a bit less frightening:

Ah, youth. The desire to jump back into a kayak on super cold waters isn’t for everyone, and Modern Family’s father-son team was learning that the hard way at this tale’s start. Those who revisit this legendary sitcom with a Hulu subscription can totally understand why Ty Burrell would feel protective of his young colleague and situational travel companion.

Through eleven years of playing a family, good casts tend to adopt that sort of mindset as part of the bonds that form while making history. This was probably why convincing Burrell to join 2024's Modern Family reunion for that year's SAG Awards involved some light peer pressure and concern on the part of Jesse Tyler Ferguson.

While one could applaud Mr. Gould’s daring ways, you can already see where this story would require Ty Burrell to go into full dad mode. For that part of the tale, we turn back to the Dawn of the Dead ‘04 star’s continued remarks and the moment he sprang into action:

This would be one of those moments where the serious Phil Dunphy would pop out, allowing Ty Burrell to take this lovably dopey TV dad into the more serious corners of Modern Family. Anyone else that remembers when Phil confronted Haley (Sarah Hyland) for going to that college party in “Go, Bulldogs,” or any of the other scattered occasions where that sort of break from being one of the funniest shows on Hulu was required would know that.

Good friends and partners are practically family, and Mr. Burrell is a person that loved ones could trust in either capacity. So if you’re a fan of his work as Phil Dunphy, and you need to imagine a voice of conscience that stops you from making a pretty big mistake, let this TV realtor/dad guide you in your time of need. Just don’t be weird about it, ok?

Hollywood is a tough place to get your big break. Many actors struggle for years before they finally hit it big. These stars put in the effort and stuck with it until they finally became huge stars after they turned 40. Stars like Steve Carell, Kathy Bates, Alan Rickman, and many more actors like them are household names now, but it took them years to get there.

Steve Carell

Like so many other people Steve Carell started his career at Second City in Chicago. He then kicked around television for a while, with roles on the Dana Carvey Show and eventually at The Daily Show. It's when he left that show to head the cast in The Office that his career exploded and he became one of the most beloved stars on earth.

Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson has one of the most impressive resumes in Hollywood, but it took him a long time to get there. His first credit came in 1972 when he was 24, but it would take another two decades or so, after a series of smaller roles in the late '80s, that he would land the role of Jules Winfield in Pulp Fiction and have his career completely explode.

Alan Rickman

The late, great Alan Rickman started acting in theater in the mid-70s, finding regular roles throughout the early '80s. Then, in 1988, at age 42, he made his feature film debut in a little movie called Die Hard. To this day, Hans Gruber is a legendary villain. He would go on to star in dozens of movies, most notably the Harry Potter films, before passing away in 2016 at age 69.

Betty White

Though Betty White had a little success in her 30s with her eponymous TV show for NBC in the '50s and minor hit Life with Elizabeth in the same decade, it really wasn't until after her 40th birthday in 1962 that she really rose to big stardom. After her 50th birthday, she was cast in the Mary Tyler Moore Show, and after her 60th birthday, she teamed up with Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty in the role she's probably best known for today in Golden Girls.

Morgan Freeman

Morgan Freeman was born in 1937, but it would take almost 50 years for the legend to truly break out in film. After working here and there as a dancer and as a stage actor in the 1960s and '70s, he scored his breakout role in 1987's Street Smart, starring alongside Christopher Reeve. His performance earned him the first of his Oscar nominations and by 1989's Glory, Freeman was a bonafide star.

Bea Arthur

Like her Golden Girls co-star Betty White, major success came later for the great Bea Arthur. Though she was a steadily-working actor starting in the 1940s, it wasn't until she played the character Maude Findlay, first in All In The Family, then her own spinoff called Maude, that Arthur reached the heights of fame. She was nearly 50 at that point, but her star never faded after that.

Brian Dennehy

Brian Dennehy didn't set out to be an actor. After serving in the Marines and graduating from Columbia University in 1965 with a degree in history, he caught the theater bug and started working in regional theater. In 1983, after a few smaller roles, he scored his first big role as the sheriff in First Blood at age 45.

Kathryn Joosten

Kathryn Joosten is best known for playing the beloved Mrs. Landingham in The West Wing and like her character, her real-life story is truly inspiring. She spent the first half of her life first as a nurse, then as a stay-at-home mom, raising two kids. At the age of 42, after divorcing her husband, Joosten began working in local theater in her hometown of Chicago. At age 53, she moved to Orlando and became a performer at Disney World. Soon after she moved to Hollywood and started landing parts in TV. Amazing.

Kathy Bates

Though she made her film debut in 1970, it would be more than two decades later, after working in theater and in bit TV parts, before Kathy Bates would become a star. It was, of course, he now-legendary performance as Annie Wilkes in Misery that would vault her to stardom. Truly one of the best female villains in Hollywood history.

Bryan Cranston

Most people certainly think first of Breaking Bad when they hear the name Bryan Cranston and with good reason. Cranston was 52 when he first starred as Walter White. Of course, that wasn't his breakout role, which came eight years earlier when he starred as the dad in Malcolm In The Middle ]. While he has been acting in movies and TV for years, it was that role, after his 40th birthday, that really put him on the map.

Viola Davis

EGOT winner Viola Davis found success on the stage first, winning two Tonys before turning 40. In 2008, at age 43, she was nominated for an Oscar for her role in Doubt, but it was 2011's The Help, for which she was nominated for another Oscar, that vaulted her to superstardom.

Rodney Dangerfield

Rodney Dangerfield has one of the best stories of perseverance in Hollywood history. Though technically his career started in the 1930s, his stand-up was so bland that he eventually gave up and became a salesman. In the 1960s, he re-invented himself and his act and it was a hit, with some of the best one-liners of all time. Suddenly the guy that got no respect was getting respect by talking about how he got no respect! It wasn't until 1980, at almost age 60, that Dangerfield landed his first starring role in a movie, in Caddyshack.

John Mahoney

John Mahoney started his career as the "old guy" at the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago. After years as an English teacher, the future Frasier star gave up his career and started acting in his late 30s. By the late 80s, well into his 40s, he was landing roles in movies like Say Anything... and Moonstruck.

Jane Lynch

It's easy to say that Glee was the project that really made Jane Lynch famous, but she got her big break before that when she found her way into the Christopher Quest universe, where she was responsible for some of the wittiest one-liners in Best In Show.

Ricky Gervais

Ricky Gervais took a roundabout way to comedic fame. He started in music, moved to radio, and eventually found his way onto the popular British show The 11 O'Clock Show. It was in 2001, however, at age 40 when he co-created and starred in The Office. The rest is well-known history.

Michael Emerson

Michael Emerson took the very long trail to fame, and his story is inspirational. He struggled for years as an actor, first in New York, then later in Florida where he taught acting as well. He stsarted landing work in the theater in the late '90s, but got his big break in a guest spot on The Practice in 2001. Of course, he's best known for playing Ben on Lost.

Peter Dinklage

Though he found steady work in the early '00s, Peter Dinklage really shot to superstardom when he was cast as Tyrion Lannister in Game Of Thrones when he was 42. Today, that character is still, and will likely always be, one of the most beloved in TV history. Tyrion also happens to the character who appeared in the most episodes of Game of Thrones.

Larry David

Larry David's career had a lot of ups and downs in the early years. His first major gig was as a writer on SNL, though he didn't find much success there. At age 42, in 1989, he co-wrote a TV pilot for what became Seinfeld and his career took off. On screen, after playing a few minor roles onSeinfeld, he found even more fame with HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Melissa McCarthy

While she did have some big supporting roles in her 30s in Gilmore Girls and Samantha Who?, Melissa McCarthy's career exploded when she started as Molly in Mike & Molly, in 2011, at age 41, she co-starred in Bridesmaids, where she completely stole the show, earning an Oscar nomination in the process.

Margo Martindale

Margo Martindale has become one of the best character actors in Hollywood, but it took her a long time to get there. She worked in community theater for years before she regularly started landing TV roles in her late 30s. After her 40th birthday, her career took off with dozens of memorable supporting roles in both film and TV.

Leslie Jones

Saturday Night Live is generally thought of as a young person's game. Most cast members join very early in their careers and by the time they are 30, they are moving on to other things. Leslie Jones is an exception to that. She didn't join the cast until she was nearly 50, but she made an immediate impact. Since leaving the show, she's continued to star in things like 2016's Ghostbusters and Coming 2 America in 2021.

Ty Burrell

Modern Family took the world by storm when it debuted in 2007 and one of the leads of the show, Ty Burrell, became a huge star. This came after years in Hollywood in supporting roles and, eventually, a starring role in the short-lived show Out of Practice. It was Modern Family that made him a household name.

Octavia Spencer

Octavia Spencer started landing bit parts and supporting roles in the mid-90s, but it was 2011's The Help that put the Academy Award-winner on the map, after her 40th birthday. Not only did she win for her role in The Help, but she's been nominated for others as well, including for her work in Hidden Figures and The Shape of Water.

Patrick Stewart

While Patrick Stewart steadily found work in the theater and in smaller supporting roles in TV and film, it wasn't until he was cast as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987 that he became a household name. He was 47 at the time and he's only gotten more famous as he's gotten older.

Billy Bob Thornton

Billy Bob Thornton basically made his own fortune in Hollywood after years of smaller supporting roles, he wrote, directed, and starred in Sling Blade. The movie was a low-budget masterpiece and he's been starring in big roles and winning awards ever since.

Hannah Waddingham

Many actors get their start in the theater, just like Hannah Waddingham. With a fantastic singing voice and wonderful acting chops, it makes sense that this is where Waddingham would first find success. It would take a couple of decades for her to equal that on screen with roles in shows like Game of Thrones, and, of course, her greatest claim to fame, Ted Lasso.

Richard Farnsworth

Without a doubt, the late Richard Farnsworth had one of the most incredible careers in Hollywood history. He had uncredited roles in some of the most famous Hollywood epics including Gone With The Wind, The Ten Commandments, and Spartacus. He didn't earn his first credited role until he was 46 in a movie called Texas Across the River in 1966. Then in the 1970s, he became a well-known character actor in projects like Roots, The Natural, and Misery.

F. Murray Abraham

After scoring a handful of supporting roles in movies in the 1970s, F. Murray Abraham became a household name after his Oscar-winning performance as Antonio Salieri in 1984's Amadeus. It was truly a career-making role and one that is still loved today by fans.

Liam Neeson

Liam Neeson was 41 when he starred in one of the greatest movies ever made, even if it's a movie you can only watch once. As Oscar Schindler in Schindler's List, Neeson immediately became world famous. It's safe to say that role will always keep him famous, too.

Lucille Ball

It's really hard to believe that Lucille Ball was over 40 when she became famous on I Love Lucy, but it's true. The comedian worked in show business for decades before she and her husband Desi Arnaz created the now-legendary TV show and her fame never faded for the rest of her life.

Tommy Lee Jones

Like a lot of actors from Texas, Tommy Lee Jones does things his way. The Harvard grad worked for decades, even winning a Golden Globe and an Emmy before he truly found fame and became a leading man in the 90s with movies like The Fugitive and Under Siege.

Ken Jeong

it's not often that someone switches careers from medicine to drama, but that's exacting what Ken Jeong did. Though he always had a love of acting, he originally pursued a more traditional career as a doctor, while acting and doing standup on the side. By the mid-2000s he was earning enough to leave medicine behind, and in 2011, at age 40, he broke out in a huge way in the Hangover.

Celebrities owning restaurants is an old tradition in Hollywood. Sometimes, like Mark Wahlberg, it's a simple burger chain, other times, it's a classy hotel where you can have an elegant meal, like Richard Gere. Everything from tacos to sushi to fried chicken and everything in between. 

Just like people love watching scenes in movies about food, people love to rub elbows with the elite in some of these establishments. Here are 32 actors who own restaurants all over the country. 

Mark Wahlberg - Wahlburgers

The first Wahlburgers opened in Hingham, Massachusetts in 2011. The chain has since grown to dozens of stores all over the country and was the subject of a reality show for 10 seasons on A&E. The chain is collectively owned by three Wahlbergs, including Mark and Donnie, along with their chef brother, Paul. 

Ryan Gosling - Tagline

Ryan Gosling has become one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, and so it makes sense he would open a restaurant in Beverly Hills. Co-owned by the Barbie star and Chef Ben Benameur, the Moroccan joint serves up delicious food in a cozy atmosphere.

Lady Gaga - Joanne Trattoria

Joanne Germanotta was a beloved aunt to Lady Gaga (whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta). Not only did Gaga name a 2016 album after her, but the family has also opened Joanne Trattoria on the Upper West Side in Manhattan. In true Gaga style, the restaurant is not only a great place for Italian food, but it supports local artists, hosts regular drag shows, and has regular performances by local musicians. 

Robert De Niro - Nobu

Robert De Niro first became a regular at chef Nobu Matsuhisa's LA sushi joint Nobu way back in the 1980s. In the mid-90s, De Niro approached Matsuhisa about opening a New York spot. Nobu opened in 1994 in Tribeca and the company has since become a powerhouse in the hospitality industry, with dozens of restaurants and hotels all over the world. 

Michael Imperioli - Scarlet

White Lotus star Michael Imperioli has dabbled in the restaurant industry for a long time. In the mid-'90s Imperioli and his wife opened a speakeasy-style bar called Ciel Rouge, in Tribeca. Almost 30 years later, and 20 after Ciel Rouge closed in 2005, the couple opened Scarlet on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It sticks with the classy, chill speakeasy vibe that made their first venture successful. 

Sandra Bullock - Walton's Fancy & Staple

Walton's Fancy & Staple in Austin, TX, is pretty much exactly what you would expect from Sandra Bullock. It's an upscale neighborhood place with hearty food and a cheery atmosphere. Walton's is the Speed star's second restaurant in her adopted hometown. The first, Bess Bistro, closed in 2016 after a successful 10-year run. Walton's opened in 2009. 

Ludacris - Chicken And Beer

Is there anything better than good fried chicken and great beer to wash it down? If you're in Atlanta and don't check out Ludacris' place, simply named Chicken and Beer, you're missing out on those two wonderful things that pair so well together.

