Portrayed by Ty Burrell in Modern Family, the lovable, goofy, and endlessly optimistic Phil Dunphy has been one of the most popular and beloved sitcom characters of all time. Surprisingly, the actor almost did not take on the career-defining role due to his lengthy struggles in Hollywood.
Burrell’s journey to success has been filled with several setbacks, leading to self-doubt and almost causing him to walk away from the industry before his big break in the Emmy-winning sitcom.
Ty Burrell almost missed out on the Modern Family role due to his plans to quit acting
The Emmy-winning actor Ty Burrell has been open about his struggles before landing his breakthrough role in the hit sitcom. In a previous interview, he revealed that he almost walked away from the career-defining opportunity after struggling for years.
“But it was actually right before Modern Family that I thought about [giving up],” he said in an interview with Glamour, as he explained that facing back-to-back rejections was taking a toll on him.
He recalled,
Auditioning was just getting the better of me. I had used up all my toughness getting to 40 and auditioning. You go on five or six auditions a week, and most of them are all rejections.
Burrell also revealed that his wife, Holly Burrell, who had also pursued acting, ultimately decided to quit despite her love for performing. However, quitting wasn’t an easy decision for him either, as he admitted he lacked “another skill set.”
I’m not burdened with another skill set. [laughs] I really can’t do anything else. But that winter before [Modern Family’s] pilot season, my wife and I were talking seriously about how or if I could do something else.
Burrell shared that things got even more overwhelming after his wife, with whom he shares two children, left the industry as he reflected on how close he came to quitting.
Ty Burrell nearly quit Hollywood after facing constant rejections
Ty Burrell met his wife, Holly Burrell, at the Shakespeare Theater in Washington, D.C., where she had moved after earning a bachelor’s degree in theater from the University of Utah.
As per People, the couple later relocated to New York to pursue a career in acting and make something of themselves. However, his wife decided to quit her dreams for the entertainment industry amid the struggles.
“My wife got out early on. She still loves performing, but the business is so weird and hard,” he told Glamour. Seeing his wife step away from acting, coupled with his own constant rejections, made him question his future in the industry.
“I was in a similar boat where I didn’t know if I could keep it up,” he recalled. Thankfully, before he could make the life-altering decision, Modern Family found their Phil Dunphy in Burrell.
The character has since become an iconic figure in modern sitcoms, earning widespread acclaim and securing Burrell several accolades, including two Emmys for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
Modern Family is available to watch on Hulu.
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