Norman Reedus - Nic & Norman's

Norman Reedus is famous for playing rough-around-the-edges characters like Daryl in The Walking Dead, but his restaurant is not. Nic & Norman's, which has locations across the Southeast is rustic, but it's not rough in any way. The upscale but relaxed gastropubs are sure to satisfy anyone. 

Susan Sarandon - SPiN

When Susan Sarandon and her fellow investors opened SPiN in 2009, there was a surge in the popularity of table tennis (or ping pong). The fad was pretty short-lived, but the table tennis-focused restaurants have remained successful with multiple locations around the country. 

Dan Aykroyd - House Of Blues

One of Dan Aykroyd's most beloved SNL characters, Elwood Blues of The Blues Brothers, has proven to be more than just a role for the actor. On Thanksgiving Day 1992, Aykroyd and his partner Isaac Tigrett (who founded the Hard Rock Cafe), opened the first House of Blues in Cambridge, MA. It has since grown into one of the largest chains of live music venues in the world, and serves some pretty delicious food, too. 

Eva Longoria - Beso

Eva Longoria can do no wrong on the big and small screens, but she didn't have much luck in the restaurant industry. Her steakhouse in LA, Beso, ran into multiple problems in its short run, though none were the fault of the actress. 

Kevin Hart - Hart House

Kevin Hart's LA chain Hart House was ambitious. He wanted to create an affordable vegan chain, and despite rave reviews, it just couldn't make it in the market. The company closed all of its locations in 2024 after initially finding success. 

Issa Rae - Hilltop Coffee And Kitchen

Issa Rae is a true force of nature both in front of and behind the camera. She's also found success in the food industry. Hilltop Coffee And Kitchen brings high-end coffee vibes to historical Black neighborhoods in LA, like Inglewood and View Park. 

Danny Trejo - Trejo's Tacos

Everyone loves tacos and every loves Danny Trejo. So of course a concept like Trejo's Tacos is sure to work and it has succeeded greatly. The chain has multiple locations across LA and has even spawned a second concept: Trejo's Donuts which also opened to rave reviews. 

Channing Tatum - Saints And Sinners

Saints And Sinners, a bar on Bourbon Street in New Orleans co-owned by Channing Tatum was a wild success... at least for a time. The industry is notoriously fickle and Tatum and his partners learned that the hard way when the bar closed in the summer of 2024 after 12 great years. 

Justin Timberlake - The Twelve Thirty Club

Justin Timberlake first dabbled in the food industry in the early teens when he helped design a Memphis-style BBQ joint in New York City called Southern Hospitality. Though he wasn't an owner, he was involved in the concept phase of the place and was a regular there. More recently, he has teamed up with restauranteur Sam Fox to open The Twelve Thirty Club in Nashville. 

Nicholas Braun - Jac’s On Bond

Cousin Greg may not always get the most respect on Succession, but the actor who plays him, Nicholas Braun, sure gets respect in the hospitality industry. Braun is an investor in multiple restaurants in New York City, including a chill bar and restaurant called Jac's on Bond Street in the trendy NoHo neighborhood. 

Zach Braff - Mermaid Oyster Bar

MacDougal Street in New York's Greenwich Village is home to some great restaurants, like the legendary Caffe Reggio and Mamoun's Falafels. It's also where you can find Zach Braff's more upscale, but still laid-back seafood spot appropriately called Mermaid Oyster Bar. 

Anthony Mackie - NoBar

Like others on this list (and in the world), Anthony Mackie has had mixed results as a bar/restaurant owner. His most famous spot, NoBar, opened in Brooklyn in 2011, followed by a second Booklyn location in 2013. Sadly both closed in 2015. 

Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis - Planet Hollywood

The granddaddy of all actor-owned restaurants has to be Planet Hollywood. The first Planet Hollywood opened in New York City in 1991. Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Bruce Willis, among others, were all investors in the concept and, at least at first, the restaurant was a huge success, opening additional locations across the globe. At its peak, there were upwards of 60 locations in the late '90s, but the fun didn't last. Things started to unravel and the stars started to jump shit and most of the locations, other than their most successful ones, closed. 

Richard Gere - Bedford Post Inn

Legendary actor Richard Gere doesn't just own a restaurant, he owns an 8-room bed and breakfast called the Bedford Post Inn in... appropriately, Bedford, NY. The stylish and quaint inn does include a spot to eat, the Bedford Post Tavern, and the inn and the restaurant both draw all kinds of celebrities for a restful stay or a delicious dinner. 

Robert Redford - Zoom

It shouldn't come as any surprise to learn that Robert Redford's former restaurant in Park City, UT was home to a lot of home to a lot powerbrokers during the Sundance Film Festival for many years. Prior to closing in 2016, the hot spot was where the elite met to eat and strike deals during one of the biggest film festivals in the world. 

Hugh Jackman - Laughing Man Coffee

The origin story for Hugh Jackman's Laughing Man Coffee is one of the best on this list. The Aussie actor and his wife took a trip to Ethiopia to learn more about coffee and how the beans were grown. There, according to the coffee shop's website, Jackman met a coffee farmer named Dukale. Dukale gave Jackman a real hands-on experience and after the trip, he and some partners opened Laughing Man Coffee with the goal of working directly with farmers around the world to bring their coffee to New Yorkers. 

Jon Bon Jovi - Soul Kitchen And JBJ's

Jon Bon Jovi may be most famous for being the voice of the band named after him, but he's dabbled a lot in acting, and a little in the hospitality biz. His first venture was started by his foundation and called Soul Kitchen. The restaurant, located in Red Bank, NJ, sells food for whatever hungry customers can afford. Bon Jovi has also opened a spot on the famous Broadway strip in Nashville called JBJ's which features live music and a full menu, in addition to beer and booze, of course.

Piper Perabo - Jack's Wife Freda

Piper Perabo got her big break playing a bartender in Coyote Ugly and while the New York City chain she's an investor in, called Jack's Wife Frida, doesn't feature half-dressed women dancing on the bar, it's got something even better: delicious Mediterranean food. With five locations across the city, you can always find what you're craving, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

Jessica Biel - Au Fudge

Au Fudge, which closed its doors in 2018, was something unique in the celebrity restaurant world - a kid's restaurant. As the name implies, Jessica Biel's spot was all about dessert and candy. It also had all the stuff kids love, like chicken fingers, on the menu. The world needs more of these, right parents?

Debi Mazar - The Tuscan Gun

Debi Mazar and her chef husband's love of food was first shown through a cooking show on the Cooking Channel. They spun that into a Tuscany-themed New York restaurant called The Tuscan Gun. Using chef Mazar's husband Gabriele Corcos' recipes, the Italian joint brought the best of Italy to Williamsburg. 

Quentin Tarantino - Do Hwa

For years, Quentin Tarantino's Korean restaurant Do Hwa brought the delicious flavors of East Asia to the West Village in New York. While very few people would call Tarantino "understated," his restaurant was, in all the best ways. It was cozy and delicious before it closed in 2018.

Jerry Ferrara - Fat Sal's

A sandwich joint called Fat Sal's is just perfect for Entourage star Jerry Ferrara. It sounds exactly like something Turtle would open on the show. Fat Sal's has multiple locations around LA and is a great spot if you want traditional deli sandwiches sold by a guy you can be sure loves them as much as you do. 

Justin Theroux - Ray's

Justin Theroux is a jack of all trades. He's an actor, a writer, and an ex-husband to Jennifer Aniston. He's also a bar owner, along with partner Nicolaus Braun with Ray's on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The dive bar is everything you could ever want in an unpretentious local water hole, which is no surprise, coming from Theroux. 

Ashton Kutcher - Dolce Enoteca E Ristorante

Ashton Kutcher has never been afraid to make risky investments. Some have paid off handsomely, like his early investments in Spotify and Uber. Others haven't worked out so well, like his short-lived Italian spot, Dolce Enoteca E Ristorante. The hot spot worked for a while but it closed in 2020, like so many other restaurants. 

Ty Burrell - The Eating Establishment

Modern Family star Ty Burrell took a slightly different route to restaurant ownership than most of the other actors on his list. Instead of starting a new spot, he bought an old one. The Eating Establishment, which dates back to 1970, was purchased by Burrell and other investors in 2016 and they've continued to run the popular Park City, UT restaurant ever since. 

Eminem - Mom's Spaghetti

Mom's Spaghetti is the perfect kind of place for Eminem to own, right? The Detroit, Michigan-based eatery has name that perfectly describes the food you can get there, and it's taken straight from an Eminem lyric in "Lose Yourself."

Jon Huertas - Clutch

Jon Huertas, best known for playing Brad Alcerro in Sabrina The Teenage Witch, is the proud owner of Clutch Roadhouse in Culver City, CA. Clutch is known for its great food and charitable works, both very important to the This Is Us star. 

Ariel Winter was a fixture in primetime for a decade thanks to her role as Alex Dunphy on Modern Family, but bringing the laughs on ABC didn't mean she couldn't deliver in a dramatic show. Case in point: Law & Order: SVU, which featured the actress as a guest star in a Season 21 episode back in 2019. Recently, the franchise's social media pages have been calling back to her performance as "next level," and revisiting that episode (available streaming with a Peacock Premium subscription) led me to discover just how many Modern Family vets have appeared on SVU.

Ariel Winter In Law & Order: SVU Season 21

Ariel Winter appeared in the second episode of Season 21 of SVU, called "The Darkest Journey Home," back in October of 2019. The actress sported a different look than she usually did as the bespectacled and dark-haired Alex Dunphy, and it was a look she once again sported following the end of Modern Family. She played Raegan, a young woman who was attacked and needed Benson's help in putting her memories back together and catching the men responsible. It was a great episode back in 2019, and the Law & Order Instagram page made sure to remind followers of that recently:

Raegan's storyline was quite dark compared to what Ariel Winter would perform on Modern Family, but it's no surprise that she was eager to join Mariska Hargitay on the long-running drama for an episode. Speaking with EW before her episode aired, she shared:

While most SVU fans likely can't relate to Winter living the dream of getting the opportunity to guest star, I think plenty can relate to becoming a fan of the show thanks to USA airing mega SVU marathons! She's also only one of the Modern Family Dunphys to come to the Law & Order franchise, although she's definitely the most recent.

Other Modern Family Vets On SVU

Ariel Winter is in fact one of four former Modern Family stars to appear on Law & Order: SVU, with one of her on-screen family members actually playing more than one character on the same show opposite Mariska Hargitay.

Sarah Hyland, who played Hailey Dunphy for all eleven seasons of Modern Family (which you can revisit streaming with a Hulu subscription), made her SVU debut back in the Season 3 premiere in 2001, called "Repression." She returned in the Season 10 episode called "Hothouse" in 2009, playing a different character. She would also appear in Law & Order and Law & Order: Trial By Jury for good measure before landing her sitcom role.

Ty Burrell, a.k.a. Phil Dunphy, guest-starred on SVU in Season 3's "Execution," which aired in 2002 as part of the same season as his future on-screen daughter's first episode. He would also play two different characters on the original Law & Order between 2000-2003.

Finally, Julie Bowen appeared in a 2008 episode of SVU just one year before she'd begin her long run as Claire Dunphy. Her episode was called "Trials" and was the Season 10 premiere, also featuring Beverly Hills, 90210 alum Luke Perry.

Fortunately, it's not hard to find any of those episodes if you're in the mood to see the Modern Family stars in roles other than the Dunphys, as SVU streams on both Peacock and Hulu. NBC has also announced the fall premiere date for Law & Order: SVU Season 26, where it will air as part of the network's Law & Order Thursdays in the 2024 TV schedule.

“Modern” wasn’t the only adjective that described the Pritchetts on the beloved sitcom Modern Family. They were funny, often messy and also plentiful. Patriarch Jay Pritchett and his children Claire and Mitchell all grew out their own branches of the family tree, making for a pretty large cast for the comedy that aired on ABC for 11 seasons. That number of co-stars makes it difficult to wrangle everybody together for a reunion, but the “grown-up” contingent of them did just that at the SAG Awards, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson explained the hilarious reason it was important that Ty Burrell joined them.

Ed O’Neill, Sofia Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet took the stage at the SAG Awards on February 24 to present the trophy for Best Comedy Ensemble (which they won three times during Modern Family’s run), and it was a particularly special moment because Burrell had missed the cast’s previous reunion. During a segment on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Ferguson explained:

Jimmy Fallon held up the pic from the reunion, which showed the cast members all standing together with a framed headshot of Ty Burrell — an obvious callback to the sitcom’s opening credits. However, apparently fans feared there might be a more grave explanation for the Phil Dunphy actor’s absence. Jesse Tyler Ferguson continued:

In the end Ty Burrell came through, hopefully putting any fans’ remaining concerns to rest. The cast has remained close since the final episode aired in 2020, with mini-reunions happening every so often. Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Julie Bowen made a trip to Sofia Vergara’s lavish closet back in October 2023, and Sarah Hyland’s August 2022 wedding to Wells Adams was basically a Modern Family reunion.

Ty Burrell was actually supposed to officiate Sarah Hyland’s nuptials with the Bachelor in Paradise bartender, but he had to back out last-minute due to a family emergency, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson stepped in as the wedding officiant. It’s great that the actor was finally able to make it out to reconnect with his former co-stars, and not just because it proved he is alive and well.

Anybody who wants to relive any of Modern Family’s 11 seasons can do so with either a Hulu subscription or a Peacock subscription, and be sure to check out what other premieres are headed our way soon with our 2024 TV schedule. 

It’s been three years since Modern Family aired its flash foward-less series finale, but even so, the cast has remained close since then. Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Audrey Anderson-Emmons have had a father-daughter date night, and much of the cast attended Sarah Hyland’s wedding. In addition, Hyland and Ariel Winter shared a sweet exchange for Winter’s birthday. So it seems clear that the cast were like family both on and off-screen and still are to this day. And following Hyland’s recent Father’s Day shoutout to her on-screen dad Ty Burrell, I now want the ABC sitcom back more than ever. 

Plenty of people celebrated their dads on Sunday for Father’s Day, and Sarah Hyland’s husband, Wells Adams, had a pretty sweet shoutout for the holiday. The Bachelor star took to Instagram to wish everyone well by sharing a photo of himself, Hyland, and their fathers as well as Ty Burrell, who portrayed Phil Dunphy on Modern Family. With Hyland right in the middle and in front of all of the important guys in her life, you can't help but smile:

While three years may not seem like too long, it definitely feels like it's been ages since the show finished its 11-season run. Seeing the actress alongside her longtime TV dad in a photo with her actual father, husband, and father-in-law is nothing short of sweet. And with the two Dunphy actors in the same place, I'm truly sitting her wishing there were more episodes of the series. Those who watched the show know that Haley and Phil had some incredibly funny and sweet scenes together. I'm loving the photo and the nostalgia that it instills, but are new episodes too much to ask for? (They probably are.)

Sarah Hyland definitely seems to hold onto her Modern Family family, though, as her tv uncle, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, stepped in as officiator of her wedding at the last minute. Now, that's how dependable family should be. While it’s not uncommon for a cast to stay as close after a show or movie ends production, it's rare that you see such bonds as strong as the one's presented by this group of talent.

Though it's only been a few years since we said goodbye to the Pritchett-Dunphy family, it’s not too early to discuss a reboot or revival, I think. Even though the stars have other projects that they're currently working on or starring in, the hope is always there. At the very least, Sarah Hyland did reunite with Adam Devine for the Pitch Perfect series Bumper in Berlin, so it gave fans an alternative to Haley and Andy, who unfortunately weren’t endgame on Modern Family. But as we come up with fan fiction and hope for more from the franchise, let's just relish in the sweet photos and reunions like the Father's Day post featuring Hyland and Ty Burrell. 

Modern Family is one of the funniest series on Hulu right now, and fans can sign up for a Hulu subscription if they'd love to check out all 11 seasons.

Both on and off screen the Modern Family cast really is a family, and their real-life love for each other was on full display at Sarah Hyland’s wedding to Wells Adams last summer. While Hyland and Adams’ wedding had many alums from the ABC comedy on the guest list, one person who had a really big job at the ceremony was Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who officiated for the couple. However, that was a last-minute decision after Ty Burrell had to step down, and the Mitchell actor joked that he “couldn’t get out of it.” 

For some background, Sarah Hyland’s wedding was basically a Modern Family reunion, as Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Julie Bowen, Sofia Vergara, Nolan Gould and Ariel Winter were all in attendance. After working together for 11 years the crew grew very close, and are still very tight. One person who wasn’t there, but was supposed to be, was Hyland’s TV dad Ty Burell, who had a family emergency, and couldn’t make it. He was supposed to officiate the wedding, but when he wasn't able to Jesse Tyler Ferguson stepped up to the plate to help out, and he explained what went down on that day on the Jennifer Hudson Show, saying: 

Considering both the popularity of Modern Family and Sarah Hyland, plus the public’s love for her and her now-husband Wells Adams, who is the beloved bartender on Bachelor in Paradise, there were a lot of people who were excited to see all the photos, posts and videos from the ceremony. So, I understand why Ferguson may have wanted to jokingly get out of it at first, it’s a high-stakes event. However, he did officiate, and he did a great job. 

He continued to talk to Jennifer Hudson about the ceremony, which also featured A-list guests including Shaun White, Nina Dobrev, Debby Ryan and more, noting how high profile the wedding was. Ferguson said: 

It was so adorable seeing Wells Adams well up as his “perfect person” walked down the aisle and Jesse Tyler Ferguson beamed in the background. Overall, it seemed like a beautiful ceremony, and to have Hyland’s beloved co-star officiate the wedding must have made it extra special. Plus, as the actor noted, now he can help out anytime since his first time officiating a wedding was at a pretty big one. 

Both Hyland and Ferguson have been staying busy since this big event. While the Mitchell actor has been spending his time on Broadway in Take Me Out, he also just launched a podcast called Dinner's on Me. Meanwhile, the Haley actress recently starred in the Pitch Perfect spin-off Bumper in Berlin, which can be streamed with a Peacock subscription. 

On June 13, 2008, a little over a month after Iron Man launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the second entry in the superhero franchise arrived in the form of The Incredible Hulk. However, for years this Marvel movie held an outsider status within the MCU framework, with its events barely ever being touched upon or mentioned. Maybe this is because Universal Pictures handled its distribution rather than Paramount Pictures, or maybe it hard more to do with Mark Ruffalo taking over the Bruce Banner role following Edward Norton’s sole outing. Either way, despite The Incredible Hulk clearly being set in the MCU, you can be sure there are plenty of people who have skipped over this one for their MCU marathons.

Fortunately for fans of The Incredible Hulk, the MCU has finally been acknowledging its importance lately, namely through the Disney+ show She-Hulk: Attorney at Law and a big piece of news announced at D23. It’s a good start, but Marvel needs to keep this momentum going, and there are several ways to ensure that The Incredible Hulk occupies an even bigger position in the MCU mythology. But first, let’s go over the work that’s been done in this area already.

How The MCU Has Been Acknowledging The Incredible Hulk Lately

For a long time, the only direct references to The Incredible Hulk were in the One-Shot short film The Consultant, which built off of Tony Stark’s meeting with Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross, and Bruce Banner mentioning that he “broke Harlem” in The Avengers. Sure, Thunderbolt Ross, played by the late William Hurt, returned in Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame and Black Widow, but outside of him inquiring about Bruce Banner’s whereabouts in Civil War, his ties to the Hulk were never brought up.

Then Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings came along, which showed Abomination, now looking more like his comic book counterpart, tangling with Wong at the Macau fight club. Tim Roth is now appearing in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law as a Blonsky who can change back and forth between his human and monster forms, and is also apparently remorseful for his actions in The Incredible Hulk, to the point that he reached out to Bruce Banner and made amends with his former adversary.

But wait, it gets better! At D23, it was announced that Tim Blake Nelson will reprise Samuel Sterns in Captain America: New World Order. When we last saw Sterns in The Incredible Hulk, Blonsky, who’d just transformed into Abomination, knocked him aside, and some of Bruce Banner’s blood dripped into Sterns’ open head wound, causing his head to start freakishly expanding. This was a clear set-up for Sterns to become The Leader, and after more than a decade, that payoff is finally coming. Better late than never, right?

Now that we’ve covered The Incredible Hulk being spotlighted in Phase Four, it’s time to go over more ways this corner of the MCU can be showered with love.

Bring Back Liv Tyler As Betty Ross

Betty Ross is one of the most important characters in the Hulk mythos, as both Bruce Banner’s love interest and the daughter of Thunderbolt Ross, the man who has spent years trying to eliminate the Green Goliath. So following in the footsteps of Jennifer Connelly from 2003’s Hulk, Liv Tyler brought Betty to life in The Incredible Hulk, with the character reuniting with Bruce five years after his accident and ending up going on the run with him. 

Not only has Liv Tyler not reprised Betty Ross once since The Incredible Hulk, the character hasn’t even been mentioned. Our only update on her came post-Avengers: Infinity War in the real world, when the Russos revealed she was among the individuals Thanos snapped away. We don’t even know if Bruce Banner has had any contact with Betty in the years after The Incredible Hulk. It was one thing for Bruce to avoid Betty in the days when he couldn’t control turning into Hulk, but to not even bring her up among friends or even visit her once he became Smart Hulk is bizarre!

If Emil Blonsky and Samuel Sterns can get more time to shine in the MCU, then there’s no reason a friendly face from Bruce Banner’s past can’t too. Even if it’s just for a cameo, it would be nice for Liv Tyler to reprise Betty Ross so we can see how she’s doing these days and maybe learn a little bit about what happened to her after the events of The Incredible Hulk. However, if there’s an opportunity for her to have a major role in an upcoming Marvel project, perhaps she could transform into Red She-Hulk or Harpy so she’s able to contribute to the action.

Turn Leonard Samson Into A Gamme-Powered Being

Before Bruce Banner came back into Betty Ross’ life in The Incredible Hulk, Betty was dating a psychiatrist named Leonard Samson, played by Modern Family’s Ty Burrell. Samson didn’t get much to do in that movie, but this is another character who’s been a major player in Hulk’s world. In the comics, Samson exposed himself to gamma radiation siphoned directly from Hulk, resulting in him gaining the same physical enhancements Hulk has and his hair turning green. For the most part, Doc Samson has been an ally to Bruce over the years, but there have been instances where he’s turned to the dark side.

Leonard Samson is too important a character to be relegated to what was basically a cameo in The Incredible Hulk. Not only should Samson go through his own gamma transformation so he rock the green hair and put those dukes up if a threat comes his way, it would be interesting for this franchise to have an enhanced individual on hand for superheroes to go to for help managing their mental health. Also, while I would in no way be against Ty Burrell coming back to play Samson, the character also had so little screen time in The Incredible Hulk that I wouldn’t mind him being recast either.

Pit Smart Hulk Against His Actual Villains

It’s safe to say that Abomination and Leader are two of Hulk’s most notorious enemies, so for these two to get the spotlight so long after The Incredible Hulk’s release is welcome. That said, we’re not seeing Bruce Banner deal with either of them in his Smart Hulk form. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law sees Tatiana Maslany’s Jennifer Walters representing Blonsky on behalf of her law firm, and while there’s a chance that he could return to his villainous given that She-Hulk’s second episode showed Bruce Banner occupied with his own mission (more on that soon), the smart money’s on him and Blonsky not crossing paths before the season is done. As for Leader, he’s going to be Captain America: New World Order’s main antagonist, so it’ll be Sam Wilson bringing about his defeat rather than Hulk.

It’s great that Abomination and Leader are being put to good use in the MCU, but it’s weird that, as far as we know, there are no plans with them to collide with their chief enemy from the comics. Because Hulk has been relegated to a supporting/ensemble player in the MCU post-The Incredible Hulk, there weren’t really any opportunities to explore unique elements in his orbit until She-Hulk: Attorney at Law came along. If that’s finally starting to change, let’s get a rematch between Hulk and Abomination (if the latter’s redemption doesn’t stick) and throw him into a conflict with The Leader. Better yet, let’s bring in more Hulk villains from the comics, Zzzax, Tyrannus and Gargoyle.

Release Another Solo Hulk Movie

There had been talk after The Incredible Hulk’s release about making a sequel that would have used The Leader as its villain, but it became clear in the years to follow that delivering such a product was complicated. Although Marvel Studios is free to use Hulk in Avengers movies or in projects led by other characters, Universal Pictures holds the distribution rights to solo Hulk movies. However, that may soon be changing. As reported by TV Line, there’s speculation that in 2023, Marvel Studios will finally acquire these distribution rights. If this is true, this means we could finally get another Hulk movie after all this time.

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’s second episode potentially laid the groundwork for such a story to be told, as Bruce Banner was shown aboard the Sakaaran spaceship that caused the car accident shown in the first She-Hulk episode that led to Jennifer being exposed to her cousin’s irradiated blood. This ship jumped to hyperspace, and we have no idea where Bruce is heading. It’s hard to say if She-Hulk will follow up on this given everything that’s on Jennifer’s plate, but there are plenty of people online hoping that this is setting up an adaptation of the World War Hulk storyline. Whether that’s the case or not, if any hurdles have been cleared for Marvel Studios to handle a Hulk movie all on its own, the company should take advantage of putting this character back onto center stage.

While we wait for updates on what’s next for The Hulk in the MCU, new episodes of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law premier Thursdays to Disney+ subscribers, and Captain America: New World Order is slated on the upcoming Marvel movies schedule for a May 3, 2024 release. If you’re interested in streaming The Incredible Hulk, you can do so with an HBO Max subscription.

On December 28, 2001, Ridley Scott released one of the loudest, most violent, and most realistic  war movies with Black Hawk Down. The military epic, which is based on the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993, is filled with some of the best actors of the time, with everyone from seasoned acting veterans like the late Sam Shepard to up-and-comers like Tom Hardy portraying actual Army Rangers and Delta Force operatives as well as characters based on the likeness of others.

A lot of time has passed since the Black Hawk Down cast provided engaging and sometimes harrowing performances in the tense and hectic war drama, and you may be curious to know what they’re up to now. You have come to the right place if that’s the case.

Josh Hartnett (Matt Eversmann)

Josh Hartnett was one of most bankable young stars in Hollywood by the time he joined the Black Hawk Down cast as Staff Sergeant Matt Eversmann in 2001, with movies like The Faculty, Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, and Pearl Harbor under his belt.

More recently, Josh Hartnett has continued to find success on both the big screen and small screen, with everything from Wrath of Man to Ida Red and Paradise Lost to Exterminate All the Brutes coming out since 2020. The former teen heartthrob will next appear in The Long Way Home and The Fear Index.

Eric Bana (Norm “Hoot” Gibson)

Already a massive star in his native Australia by the time Black Hawk Down came around in December 2001, Eric Bana got one of his first big breaks in Hollywood with his portrayal of Delta Force Sergeant First Class Norm “Hoot” Gibson.

In the years following the release of Ridley Scott’s gritty war drama, Eric Bana appeared in Hulk, Troy, Munich, and Star Trek, and has continued to remain a busy actor with recent movies like King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, The Dry, and Back to the Outback. He’ll next appear in the upcoming drama Blueback.

Ewan McGregor (John “Grimesey” Grimes)

Ewan McGregor gave a tremendous performance as Army Rangers Specialist John “Grimesey” Grimes in Black Hawk Down, a movie that came out in the middle of one of the Scottish actor’s most successful runs (the film was released between Moulin Rouge! and Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones).

No surprise here, but Ewan McGregor has remained just as successful and just as prolific in the two decades since he went from a desk clerk to combat soldier, with Doctor Sleep, Birds of Prey, and The Birthday Cake all coming out since late 2019. McGregor will also take on the role of his famous Jedi master once more in the upcoming Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Tom Sizemore (Danny McKnight)

Just a few years after Saving Private Ryan and only months following the release of Pearl Harbor, Tom Sizemore tried his hand at the military drama genre with his portrayal of Colonel Danny McKnight in Black Hawk Down. 

Despite extensive legal trouble over the years, Tom Sizemore has remained one of the busiest figures in Hollywood (he appeared in 28 movies between 2017 and 2018), and has continue to appear in multiple film and TV projects like Twin Peaks, Adam, and Central Park Dark.

William Fichtner (Jeff Sanderson)

Following successes like Heat, Armageddon, and The Perfect Storm, William Fichtner went on to portray Sergeant First Class Jeff Sanderson in Black Hawk Down.

Here more recently, William Fichtner has shown up in everything from 12 Strong to The Space Between on the film side of things with appearances on TV including Mom, Veep, and Corporate. At some point in the near future, Fichtner will try his luck again at the small screen with the upcoming Peacock series Joe Exotic which is to feature the actor as the Tiger King’s former producer Richard Kirkham.

Sam Shepard (William Garrison)

The late Sam Shepard, who found a great deal of success as an actor, playwright, author, and director, portrayed Major General William F. Garrison in Black Hawk Down.

In the years prior to his 2017 death at the age of 73, Sam Shepard appeared in Midnight Special, Never Here, and Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese (though the film wasn’t released until 2019). He also appeared on the Netflix series Bloodline shortly before his passing.

Jason Isaacs (Mike Steele)

Jason Isaacs, who made a name for himself as one of Hollywood’s leading villainous actors with The Patriot and later the Harry Potter franchise, showed up in a less evil role in Black Hawk Down as Captain Mike Steele.

More recently, Jason Isaacs has appeared on Star Trek: Discovery, Sex Education, and Castlevania, as well as movies like Mass, Scoob!, and Hotel Mumbai. Isaacs has multiple projects in the works, including Spinning Gold and Henry VIII: Man, Monarch, Monster.

Ewen Bremner (Shawn Nelson)

One of the many actors who appeared in both Pearl Harbor and Black Hawk Down, Ewen Bremner shows up in the latter as Specialist Shawn Nelson.

Over the course of the past five years, Ewen Bremner has appeared in T2 Trainspotting (reprising his role from the 1996 original), Wonder Woman, First Cow, and Creation Stories to name a few. He will soon appear in the upcoming HBO Max series Our Flag Means Death.

Orlando Bloom (Todd Blackburn)

Just as he was becoming an overnight sensation with the release of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Orlando Bloom took on another memorable role as Private First Class Todd Blackburn in Black Hawk Down.

Since the December 2001 release of the violent war drama, Orlando Bloom has become an international superstar with franchises like Pirates of the Caribbean and The Hobbit (where he reprised his LOTR role). Bloom is currently one of the leads on the Amazon series Carnival Row.

Tom Hardy (Lance Twombly)

Not long after he found a place on the Band of Brothers cast, Tom Hardy stuck with military dramas as Specialist Lance Twombly in his feature film debut. 

Since then, Tom Hardy has become and remained one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood balancing comic book adaptations like The Dark Knight Rises and Venom with dramas like The Revenant and Dunkirk. Hardy will next appear in Gareth Evans upcoming crime thriller Havoc.

Kim Coates (Chris Wex)

Already an established name in show business by the time he joined the Black Hawk Down cast as Master Sergeant Chris Wex, Kim Coates has continued to find success in film and TV in the past 20 years.

The Sons of Anarchy and Prison Break star has recently appeared on shows like Tangled: The Series, The Crew, and Van Helsing, as well as movies like Fantasy Island, See for Me, and Donkeyhead.

Ioan Gruffudd (John Beales)

Ioan Gruffudd had already appeared in movies like Titanic and Another Life by the time he was cast as Lieutenant John Beales in Black Hawk Down, but his career would take off even more years after with Fantastic Four (and its 2007 sequel), King Arthur, and W.

More recently, Ioan Gruffudd has appeared in movies like The Professor and the Madman, Buttons, and Ava, as well as TV shows like Liar and Harrow.

Hugh Dancy (Kurt “Doc” Schmid)

Hugh Dancy made his feature film debut in Black Hawk Down as Sergeant First Class Kurt “Doc” Schmid, but it certainly wouldn’t be his last.

Following the success of The Jane Austen Book Club, Confessions of a Shopaholic, and Martha Marcy May Marlene, Hugh Dancy landed roles in more recent film productions like Late Night and the soon-to-be-released Downton Abbey: A New Era. Dancy will also appear on Law & Order Season 21 in early 2022..

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Gary Gordon)

Before he became known for his portrayal of Jaime Lannister on Game of Thrones, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau took on the role of Delta Force operative Master Sergeant Gary Gordon in Black Hawk Down.

Since completing his role in the divisive Game of Thrones Season 8, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau has portrayed the titular character in a 2020 production of Macbeth, The Silencing, and A Taste of Hunger, with several upcoming projects on the way including Against The Ice and God is a Bullet.

Jeremy Piven (Clifton Wolcott)

Though more associated with comedic roles, Jeremy Piven showed up in Black Hawk Down as Clifton Wolcott, the pilot of the doomed Super 61 helicopter. 

In the years following the release of Black Hawk Down, Jeremy Piven would land one of his most iconic roles when he was cast as Ari Gold on the HBO series Entourage (and the 2015 film adaptation). Recently, Piven has shown up in Last Call, American Night, and the soon-to-be-released All-Star Weekend alongside Jamie Foxx.

Ty Burrell (Timothy A. Wilkinson)

And then there is Ty Burrell, who has a brief appearance as Technical Sergeant Timothy A. Wilkinson in Black Hawk Down.

In the years following the film’s release, Ty Burrell would find success, first in Zack Snyder’s 2004 Dawn of the Dead remake and then on a much larger scale as Phil Dunphy on the long-running Modern Family. Since the landmark series completed its run in 2020, Burrell has voiced Jack Harris on the animated series Duncanville.

This is just a little more than a dozen of the actors who appeared on the Black Hawk Down cast, as including every single name would take a very long time. If it has been forever since you watched Ridley Scott's Academy Award-winning war drama, now's the perfect time as it is one of the best movies on HBO Max.

When it comes to zombie movies, there are so many films that fans can watch, from classics like Night of the Living Dead to newer tales like Warm Bodies. One of those films, Dawn of the Dead, a 2004 remake of the original George Romero 1978 classic, not only began Zack Snyder's career as a director, but established itself as another great addition to the zombie genre, becoming one of the best horror movies, in my opinion.

Of course Zack Snyder has done much more since his first ever zombie flick - including his latest hits like Zack Snyder’s Justice League and the Netflix original film, Army of the Dead. But, even so, there’s no denying Dawn of the Dead’s impact on zombie culture. But, since it’s been seventeen years since the film released, where exactly has the cast been? Like Sarah Polley? Or Ving Rhames and Ty Burrell? The Dawn of the Dead cast has been all over - here is what they are doing now.

Sarah Polley (Ana Clark)

As the lead in Dawn of the Dead, Ana Clark lost so much in just the first couple minutes of the classic horror film, but soon turned into a gun-wielding badass. Sarah Polley portrayed Ana in the film. She’s mainly stuck to television since then, with a couple of bigger films like Splice and The Secret Life of Words, and also had a role in the miniseries John Adams.

However, Polley has been a lot more active in the producing/writing/directing world. She directed the film Stories We Tell, and the web series, Hey Lady!, as well as an upcoming film titled Women Talking. She’s also produced the films A Better Man, Secret Path, and Alias Grace. I’m eager to see what the star of Dawn of the Dead might be bringing to the table next.

Ving Rhames (Kenneth Rhodes)

If you watched Dawn of the Dead, you had to like Kenneth. This no-nonsense cop who knew how to use a gun and had an attitude for days was the best type of survivor to be around. I can't imagine anyone besides the wonderful Ving Rhames playing him. Since his appearance in the zombie film, Rhames has been in a several films and TV shows, but his most notable role has been in the Mission Impossible series, playing IMF Agent Luther Stickell for all of the films, and is set to reprise the role in the two new Mission Impossible movies.

Ving Rhames also voiced Cobra Bubbles in the Lilo and Stitch films and television show, and has had several guest appearances on television. He had roles in the comedy-drama Gravity, as well as the medical TV series, Monday Mornings.

Jake Weber (Michael Shaunessy)

Michael in Dawn of the Dead was another great survivor that had a truly tragic end, but for the time he was in the film, he was one of the best members of the team. Jake Weber was the perfect guy to play Michael, and since his appearance in Dawn of the Dead, he’s been active in both film and TV.

His biggest film appearances have been in the action film White House Down, the drama Wetlands,and the war film Midway. He also appeared in the Angelina Jolie-led film, Those Who Wish Me Dead. In terms of television, Jake Weber had a series regular role on Medium for seven seasons, and multiple recurring roles, including the controversial series, 13 Reasons Why, the sci-fi series, Star Trek: Discovery, and the drama, Homeland, so there’s no denying that he’s been extremely busy since his zombie days.

Mekhi Phifer (Andre)

While Andre in Dawn of the Dead seemed like he had the street-smarts to survive, he ultimately met his demise after witnessing the death of his wife. However, that doesn’t mean that Mekhi Phifer, the man behind Andre, has had the same demise in his career. Quite the opposite, really.

For several years, Phifer was in the big screen young-adult dystopian series, Divergent, as Max. He was also in the science-fiction thriller film, Pandemic.

Moving into television, prior to his role in Dawn of the Dead, and after its premiere, Phifer starred in the medical series, ER from Seasons 8-14, playing Gregory Pratt. Mekhi Phifer has had guest roles and recurring parts on several popular shows, such as a guest spot on the comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm, a recurring role on Frequency, and a recurring role on Hulu's original coming-of-age series, Love, Victor.

Ty Burrell (Steve Markus)

Steve was someone that we all hated in Dawn of the Dead. I mean, how can you not? He was kind of the epitome of a jerk. Luckily, Ty Burrell is the complete opposite of that, and has had plenty of success since his role in the apocalypse film. His biggest so far has been portraying Phil Dunphy as a part of the Modern Family cast, for the entirety of its run, one he was nominated for several awards for.

However, besides his success in TV, Ty Burrell has done plenty of movies, like his roles in National Treasure 2, Marvel’s The Incredible Hulk, Pixar’s Finding Dory, and the animated film, Storks. Currently, he has a series regular role on the adult animated comedy, Duncanville. It’s almost strange to think that the same man who played Phil Dunphy also played Steve in Dawn of the Dead, but that’s what you call range.

Michael Kelly (C.J.)

I mean, C.J. was the literal worst until he wasn’t anymore - that spot was kind of taken over by Steve as the literal worst survivor in Dawn of the Dead. Michael Kelly, who played C.J. in the film, has moved into several different genres of film and television. In terms of film, he’s has roles in Changeling, Chronicle, DC's Man of Steel, the adventure movie Everest, and several others, and recently made an appearance in the Netflix original movie, Outside the Wire.

Kelly has also been active in TV. He had a role in miniseries Generation Kill, a minor recurring role in the HBO show The Sopranos, a main role in the Amazon original series, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, and a recent role in the political series, The Comey Rule. Hopefully we get to see more of him soon, considering how much he has done.

Kevin Zegers (Terry)

Terry was always the odd one out of the mall security guards in Dawn of the Dead, and because of this, he was a much nicer addition to the group with a bigger heart who actually cared for people, unlike his co-workers. Kevin Zegers played Terry, and has been active since his role.

He’s had a couple of bigger roles in movies, such as a part in the romantic drama, The Jane Austen Book Club, the fantasy The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, and the thriller, Nighthawks. Zegers also had a recurring role on the hit show, Gossip Girl, as well as a recurring role in the spinoff series, Fear the Walking Dead. Recently, he had on a main role in the crime drama, Rebel.

Lindy Booth (Nicole)

Okay, I’ll admit that at first, I wasn’t the biggest fan of Nicole because she seemed a bit wimpy, but we would all be her in Dawn of the Dead if our dog went out into a crowd of zombies. Lindy Booth portrayed Nicole in the film, and has done plenty since its premiere.

She’s had roles in the action film, Kick-Ass 2, the thriller Dark Honeymoon, and plenty more. She’s also had success in television, as well, including a main role on the dramas October Road and The Philanthropist, in the fantasy series, The Librarians, and a guest role in Grey’s Anatomy. Booth will soon be in an upcoming film, titled Butterscotch, so keep an eye out for her.

Jayne Eastwood (Norma)

Norma in Dawn of the Dead was my favorite character in the film. Not only was she a kick-ass driver, but she went out of her way to save people that she didn’t even know. Jayne Eastwood, who played Norma, has done plenty in Hollywood. She’s been in several films, such as the romantic comedy My Big Fat Greek Wedding and its sequel in 2016. She also had a part in the 2007 musical Hairspray, as well as the Netflix original film, Work It.

Eastwood has also had success in television as well, with several guest, recurring and main roles in shows like the animated series, Ricky Sprocket: Showbiz Boy, the comedy, Little Mosque on the Prairie, the supernatural series, Haven, and recently, the web series, Hey Lady!, as mentioned before, with Sarah Polley. Soon, she will be in a new version of Home Alone, so who knows? We might get to see Jayne Eastwood swing around a gun again at some home intruders.

Boyd Banks (Tucker)

While his role wasn’t that big in Dawn of the Dead, Boyd Banks’ Tucker was still an essential part to the group for the time he was there. Banks hasn’t been super active in movies since Dawn of the Dead, instead focusing a lot of his time in television.

He’s had a guest role in Testees, as well as the comedy series, Star Falls. He’s also had a recurring role in Hotbox, a Candian sketch comedy series, and appeared in Little Mosque on the Prairie, as well. He’s also had a role in the series, Bajillionaires, and is going to be in the upcoming film, All My Puny Sorrows.

With all these upcoming horror films lately, I’m going to need to check to see if any of these awesome actors are going to show up in some. Whatever the case, Dawn of the Dead will continue to be one of my favorite zombie movies, and now, you at least get the chance to see where these actors have been for so long.

The West Wing boasted a star-studded cast that has stood the test of time, with series regulars including Martin Sheen, Allison Janney and Robe Lowe. But many of the young actors who guest starred on the political drama, which aired for seven seasons from 1999-2005, went on to have phenomenal careers of their own, such as Elisabeth Moss, who played the youngest of President Jed Bartlet’s three daughters, and Amy Adams, who helped the White House staffers after they were stranded at a farm in Indiana. With more than 150 episodes, The West Wing’s sets were graced by hundreds of actors, so it’s to be expected you might have forgotten that these future stars were among them.

Evan Rachel Wood - Hogan Cregg

Long before True Blood and Westworld, and even before she was a troubled teen in Thirteen, a 14-year-old Evan Rachel Wood played press secretary C.J. Cregg’s niece Hogan Cregg in Season 3’s “The Black Vera Wang.” C.J. (Allison Janney) and Hogan, accompanied by a Secret Service agent (Mark Harmon) went shopping for a dress for Hogan’s junior prom. Evan Rachel Wood oozed star power on screen with acting heavyweights Allison Janney and Mark Harmon. You likely didn’t recognize her back in 2002, but this performance is hard to forget.

John Gallagher Jr. - Tyler

You might know John Gallagher Jr. from the 2020 horror Come Play, or as Liam Dempsey, who had a relationship with Evan Rachel Wood’s Dolores in Westworld’s third season. But back in The West Wing Season 4’s “20 Hours in America: Parts 1 and 2,” a 17-year-old John Gallagher Jr. played Tyler, who tried to help Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford), Toby Ziegler (Richard Schiff) and Donna Moss (Janel Moloney) get out of Indiana after they missed the motorcade on a campaign stop. John Gallagher Jr. gave an understatedly comedic performance, as the group was flummoxed by Tyler’s ex-girlfriend, a time zone snafu and a train headed the wrong way down the track. Though John Gallagher Jr. went on to star as Jim Harper on the The Newsroom, another Aaron Sorkin creation, the actor said on “The West Wing Weekly” podcast that Sorkin didn’t remember Gallagher’s decade-old stint on The West Wing until they were filming the last episode of The Newsroom, Season 1.

Amy Adams - Cathy

Amy Adams has been nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Actress for American Hustle, and won two Golden Globes. She’s been in everything from kids movies like The Muppets and Enchanted, to the dark thriller Sharp Objects to the 2020 drama Hillbilly Elegy and even three episodes of The Office. But before all that, Amy Adams was Cathy, a farmer’s daughter in Season 4’s “20 Hours in America: Part 1.” Cathy’s family hosted an event for President Bartlet’s re-election campaign at their farm in Indiana. When Josh, Toby and Donna were left behind, Cathy tried to help them get back to the motorcade, all while engaging the staffers in a political dialogue about the struggle farmers face. Is there anything this woman can’t do?

Elisabeth Moss - Zoey Bartlet

A Hollywood A-lister today, Elisabeth Moss was 17 years old when she began playing President Bartlet’s youngest daughter Zoey (her older sisters were played by Nina Siemaszko and Annabeth Gish, who are no schlubs themselves). Zoey was featured in 25 episodes of The West Wing, as she had an on-again-off-again relationship with Dulé Hill’s Charlie Young, and she even had a major story line, getting kidnapped at the end of Season 4. So while she’s not exactly forgettable in the role, Zoey Bartlet seems a lifetime away from Mad Men’s Peggy Olson, The Handmaid’s Tale’s June Osborne and scores of other acting credits and accolades.

Ashley Benson - Suffragette

In Season 4, Episode 6, “Game On,” 12-year-old Ashley Benson got one of her first acting credits, playing one of three children helping to campaign for a candidate in California’s 47th Congressional District who passed away. Will Bailey (Joshua Malina), who managed the campaign, called the trio “Sally and the Suffragettes,” and they recited the poster they made to encourage voters: “It doesn’t matter who you vote for. Make sure you vote.” Just two years later, Ashley Benson landed a recurring role as Abby Deveraux on Days of Our Lives and is today most best known for playing Hanna Marin on Pretty Little Liars.

Danny Pudi - Santos Aide #2

In his first credited role, Danny Pudi played an aide to presidential candidate Matt Santos, specifically “Santos Aide #2” in the Season 7 episode “Two Weeks Out.” It was a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it appearance, but it goes to show that even the smallest roles on The West Wing were filled with now-familiar faces. Danny Pudi is best known for playing Abed Nadir on Community, but he also does a lot of voice work, including the voice of Huey Duck on the DuckTales series that premiered in 2017.

Bellamy Young - MaryLou Meriwether

Many came to know Bellamy Young as Mellie Grant, first lady in the Shonda Rhimes political drama Scandal. But that wasn’t her first time in the White House. Back in 2014 a blonde Bellamy Young played North Carolina lawyer MaryLou Meriwether in The West Wing Season 5 episode, "The Stormy Present,” as she met with Josh Lyman about a copy of the Bill of Rights that was stolen from her state at the end of the Civil War. Bellamy Young went on to have roles in series including CSI: Miami, Dirty Sexy Money, Scrubs, Criminal Minds and Prodigal Son. In addition to Scandal, Shonda Rhimes’ other creations Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice and How To Get Away With Murder featured a bevy of actors who first appeared on The West Wing, including James Pickens Jr., Joshua Malina, Taye Diggs and Michael O’Neill.

Liza Weil - Karen Larsen

Speaking of Shonda Rhimes actors, Liza Weil of Scandal and How To Get Away With Murder fame had a role early in her career as Karen Larsen, a governmental aide who leaked Chief of Staff Leo McGarry’s medical records to expose his history of drug and alcohol abuse in Season 1’s “Take Out the Trash Day.” Karen (a fitting character name, though it didn’t hold any significant meaning back in 2000), is fired and then un-fired by Leo McGarry (John Spencer) after the two have a conversation about how addiction has affected their lives. Just months after this episode aired, the world would meet Liza Weil in perhaps her most recognizable role, Paris Geller on Gilmore Girls.

Jane Lynch - Lucy The Reporter

When you’ve got stars in the press pool, your casting directors are doing something right. Jane Lynch wasn’t a household name back in early aughts when she played reporter Lucy in two of The West Wing’s best episodes, “In the Shadow of Two Gunmen: Part I” and “Two Cathedrals.” Jane Lynch is widely known for her role as Sue Sylvester on Glee, and has most recently been seen as the host of the rebooted game show Weakest Link. With more than 200 acting credits to her name, Jane Lynch has come a long way from The West Wing press room. What’s next?

Nick Offerman - Jerry

Before Nick Offerman became a pop culture sensation as Ron Swanson on Parks and Recreation, he got his start with a guest role as Jerry in The West Wing Season 1’s "The Crackpots and These Women.” Jerry was part of a three-person team who met with C.J. Cregg to pitch an 1,800-mile wolves-only road — a cost to taxpayers of only $900 million. The trio played it completely straight as C.J. practically laughed them out of the room. It was a great early look at how talented Nick Offerman is at dry humor.

Omar Benson Miller - Orlando Kettles

Before starring on Ballers with The West Wing regulars Richard Schiff and Dulé Hill, Omar Benson Miller was hilarious as Orlando Kettles in the Season 4 episode “Election Night.” Orlando found himself in legal trouble — and unable to play in his final high school football game — after getting pulled over with an open can of Pabst Blue Ribbon. Omar Benson Miller shined opposite Charlie Young (Hill), as Charlie accompanied Orlando to cast his vote in the presidential election. Since The West Wing, Omar Benson Miller has also appeared on CSI: Miami (with another West Wing alum, Emily Procter) and The Unicorn.

Ty Burrell - Tom Starks

Eight years before we met our favorite real estate agent Phil Dunphy on Modern Family, Ty Burrell guest starred as Tom Starks in the Season 3 episode “The Women of Qumar” to talk about seatbelt laws with Rob Lowe’s Sam Seaborn. In an otherwise-dry scene, Ty Burrell brought the deadpan humor, as he defended the honor of Rotarians like his father and himself to Sam, whose father was an Elk. “You won’t catch a Rotarian not wearing his seat belt,” Tom told Sam. “An Elk, maybe.”

Eric Stonestreet - White House Counsel Staffer

Speaking of Modern Family, before playing the hilarious Cameron/Fizbo the Clown on Modern Family, but after working security at a Garth Brooks concert, Eric Stonestreet played a staffer in the White House counsel’s office on Season 2’s “Bad Moon Rising.” Eric Stonestreet was a competent assistant to White House counsel Oliver Babish (Oliver Platt), and even got to use the series’ secret code about “an old friend from home,” which alerted White House staff of an emergency without panicking those around them.

David Burtka - Bruce The Intern

David Burtka made his TV debut on The West Wing in the Season 3 episode, “The Black Vera Wang,” as Bruce, a White House intern who found himself in trouble after putting some re-gifted moose meat up for auction on eBay. Bruce was confronted by Donna Moss, who had received the meat from Josh Lyman after a trip to Helsinki. Bruce came out on top of that situation, though, as he got to keep his job and the $210 Donna paid to get the moose meat off eBay. David Burtka is known for his work on the stage and screen, a common thread amongst West Wing actors. He was also on seven episodes of How I Met Your Mother with now-husband Neil Patrick Harris,

The West Wing is currently streaming on HBO Max, including A West Wing Special To Benefit When We All Vote, a stage production of the Season 3 episode “Hartsfield’s Landing” performed by the original cast ahead of the 2020 presidential election. Check back regularly to CinemaBlend to stay up to date on all the latest streaming news.

There are actors like Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, and even Jermey Renner who will always be remembered for their roles in various Marvel movies, but there also actors who either appeared in early Marvel Cinematic Universe titles or showed up before they were big stars who tend to be forgotten. Take Ty Burrell, for example, who showed up as Betty Ross' boyfriend in 2008's The Incredible Hulk just one year before he became a major star on ABC's Modern Family. 

If Edward Norton's Hulk movie would have switched places with Iron Man 2, we all probably would remember Burrell in the same way we remember Terrence Howard in the first Iron Man solo film, but instead, his performance is often forgotten.

But Ty Burrell isn't alone. In fact, there have been more than a dozen (and counting) famous actors whose Marvel appearances aren't all that remembered, which is insane considering the names of some of these film and television stars. Actors like Kate Mara, Powers Boothe, and even Bill and Ted Face the Music's William Sadler have all shown up in Marvel movies over the past 12 years, so I thought it would be fun to explore some of the most notable bit roles, cameos, and other appearances up through Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Ty Burrell - The Incredible Hulk

When Ty Burrell showed up as Betty Ross' (Liv Tyler) boyfriend, Leonard Samson, in 2008's The Incredible Hulk, he was mostly known as the rich jerk from Zack Snyder's Dawn of the Dead remake and not the lovable Phil Dunphy on Modern Family. Burrell's character doesn't really do much outside of make Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) jealous and tip off Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross of Banner's return from exile. It's just a bummer we never got to see how the character would have been expanded if the second movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe got a sequel of its own.

Tim Blake Nelson - The Incredible Hulk

Tim Blake Nelson's transformation from cellular biologist Samuel Sterns to Leader near the end of The Incredible Hulk was one of the most exciting moments in the 2008 summer blockbuster, but just like Ty Burrell's Leonard Samson, the character was never seen again. Unlike Burrell, however, Nelson was already an established star at the time of his first and only Marvel appearance, having shown up in The Thin Red Line, Minority Report, and a little movie called O Brother, Where Art Thou?.

Peter Billingsley - Iron Man, Spider-Man: Far From Home

Remember Ralph Parker from the 1983 holiday classic A Christmas Story? Well, Peter Billingsley, the actor behind the role, is all grown up now and has appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe twice at this point. His first appearance can be seen in Iron Man as Stark Industries scientist William Ginter Riva who is on the receiving end of Obadiah Stain's (Jeff Bridges) epic "with a bunch of scraps" rant about Tony Stark, and then again as the same character in 2019's Spider-Man: Far From Home amazing Mysterio reveal scene. Billingsley is a long-time collaborator of Jon Favreau, having appeared in and produced a number of the director's films, including Iron Man.

Kate Mara - Iron Man 2

You might think that Kate Mara's only appearance in a movie based on a Marvel Comics property came in 2015's Fantastic Four, but the star of the box office and critical failure showed up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe five years earlier in bit role as process server for the U.S. Marshals serving Tony Stark a subpoena to appear before the U.S. Senate in Iron Man 2. 

Mara had already appeared in the children's superhero comedy Zoom, We Are Marshall, and 24 by the time she was cast in Jon Favreau's second Iron Man movie, but she was still a few years out from finding success with American Horror Story: Murder House, House of Cards, and The Martian.

Natalie Dormer - Captain America: The First Avenger

Natalie Dormer is probably best known for her portrayal of Margaery Tyrell on HBO's Game of Thrones, but like just about every face in Hollywood, the British actress made a brief, yet important appearance in 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger as Private Lorraine. In the scene, Lorraine grabs Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and pulls him in for a kiss while he awaits the arrival of Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper) just as Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) walks by at just the wrong time. 

Natalie Dormer, still a year out from Game of Thrones, was already somewhat established at the time, having appeared as Anne Boleyn on The Tudors in the historical drama's first two seasons.

David Bradley - Captain America: The First Avenger

Natalie Dormer wasn't the only Game of Thrones star to appear in Captain America, as David Bradley, who shocked and disgusted fans of HBO's fantasy series as Walder Frey, showed up as the tower keeper in the opening moments of the 2011 Marvel movie. He's only in the film for a few minutes before he is gunned down by Red Skull (Hugo Weaving) after locating the tesseract. David Bradley had one hell of a 2011 with his final appearance as Argus Filch in the Harry Potter franchise, as well as roles in Game of Thrones, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Jenna Coleman - Captain America: The First Avenger

Jenna Coleman, best known for her portrayal of Clara Oswald on Doctor Who, also made a very brief appearance in Captain America: The First Avenger as Bucky's date, Connie, at the world expo in the film's first act. Even though she had appeared on shows like Emmerdale and Titanic when she was cast in a very small role in the first Captain America adventure, Coleman was still a year out from becoming one of the most well-loved companions on the British science-fiction program.

Harry Dean Stanton - The Avengers

The first Marvel Cinematic Universe crossover film The Avengers had one of the biggest casts at the time of its 2012 release. In addition to the likes of Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, and Scarlett Johansson, Joss Whedon's epic also featured some great cameos, including one by Harry Dean Stanton. The late character actor is seen in a brief interaction with Bruce Banner (Ruffalo) following the big blowup abroad the Helicarrier. And although short, it's great to see the actor best known for roles in Paris, Texas, Alien, and Escape from New York show up for some comedic relief.

Ashley Johnson - The Avengers

Ashley Johnson shows up briefly at the very end of The Avengers when her character, Beth, is being interviewed about the battle of New York. At first it may seem weird that the the actress who appeared in The Help, What Women Want, and who would later become the voice of Ellie in The Last of Us, would have such a small part, but Johnson's role was trimmed down and most of her scenes ended up being cut from the final draft. This includes her conversation with Steve Rogers, which explains her specially naming Captain America during the interview.

William Sadler - Iron Man 3

William Sadler, who has appeared in everything from The Shawshank Redemption to the Bill & Ted franchise, showed up on more than one occasion in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His first appearance came in 2013's Iron Man 3, where he is seen playing President Matthew Ellis during the action-packed kidnapping scene aboard Air Force One. Sadler would reprise the role in a few episodes of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Chris O'Dowd - Thor: The Dark World

Don't feel bad if you forgot that Chris O'Dowd was in 2013's Thor: The Dark World because the British funny man known for his roles from The IT Crowd, Get Shorty, and Bridesmaids even forgot he was in the movie until a 2019 interview with MTV News. O'Dowd showed up briefly as Jane Foster's date, Richard, in the early goings of the second Thor adventure, but I guess not enough for anyone to remember, the actor included.

Sam Neill - Thor: Ragnarok

The great dramatic retelling of "Loki's sacrifice" in the beginning of Thor: Ragnarok is probably best remembered for the performance by Matt Damon as the over-the-top actor portraying the God of Mischief, but acting great Sam Neill is also in there as an Asgardian actor taking on the role of Odin during the play. Neill, who is best known for his portrayal of Alan Grant in Jurassic Park (and the upcoming Jurassic World: Dominion), previously worked with Ragnarok director Taika Waititi's Hunt for the Wilderpeople, which explains his brief cameo here.

Those aren't even all of the great actors who have made appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe over the past 12 years. With the Marvel One-Shots featuring the likes of Lizzy Caplan, Bradley Whitford, and Scoot McNairy, to name a few, as well as cameos from people like Garret Morris in Ant-Man, there are just too many to count. Did this article reveal any of those forgotten stars or did it leave out some that slipped between the cracks? Either way, sound off in the comments below.

Modern Family ended earlier this year after eleven seasons, capping a primetime run that relatively few scripted shows get to reach, and star Sarah Hyland is no doubt hoping that the rest of her career is filled with similar successes. Perhaps we'll all soon get to find out, as Hyland has now landed her first big Modern Family follow-up project, and she'll once again be teaming up with her former TV father Ty Burrell.

It looks like Sarah Hyland will be sticking with familiar territory at ABC for the in-development comedy Yours, Mine & Paul, which is set to be a multi-camera project, as opposed to the single-camera format that Modern Family took. The story follows Sarah Hyland as Lauren, an impulse-happy millennial who isn't quite as life-informed as she believes. She gets caught up in quite the uncomfortable situation when she says yes to becoming a surrogate for her best friend Paul and his husband Xander. For one, the series' very first scene would feature Paul's death, and for another, it would soon be revealed that Lauren and Xander totally hate each other's guts.

In fact, part of the reason why Sarah Hyland's Lauren agreed to the surrogate deal is because she wanted to pull Paul's attention away from Xander (which is a wildly outside-the-box approach). That same part of Lauren was intrigued by the idea of spending those nine months of pregnancy as the center of attention in general, and that in the end, taking care of the child would be someone else's responsibility. But after Paul dies, Lauren has to face the likelihood that she will not only be a full-time mother, but she'll be co-parenting with someone she loathes. I really feel sorry for the kid in this situation.

Interestingly enough, Sarah Hyland had previously spoken about being somewhat disappointed with the final season of Modern Family for setting her character Haley up with stereotypical TV motherhood plots, rather than changing the storytelling up. One has to assume that Yours, Mine & Paul writer Julia Meltzer, who is also a co-EP, must have really nailed it in a way that made going through another sitcom pregnancy worth it for Hyland.

Yours, Mine & Paul will have Ty Burrell on board as an executive producer, though we can always hope that he'll pop up for an on-screen cameo if the project gets picked up to series. This marks the first sale for Burrell's recently established production company Desert Whale Prods., which has a first-look deal with 20th Century Fox TV. According to Deadline, the project has gotten a lot of attention with Burrell shopping it around, and ABC was reportedly quite happy to lock it down, especially with the fan-favorite Sarah Hyland front and center.

Of course, Modern Family isn't the only TV project that Sarah Hyland has kept herself busy with in the past decade. In the past few years, she's made limited appearances in a wide variety of shows, from Shadowhunters to Veronica Mars to the Dirty Dancing TV movie to RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. On the big screen, she'd most recently starred in and executive produced the 2019 romantic comedy The Wedding Year. It's not clear if this project's existence means that Hyland's previously announced comedy with Emily V. Gordon isn't happening anymore.

For now, it's not clear when Yours, Mine & Paul will be moving forward with its production, given the state of things. But stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more casting news, and head to our Fall 2020 TV premiere schedule to see what shows are hitting primetime and beyond in the next few months.

When it premiered in 2009, Modern Family went from critical favorite to one of the most popular and award-winning shows on TV. The acclaimed show, filmed in the mockumentary style that was popularized from the American remake of The Office, featured a delightful ensemble, sharp writing, and a lot of lovable moments. The series lasted 11 seasons, and it turned Sofia Vergara, Ariel Winter and others into famous celebrities all while continuing to build upon Ed O'Neill's towering television legacy, but everything must end at some point. As Modern Family concluded, several actors found their next projects while some other cast members left their future uncertain. Let's take a look at what we know about these award-winning actors and see what they're looking to pursue next.

Ty Burrell (Phil Dunphy)

Playing Phil Dunphy, the patriarch of the Dunphy family, Ty Burrell found his most well-recognized role in Modern Family. The actor rose to prominence through a Broadway run of Macbeth and several off-broadway plays, as well as roles in Black Hawk Down and the Dawn of the Dead remake, but this series is what helped Burrell turn into a household name. Since appearing in Modern Family, Burrell also booked roles in Finding Dory, Storks, Muppets Most Wanted, Rough Night, and a title role in Mr. Peabody & Sherman. Now that his two-time Emmy-winning role in Modern Family is over, Burrell has booked his next role. He provides his voice to the new animated series, Duncanville, where he serves as a regular player.

Julie Bowen (Claire Dunphy)

An established film and TV actress before she joined the cast of Modern Family, Julie Bowen was known for starring in Happy Gilmore, Lost, Dawson's Creek, Boston Legal, and Ed, to name a few titles, before she joined the popular sitcom, but it became her most famous role to date. As the matriarch Claire Dunphy, Bowen won two Emmy awards for her performance in the series. Now that the show has concluded, Bowen has a couple titled lined up next. The first is Hubie Halloween, the newest Adam Sandler Netflix comedy, which is set to come out later this year. Bowen is also attached to Raised By Wolves, the new CBS multi-camera comedy series from the creators of Will & Grace. Though there might've been speculation that she'd quit acting after Modern Family's series finale, that's evidently not the case.

Sofia Vergara (Gloria Delgado-Pritchett)

As Gloria Delgado-Pritchett, the significantly younger wife to Jay Pritchett, Sofia Vergara's profile skyrocketed thanks to the success of Modern Family. The Colombian-American actress became one of the highest paid actresses on television for several years through her Emmy-nominated performance. The former Univision co-host found herself in The Smurfs, New Year's Eve, Machete Kills, The Three Stooges, Chef, Hot Pursuit, Happy Feet Two, The Emoji Movie, and more following the show's success, and she'll continue to be a friendly face on television. Now that Modern Family has aired its final episode, Vergara has lined up her next TV gig. She'll join America's Got Talent as a judge during its 15th season. She has also done endorsements for several companies since she found international fame through Modern Family.

Ed O'Neill (Jay Pritchett)

Previously best known for playing Al Bundy in Married... With Children, O'Neill was already a comedy titan when he starred in Modern Family, though the series gave his television career a great second wave. Having also appeared in the Wayne's World movies and Little Giants, O'Neill got a plush role in this hit series and it renewed his career enormously. Since the award-winning series premiered, O'Neill has also done voice work for Wreck-It Ralph, Ralph Breaks the Internet, and Finding Dory. As Modern Family came to a close after eleven seasons, O'Neill hasn't lined up any new acting gigs, though he's soon set to be seen in the indie comedy, The Last Shift, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. As for the next project, he admitted on Ellen that he's "going along" and figuring it out in due time.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Mitchell Pritchett)

Playing Mitchell Pritchett, the husband of Cameron Tucker and Lily's father, Jesse Tyler Ferguson found himself in a major television hit with this role. The performance was nominated for five Emmy awards and it certainly helped his profile, though he was previously well-known for his standout work in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, which became a huge Broadway sensation. Recently, Ferguson found himself on Broadway again in the 2016 production of Fully Committed. He also lent his voice to the audiobook, A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo, from 2018, and he appeared in Taylor Swift's 2019 music video for "You Need To Calm Down." He also voiced a character in Ice Age: Collision Course, and he appeared on Project Runway and Drop the Mic. Now that Modern Family has concluded, Ferguson will be the new host of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

Eric Stonestreet (Cameron Tucker)

Eric Stonestreet was a hard-working actor who finally found his big break with Modern Family. Playing Cameron Tucker, Mitchell Pritchett's husband and Lily's other father, Stonestreet won two Emmys and gained wide acclaim for his beloved performance. Since Modern Family, Stonestreet has also been seen or heard in American Horror Story, Monk, Identity Thief, Bad Teacher, The Loft, You're Not A Monster, and The Secret Life of Pets 1 & 2. Now that Modern Family is finished, Stonestreet doesn't currently have any upcoming acting roles formally announced, though he's taking Heidi Klum's place on America's Got Talent's fifteenth season as a guest judge. He was also recently seen on the revival of Who Wants to Be A Millionaire.

Sarah Hyland (Haley Dunphy)

As Haley Dunphy, the eldest Dunphy daughter, Sarah Hyland found her claim to fame with Modern Family. The young actress, who had previously appeared in minor roles in Private Parts and Annie, found herself in this acclaimed ensemble and it opened a few new doors. Since the show began, Hyland has been seen in Geek Charming, Scary Movie 5, Struck By Lightning, Vampire Academy, XOXO, and the Dirty Dancing remake — to name a few projects. Now that Modern Family has come to a close, Hyland is looking to pursue her next project. Specifically, Hyland is attached to headline and produce a forthcoming ABC comedy series from Oscar-nominated screenwriter Emily V. Gordon (The Big Sick) and This Is Us co-showrunners Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger. Not much is known about the untitled series at this time. Hyland also recently did a single with Jordan McGraw.

Ariel Winter (Alex Dunphy)

Playing the part of Alex Dunphy, the middle child of the fame, Ariel Winter grew in prominence and fame through her work on the popular ABC series. Thanks to Modern Family, Winter has elevated her career in a number of ways, though she primarily works as a voice actress nowadays. She has lent her voice to the lead role in Sofia the First, as well as Final Fantasy games, Phineas And Ferb, Smurfs: The Lost Village, Mr. Peabody & Sherman (also starring Ty Burrell), Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and ParaNorman, to name a few projects. She'll next be heard in the lead role of Little Audrey.

Rico Rodriguez (Manny Delgado)

In his calling card role, former child actor Rico Rodriguez became a household name when he played Manny Delgado, Gloria's sweet-natured son from another marriage, in Modern Family. Though he appeared in Cory in the House, Nip/Tuck, My Name is Earl, iCarly, Epic Movie, and NCIS in minor roles before his time in the popular ABC sitcom, his scene-stealing character made him an adorable favorite on the series, helping the actor find parts in The Muppets, Austin & Ally, and Good Luck Charlie, among other roles. Also, in 2012, the young actor published his memoir, Reel Life Lessons... So Far, which he authored alongside Laura Morton. With the series concluded, Rodriguez currently doesn't have any other roles announced presently, but the actor did recently appear in an episode of Nickelodeon's reality TV program, The Substitute.

Nolan Gould (Luke Dunphy)

In the role of Luke Dunphy, the youngest Dunphy sibling, Nolan Gould was a consistent presence throughout Modern Family. Though he hasn't found the same notoriety as his co-stars, Gould has found several new acting projects since appearing on this popular series. The same year Modern Family hit television, Gould was seen in Space Buddies, and he has been seen in Friends with Benefits, The To Do List, Good Luck Charlie, and more since then. He also made an appearance as himself in a 2014 episode of Whose Line Is It Anyway? Next, Gould has a role in Yes and he'll appear in What's Up North. He's expected to be seen in the comedy-drama, Camp. He's also been doing more music videos lately.

Aubrey Anderson-Emmons (Lily Tucker-Pritchett)

As Lily Tucker-Pritchett, the sweet young daughter of Cameron and Mitchell, Aubrey Anderson-Emmons played a more prominent role in the series as it went along. The show remains her only acting credit outside of a 2014 short film, though she has build a presence on YouTube. Specifically, Anderson-Emmons does the segment FoodMania Review with her mom, Amy. They started making videos in 2015 and they have over a million views and 19,000 subscribers.

Jeremy Maguire (Joe Pritchett)

As Joe Pritchett, the son of Jay and Gloria, Jeremy Maguire became an adorable addition to Modern Family from Season 4 onward. Outside of this show, Maguire has appeared in The Last Ship and 2017's I'm Not There. He'll next appear in the comedy-drama film, The Virgin of Highland Park. He also regularly makes videos on his YouTube account.

Reid Ewing (Dylan Marshall)

Though he only played a supporting role during the early seasons of Modern Family, Reid Ewing found himself playing a main role in the show's 11th and final season. In the role of Dylan, a love interest Haley Dunphy, the character became an endearing presence throughout the show's run, proving himself to be the man for Haley as the show progressed forward. Now that Modern Family is done, the actor-musician currently doesn't have any new acting roles announced yet. There was potentially talk of a spin-off series that would feature Ewing more prominently, but that potential series has not been announced in any official capacity — and it's hard to know if it'll ever come to be. We'll certainly keep you posted if that ever ends up happening.

Who is your favorite Modern Family actor? Let us know in the comments!

Modern Family will conclude with the Season 11 finale in April, which marks the end of an era for ABC. The network was home to a series that was a critical darling during its height and kept on going for its fans. Remarkably, the Modern Family regulars who debuted back in Season 1 remain on board as Season 11 comes to and end. Now is the time to look back at Modern Family Season 1 and see how the cast has changed by Season 11.

The Modern Family cast matured from Season 1 to Season 11, with the kids grown into young adults and much of the cast enjoying career opportunities that they likely would not have gotten if not for the super successful sitcom. Let's start with the man who had the most sitcom experience coming in to Modern Family Season 1: Ed O'Neill.

Ed O'Neill (Jay Pritchett)

Best known prior to Modern Family as Al Bundy of Married... with Children, Ed O'Neill plays the Modern Family patriarch Jay Pritchett. 63-years-old when Modern Family Season 1 launched back on September 23, 2009, O'Neill will be just shy of 74 when the Modern Family series finale airs. Jay went through a lot of changes over the years as he became more accepting and more... well, modern as a husband, father, and grandfather.

Ed O'Neill proved his comedy chops weren't limited to Married... with Children on Modern Family, as Jay evolved over the years without losing the ability to deliver laughs. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Emmys three times thanks to Modern Family. He mostly stuck with Modern Family for work since 2009, although he has done plenty of voice work, with roles ranging from Zyrtec commercials to Wreck-It Ralph to Finding Dory.

Julie Bowen (Claire Dunphy)

Julie Bowen was an accomplished TV actress prior to playing Claire on Modern Family Season 1 thanks to Ed and Boston Legal. Claire shifted over the years from housewife to working mom to now grandmother of a couple of twins. Bowen herself gave birth to twins in 2009, and her baby bump is visible for eagle-eyed viewers of the pilot. 39-years-old when that pilot aired, Bowen is now 50. She divorced from her husband in 2018, but remains "very good friends" with him.

Julie Bowen did a lot of voice work during Modern Family's run, with projects like DuckTales and Tangled: The Series. That said, she also has live-action films like Horrible Bosses (2011) and Knife Fight (2012) to her name. Modern Family is undeniably her biggest critical success, with six consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress, with Bowen taking home the trophy in 2011 and 2012.

Ty Burrell (Phil Dunphy)

The 52-year-old Ty Burrell has spent 11 seasons tackling the role of Phil Dunphy, the goofy dad of the Dunphy crew with a big heart and inconvenient fear of clowns. His bond with his kids changed as they grew up, but his marriage with Claire remained strong. Burrell worked as a voice actor throughout Modern Family's run, with roles in Finding Dory and the 2020 animated sitcom Duncanville. He also had some live-action appearances, with Muppets Most Wanted in 2014 and episodes of Key and Peele.

Notably, Ty Burrell signed a deal with 20th Century Fox TV in 2014 to develop comedy projects, and he produced and starred in the web series Boondoggle, which scored him an Emmy nom for Short Form Comedy in 2017. 42-years-old when Modern Family Season 1 premiered in 2009, Burrell accumulated eight Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor, winning in 2011 and 2014.

Sofia Vergara (Gloria Delgado)

Sofia Vergara debuted on Modern Family as Gloria Delgado at 37, playing the much-younger Colombian wife of Jay Pritchett, mother of Manny and eventually Joe. Gloria is traditional and superstitious, but deeply loving of her family. For Modern Family, Vergara has been nominated for the Outstanding Supporting Actress Emmy four times. Vergara (now 47) largely appeared in live-action during her Modern Family stint, including Hot Pursuit in 2015 with Reese Witherspoon and Bottom of the Ninth in 2019 with husband Joe Manganiello.

Back in 2019, Deadline reported Sofia Vergara as set to star and produce an untitled female ensemble comedy film. Her first major project following the end of Modern Family will see her move from ABC to NBC as a new judge on America's Got Talent. Vergara has stated that she's "extremely proud to be the first Latin judge on the show."

Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Mitchell Pritchett)

The youngest of the adult cast at 34 when Modern Family Season 1 premiered in 2009, Jesse Tyler Ferguson (now 44) has played the gay son of Jay, brother of Claire, husband of Cam, and father of Lily. Originally high-strung and struggling with his relationship with his father, Mitchell was able to loosen up and embrace his family as the years passed. Ferguson primarily stayed off the big screen over the past decade, with TV roles on shows like Hot in Cleveland and Nightcap.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson managed to squeeze in some musical theater productions during his years on Modern Family, and certainly not small roles. Ferguson also appeared in Taylor Swift's "You Need To Calm Down" music video. He and his husband are expecting their first child this year. He joins his Modern Family costars in stacking up the Outstanding Supporting Actor Emmy nominations, with five to his name.

Eric Stonestreet (Cameron Tucker)

Eric Stonestreet was 38 when Modern Family launched in 2009, and Cam proved to be a devoted husband and father, a lover of farms, and a clown enthusiast with a clown alter ego by the name of Fizbo. Prior to Modern Family, Stonestreet (now 49) mostly landed one-off TV roles, with the exception of 13 episodes of CSI. Following Modern Family Season 1's launch, he landed live-action gigs like an episode of American Horror Story in 2011 and The Loft in 2015, as well as voice roles in both Secret Life of Pets films, the Sofia the First animated series, and more.

Unsurprisingly considering this is Modern Family, Eric Stonestreet has been nominated for an Outstanding Supporting Actor Emmy three times, winning twice. In 2019, Stonestreet became a partial owner of the Kansas City Royals. He has expressed interest in working with Modern Family on-screen husband Jesse Tyler Ferguson again.

Sarah Hyland (Haley Dunphy)

The eldest of the Dunphy kids was played by 19-year-old Sarah Hyland when Modern Family Season 1 launched. Haley was never the smartest of the Dunphys, but she always meant well and went on to marry on-again/off-again boyfriend Dylan and give birth to twins. Now 29, Hyland has worked on a variety of projects during the 11 seasons of Modern Family while also struggling with health issues and public perception. She underwent two kidney transplants throughout the run of Modern Family.

Despite keeping busy with Modern Family, Sarah Hyland found time to star in projects like Vampire Academy and the Dirty Dancing remake. She appeared in the controversial latest season of Veronica Mars and also worked as a voice actress, with roles on The Lion Guard, Lego DC Comics Superheroes, and more. Hyland already lined up her next network TV role following Modern Family, which may mean that Haley-centric spinoff won't happen.

Ariel Winter (Alex Dunphy)

Only 11 when Modern Family Season 1 premiered, Ariel Winter has played Alex Dunphy, a.k.a. the brainy middle child of the Dunphy family. Although Alex has always been competitive, she loves her family and uses her brains to help them... and mess with them, but she has her their backs. Winter is now 22, and most of her jobs during Modern Family were voice roles, with Sofia the First as a highlight. More recently, she played a very non-Alex Dunphy character for Law & Order: SVU.

Ariel Winter's personal life involved a lot of ups and downs as she grew up during Modern Family, which she described as "difficult" and "awful." After being emancipated from her mother, Winter underwent breast reduction surgery. She went through further changes due to medications that resulted in weight loss, and she has made all kinds of headlines with her bold wardrobe choices.

Nolan Gould (Luke Dunphy)

Believe it or not, Nolan Gould is less than a year younger than on-screen sister Ariel Winter, despite the endearingly goofy Luke seeming so much younger than the much-brainier Alex. Only 11 when Modern Family's first episode aired on ABC, the 21-year-old Gould is a member of Mensa with an IQ of 150, according to Gould himself on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. At the age of 13, he tested out of high school.

Compared to his Modern Family costars, Nolan Gould didn't tackle too many projects during Modern Family, but he does have some notable projects to his name. On top of an appearance in 2011's Friends with Benefits, he went for horror with 2012's Ghoul, and starred in the 2019 drama Yes. Gould told PopCulture that he "took an interest" in Yes because it was so different from Modern Family, but he also told PopCulture in 2019 that he's "one hundred percent on board for a spinoff or a reboot or anything."

Rico Rodriguez (Manny Delgado)

At 11-years-old when Modern Family Season 1 premiered, Rico Rodriguez was pretty young to be playing Claire and Mitchell's step-sibling and the Dunphy kids' step-uncle, but Manny with his sensitivity, love of the arts, and surprisingly grown-up tendencies (played for laughs) always delivered. Now 21, Rodriguez got his big break with Modern Family and didn't branch out a whole lot during the run of the series. He did some voice work on TV projects like Mad and The Lion Guard, played himself in The Muppets in 2011, and landed some one-off TV roles including on R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour and Austin & Ally.

Notably, Rico Rodriguez wrote a book back in 2012, called Reel Life Lessons... So Far. The book included his thoughts on growing up in the spotlight thanks to Modern Family's success, overcoming challenges, and starring on a show with Sofia Vergara playing his mom.

Few shows can hang on to so many members of the Season 1 cast, let alone the full cast of series regulars. See the Modern Family cast in their final episodes airing Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC. The series finale airs on April 8, so there is a limited number of episodes remaining until the final credits roll. Be sure to tune in! For some viewing options once Modern Family wraps with Season 11, check out our 2020 midseason premiere schedule.

SPOILERS ahead for Modern Family Season 11.

Modern Family is currently airing Season 11, the final season, so there will be many goodbyes. Hopefully most of the goodbyes won't come from funerals, but "Legacy" did have some lovely final scenes and a funeral for Frank Dunphy (Fred Willard). Phil Dunphy's (Ty Burrell) beloved father -- the original fun dad! -- died in the January 15 episode. But first, Phil got to spend one last wonderful day with his father.

Phil had been worrying that his dad had dementia, since Frank was seen wandering around the old grocery store he used to own. That wasn't the case, though, since Frank was just upset because the store was in disarray and he missed working there. Phil followed up by asking his dad if he ever wanted another child -- meaning an additional one -- to follow in the family business so Frank wouldn't have had to sell his store. Thankfully, the answer was no. Phil did take over the family business, Frank argued, since he keeps life light and fun for everyone. It was a beautiful little moment.

From there, Phil had a delightful and memorable day with his dad, he just didn't know it would be their last day together. Check out ABC's clip from Modern Family Season 11, Episode 11, "Legacy":

Frank Dunphy died of old age and Modern Family Season 11 lost another longtime character. Actor Fred Willard, currently age 80, had been in 13 episodes since Modern Family started and was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. He was such a joy to have on the show and it was great to see Ty Burrell and Fred Willard have one last day of dad jokes and fun together.

Phil's dad's death follows the loss of DeDe (Shelley Long) in Modern Family Season 10. Modern Family previewed that death by playing up that someone would die, and the 2018 episode revealed it was Claire and Mitchell's mother, who was also Jay's ex-wife.

Modern Family Season 11 is the final season and, so far, there are no spinoffs ready to follow. It seems hard to believe the end is nigh, but CBS just did this with The Big Bang Theory. All good things must come to an end eventually (except maybe for Grey's Anatomy, there's no killing that show).

ABC has already revealed that Modern Family's final episode, the series finale, will air Wednesday, April 8. Season 11 continues Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC. Keep up with everything premiering in early 2020 with our handy TV schedule.

It is that time of year again! The list of television's highest-paid actors has been revealed. In a move that will probably surprise few, familiar names from television's most popular shows populate the list, with CBS stars leading the way. Without further ado, let's dig into who made the Top 10:

CBS stars alone account for 50% of the list. When it comes to the top ten actors, the five top spots are populated by actors from two CBS shows, per Forbes. Those two shows are NCIS and The Big Bang Theory. The latter series easily dominates the list.

Jim Parsons tops co-star Johnny Galecki's Big Bang Theory paycheck by $1.5 million. The pay gap between The Big Bang Theory's highest-paid star and NCIS lead Mark Harmon is substantial. As in $7.5 million substantial. The difference in pay between Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar's Big Bang Theory paycheck and Harmon's is $4.5 million.

Also worth noting is that Mark Harmon is one of only two actors on the list to star in a drama, with The Walking Dead's Andrew Lincoln being the other. Everyone else stars in a comedy. Given the shake-ups around the corner, this list is destined for a significant shakeup of its own.

Ahead of its twelfth season premiere, The Big Bang Theory announced it would also be its last. So, the cast of the hugely popular sitcom will not be featured on the list much longer. Likewise, Andrew Lincoln is leaving The Walking Dead. Their impending exits will open up five slots on the list.

So, Mark Harmon should theoretically rocket to the top spot. Modern Family is currently in the midst of its tenth season. While there has been chatter of it being the series' last, its future currently remains unclear. The stars of the comedy could stick around after their rivals leave.

Four members from the cast of the ABC comedy Modern Family are on the list. That puts the show populating nearly 50% of the list. It is also the only ABC series with stars that made the cut. If and when Modern Family ends up joining The Big Bang Theory in ending, the list will shift even more.

While network television has been hit with ever-evolving changes, one thing has not changed. Network television is still the highest-paying. No star of a streaming series appears on the list, and only one actor from a cable series makes an appearance.

What is also interesting is that comedies totally dominate television's list of highest-paid actors. So, while dramas such as The Walking Dead tend to dominate watercooler talk, television's paychecks tell another story.

With so many actors on the list preparing to say goodbye, it will be interesting to see who takes their place. Many of the stars appearing in this year's list star in television's fall premieres.

In case you haven't noticed (via the sweltering heat in most areas of the country), the summer months seem to be upon us. And with the season comes a slew of summer movies hoping to cash in at the box office. Starting it off with a bang (and a death) is the new comedy Rough Night, which arrives in theaters this Friday. Starring Scarlett Johansson and written and directed by some of the folks behind Broad City, the film follows a bachelorette weekend gone very, very wrong. And considering how gif-able basically every frame of Broad City is, we decided one way to review the new comedy was completely through the gifs.

The following are my reactions to Rough Night, told primarily through gifs. We'll be getting into some spoilers (so steer clear if you want to go into this movie clean), but this ain't no Star Wars film, so I'm not going to spoil anything that is all that mind-blowing.

As a major Broad City fan, I sat in the audience of the NY Premiere trying to keep it cool while I saw a variety of the show's cast members.

But the lights eventually dimmed, and I managed to calm myself. We started off the film with a flashback, showing four college buddies crushing it at a Halloween party, where a beer pong tournament is tradition. Alice (Workaholic's Jillian Bell) has to sink the final shot in order for she and ScarJo's character, Jess, to win the game. And she does... by shooting it out of her mouth, leaving me in the audience, like

Fast forward to the present. The group of four characters have changed quite a bit. Jess, for example, is running for public office and engaged to nice guy and self proclaimed 6 out of 10, Peter (played by Paul W. Downs, who also write the film's screenplay). Frankie and Blair (Ilana Glazer and Zoe Kravitz, respectively) are no longer a couple, with Blair actually going through a messy divorce and custody battle. And Alice is a bored AF teacher who feels neglected by her best friend. Can you say needy?

But there's one thing that can change all of this. Jess' wild bachelorette weekend, planned to the nines by Alice. The ladies are planning on raging, and I'm planning on getting a contact hangover.

Oh and Kate Mckinnon is in the mix, too. She plays Jess' friend from study abroad, and is rocking a delightful Australian accent. Everytime she said something extra Aussie (including the word "no"), she got me like

But in a good way.

Things start getting out of hand when Frankie scores some coke. And despite Jess' original protests, the ladies all get down with the white stuff during their first night. But unlike Abbi's binge in Broad City, they ain't snorting Chex Mix.

Things get really bad, however when a stripper shows up. Because when Alice jumps on the guy, he accidentally falls back and instantly dies by hitting his head on the way down. From there, the girls have an appropriate freak out, and must decide how to get rid of the body and clear their names. What happens next?

In order for Kate McKinnon's Pippa to dump the dead body into the ocean, the group has to tend to the predatory sexually open couple next door, played by a delightful duo of Ty Burell and Demi Moore. And they've got their sights set on Zoe Kravitz's character.

Aside from the main action of the film, we occasionally cut to Peter's bachelor party. The ensemble includes comedians Bo Burnham and Eric Andre, as supportive and emotionally open members of the bridal party. But when Peter gets a scary phone call from Jess, he decides to get the truth in the most logical way: driving through the night and wearing adult diapers so he doesn't have to stop to pee. Yikes.

Various shenanigans occur while the girls attempt to dispose of the stripper's body. Things slow a bit during the middle of the film, although the action get crazier when the actual stripper shows up (played by Arrow's Colton Haynes). All those fans of Haynes' will be particularly excited, as he wears a thong for the majority of the film.

But aside from all the silly jokes (and there are many), the film does have a relatable story at the center of it. The group illustrates a story of a chosen family, particularly with Jess and Alice's relationship. We may get sick of our friends or family, but the unconditional love is still there. Cue the waterworks.

Rough Night will arrive in theaters on June 16. And for those who can't get enough of the writing and actors, Broad City will be back for Season 4 starting August 23rd on Comedy Central.

Some movies just have amazing luck when it comes to casting. The new comedy Rock that Body seems to be one of them. It already has a rock solid cast, but every new announcement keeps making this one bigger. We were already sold on Scarlett Johansson starring in an R-rated comedy. but when your supporting cast also includes names like Demi Moore, and the just announced Ty Burrell, you know you're going to be in for something special.

Rock that Body is a film about a group of women who get together for a bachelorette party weekend where things get a bit out of hand. As such, it's not surprising that every single casting announcement that we've heard has been a woman. This makes Modern Family's Ty Burrell is the first man to be announced for the film at all. His role was not announced in the Deadline article which broke the story, however, he's apparently begun filming alongside Demi Moore, who's role is also being described as "supporting" so it's possible that the two will be working together. They could be a couple in the film, or otherwise part of the same scene.

Rock that Body, formally titled, Move that Body was a film included on the most recent Black List, the annual listing of the best unproduced scripts. The word that Scarlett Johansson would star in the film came out almost as soon as the Black List did, which implied that somebody wanted to snatch that one up before anybody else got wind it was out there. From there, the studio went out and filled out the bachelorette party with the likes of Kate McKinnon, Illana Glazer, Jillian Bell, and Zoe Kravitz. While one might conclude that the film's title could refer to any one of the lovely ladies involved in Rock that Body, the body in question appears to be that of the dead stripper who will be at the center of the film's shenanigans. We're guessing that probably isn't Ty Burrell, but we don't want to jump to conclusions.

With the addition of Burrell, Rock that Body is just getting that much funnier. Seeing Scarlett Johansson in an R-rated comedy is something of a novelty as it's not the type of film we normally see her in, although that's part of what makes this one intriguing. While much of the rest of the cast is known for comedy, they're mostly known for their work on TV, such as Saturday Night Live or a couple different Comedy Central series. This should make the adult setting of Rock that Body a unique film for everybody.

What do you think of this cast? Will Rock that Body be a must see film for you? Let us know in the comments.

Pixar scored a massive hit earlier this summer with the emotionally charged Inside Out, and they’ll be back this fall to tug at our heartstrings with The Good Dinosaur. That’s a strong year, but they’ve never been ones to rest on their laurels. They’re hard at work on their next film, the Finding Nemo spinoff Finding Dory, and they just gave us some new details about the awesome cast of characters we’ll be seeing on June 17, 2016.

Disney’s D23 expo just kicked off, and we’ve got one of our own there in person, and during the Pixar portion of the animation panel feeding us all kinds of new intel. The action of Finding Dory follows the daft, but sweet amnesiac Dory, a Pacific regal blue tang voiced by Ellen DeGeneres. One day, hanging around the coral reef, all of her childhood memories come rushing back and she heads off to find her family. Along the way she encounters a whole ensemble of new friends, and we just got some new details about a few of them.

Hank

One of Dory’s new compatriots is a friendly Octopus named Hank. We knew that she meets him at the Marine Life Institute, and that he becomes her guide on this journey, but now we know a bit more. Most importantly, he’ll be voiced by Ed O’Neill from Modern Family and Married…with Children. We knew he was injured and at the institute so he could recover, but now that something happened and he only has seven legs. We’ll have to wait and see, but whatever trauma he suffered is bound to play into his emotional journey.

Bailey

O’Neill’s Modern Family co-star Ty Burrell also gets in on the fun in Finding Dory. He voices a Beluga Whale named Bailey, and while that was previously known, we’re getting a sense of who he is and how he fits into this rag tag band of misfit weirdoes. Because of his oddly shaped head, they think he has a head injury, but that’s just how he looks. He also has "mad location skills" thanks to his echolocation abilities, and you can imagine how that skill set could come in handy along the road.

Destiny

Kaitlin Olson from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia lends her voice to Destiny, who is, according to earlier reports, Dory’s adopted sister. True to the rest of this colorful cast of characters, she’s got more going on than just this. According to what our man heard at D23, Destiny is a whale shark. It sounds like she’s having a bit of an identity crisis, as even though she is a shark—whale sharks are a type of filter feeding shark—she is under the impression that she is, in fact, a whale.

This is indeed an awesomely strange array of characters and should make Finding Dory a lot of fun. And as you probably imagined, that’s not all Pixar has in store. True to form, they’ve put together a fantastic voice cast, including Diane Keaton and Eugene Levy show up as Dory’s parents, Jenny and Charlie. According to other reports, The Wire alums Dominic West and Idris Elba also stop by, though we don’t know anything about their characters just yet.

We might learn more before, but if not, we’ll find out for sure when Finding Dory hits theaters on June 17, 2016.

Whether or not you're going to like The Muppets Most Wanted is decided in the first seconds of this new teaser trailer, which debuted at Disney's website. If Animal screaming "sequel!" makes you laugh, you are going to look forward to this movie. If not, well, what were you doing in your childhood, anyway?

A follow-up to 2011's successful franchise revival The Muppets, the sequel The Muppets Most Wanted (formerly The Muppets…Again! completely shuffles its human cast, doing away with Jason Segel and Amy Adams and instead bringing in Ricky Gervais, Tina Fey and Ty Burrell-- three small-screen stars pretty appropriate to pair up with TV veterans like The Muppets. The action heads over to Europe this time, with the career-revived Muppets on a sold out tour across the continent, in cities like Berlin, Madrid and London. Things get complicated, though, when a jewel thief known as Constantine gets mixed up with the Muppets thanks to his uncanny resemblance to Kermit. You can check out a new image of Constantine, in the middle of what looks like a Busby Berkeley dance number, below. How does he get all the other Muppets involved? Is he posing as Kermit at this point? Your guess is as good as mine.

Gervais plays Constantine's assistant Dominic, Fey is a Russian prison guard (hey, why not?) and Modern Family's Burrell slaps on a French accent to play Jean Pierre Napoleon, the Interpol agent trying to hunt Constantine down. This teaser doesn't reveal a whole lot of the plot beyond that basic plot synopsis-- I'm hoping Scooter singing "Moves Like Jagger" isn't' even part of the movie at all, personally-- but the plot isn't exactly what a Muppets movie is going to be sold on. With Oscar-winner Bret McKenzie back to write more original songs, The Muppets Most Wanted has the chance to bring more goofy, vaudeville-style entertainment back to the big screen-- and maybe without some of the growing pains that the other recent movie went through on its way to putting the Muppets back in the spotlight.

For everything you need to know about The Muppets Most Wanted, click here. The movie opens March 21 next year.

Ty Burrell shows up in what feels like literally every single commercial on my TV screen, and he's looking to get even more ubiquitous. The Modern Family star is reportedly all set to star in the upcoming sequel to The Muppets, taking a role that Christoph Waltz was once eyeing.

According to The Hollywood Reporter it was Waltz's schedule that got in the way, so now Burrell gets to take his biggest film role since breaking out as the befuddled dad Phil Dunphy on the hit ABC sitcom. THR describes the role as an Interpol inspector, which makes a whole lot more sense for Waltz, but maybe Burrell will be the new American recruit for the international police force. It's described as a key role, but it's hard to imagine an Interpol inspector playing the kind of major part that Jason Segel-- who won't be returning for the sequel-- played in the original The Muppets.

Even though Segel has bailed, The Muppets director James Bobin will be back for more, as will Oscar-winner Bret McKenzie. Burrell surely won't have a hard time getting on board with the silly Muppet humor-- but we have to admit, it would have been fun to see Waltz palling around with Kermit and company as well.

This past season Saturday Night Live drew to a close with a surprisingly tender graduation-themed sketch that served as a tearful and spirited farewell to the show's golden girl, Oscar-winner Kristen Wiig. Having completed her contract, Wiig decided to move on, following the massive success of Bridesmaids to continue making movies. While this is undoubtedly good news for movie fans, it was hard not to tear up when Wiig embraced her long-time scene partner Bill Hader.

But it seems their farewell is short-lived as the two have a new movie in the works. In The Skeleton Twins, the pair play twins Milo and Maggie, who have long been estranged, but after a strange coincidence where both simultaneously cheat death, they reunite and try to figure out where their lives went wrong. For both, this means getting closure from landmark romantic relationships in their past. When news on the project emerged earlier this week, Luke Wilson was already attached to play Maggie's ex-husband Lance, and now Milo's former flame has been cast.

Variety reports Modern Family's Ty Burrell has signed on to play Rich, who was once Milo's high school teacher, then his lover. Following the uncovering of their clandestine affair, Rich was fired, which pushed him to hide his sexual orientation. When Milo rediscovers him, he's married to a woman and working at a bookstore. So, expect their reunion to be incredibly awkward to say the least.

I have to confess, my first impression on hearing this casting news was, "Aren't those two about the same age?" Short answer: not really. Burrell is actually 11 years Hader's senior, but it'll be interesting to see how costuming and makeup will attempt to address the age differential, and if Hader will be playing teen Milo in flashbacks. Beyond this, Burrell seems a solid addition to the cast, and this will likely be a welcomed opportunity after so much family-friendly comedy to dabble in something that's seems to be much more taboo.

The Skeleton Twins rolls into production later this month in New York City.

What's better than Ty Burrell on ABC. More Ty Burrell at ABC? The actor who plays the patriarch of the Dunphy clan on ABC's Modern Family is teaming up with his real-life brother to create a comedy pilot for ABC. This one also happens to have a family focus and is based on the brothers' childhood.

Deadline is reporting that Burrell and his brother Duncan have sold a comedy to ABC, earning a script commitment with penalty for the project. The premise is based on their childhood and would follow two city families who purchase the lone store in a small rural town in Oregon. "In a world where everyone is overly stressed and reliant on technology, this group works together, without every modern convenience, to make a better life for their family."

It sounds like a concept that could definitely work, as the whole "city people in a country environment" will never get old. In fact, the more we rely on technology, the funnier it likely is to see people try to go without it. I can't help but picture Ty Burrell in a situation like that as Phil Dunphy. Obviously, if the project goes forward, it seems unlikely Burrell would star. Modern Family's probably not going anywhere anytime soon, and it's impossible to imagine ABC's Emmy winner without Burrell around. But I could see a Phil Dunphy-type being thrown in the mix of one of the mentioned families. We'll have to wait and see what develops from this one, but if Burrell is half as funny behind the scenes as he is on camera, ABC could have something really great on its hands.

It was a big day for Modern Family as the new comedy series earned itself fourteen Emmy nominations. Among those were five (five!!!) nominations for Supporting Actor/Actress in a Comedy Series. The show clearly wasn’t forgotten, so why didn’t Ed O’Neill get a nomination?

Maybe it’s the Bundy curse, as his former Married With Children on-screen wife Katey Sagal didn’t score a nomination for her performance as Gemma on the FX drama series Sons of Anarchy either, but Modern Family wasn’t exactly overlooked this year. So why no love for the man who plays the Pritchett family patriarch? E! Online’s Kristin Dos Santos talked to Emmy nominee Ty Burrell, who plays Phil in Modern Family about his own nomination and his thoughts on O’Neill’s snub.

On his nomination, Burrell said he was overwhelmed and glad. "I'm so glad, [and] I just feel so lucky. [But] I have to say Ed O'Neill's omission from the Emmys voting is an opportunity to talk about him being the heart and soul of [Modern Family], which he is.”

So, let’s talk about O’Neill! How did he get left off the list, while the other five adult characters all managed to score nominations? Was his performance as the Dad/Grandpa/Step-Dad on Modern Family any less brilliant than those of his co-stars? Or was the snub less about him paling by comparison to them and more about him getting inched out of the Outstanding Actor category?

Burrell went on to credit O’Neill for the cast getting along so well, saying, "He sets the tone with the first performance and with the stuff offscreen. We get along so well, and a lot of it has to do with Ed just being such a good egg."

What do you think? Was O’Neill robbed?