Ty Burrell is an American actor and comedian who played the role of Phil Dunphy, a lovable and goofy real estate agent, on the hit sitcom Modern Family. The show ran for 11 seasons from 2009 to 2020 and won multiple awards, including five Emmys for Outstanding Comedy Series. Burrell himself won two Emmys and four Screen Actors Guild Awards for his performance as Phil. But what happened to him after the show ended? Is he still acting or has he retired from the screen? Here is everything you need to know about Ty Burrell’s life and career.
The Status of Phil (Ty Burrell) on ‘Modern Family’
Phil’s performance on the show
Phil Dunphy was one of the most popular and beloved characters on Modern Family. He was the husband of Claire Dunphy (Julie Bowen) and the father of Haley (Sarah Hyland), Alex (Ariel Winter), and Luke (Nolan Gould). He was known for his hilarious and often misguided attempts to be a cool dad, his love of magic and technology, and his optimistic and cheerful personality. He also had a friendly rivalry with his father-in-law Jay Pritchett (Ed O’Neill) and a close bond with his son-in-law Dylan (Reid Ewing).
Burrell’s portrayal of Phil was widely praised by critics and fans alike. He was nominated for eight consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, winning in 2011 and 2014. He also won four consecutive Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series from 2013 to 2016. He was the only actor from the show to win both awards.
False death rumors
In 2019, there were rumors that Phil Dunphy would die in the final season of Modern Family. The speculation was fueled by a cryptic tweet from co-creator Christopher Lloyd, who said that a “significant character” would die in the season premiere. However, the rumors turned out to be false, as the character who died was Frank Dunphy (Fred Willard), Phil’s father. Phil was devastated by the loss of his dad, but he also learned to appreciate his own role as a father and a grandfather.
Fans’ confusion at reunion
In November 2021, the cast of Modern Family reunited for a special event hosted by Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who played Phil’s son-in-law Mitchell Pritchett. The reunion was attended by Sofia Vergara, Julie Bowen, Eric Stonestreet, Sarah Hyland, Ariel Winter, Nolan Gould, Rico Rodriguez, and Aubrey Anderson-Emmons. However, Ty Burrell was noticeably absent from the gathering, which sparked confusion and concern among fans. Some wondered if he was sick or had a falling out with his co-stars.
However, the reason for Burrell’s absence was much simpler. He was busy filming a new project in New York and could not make it to the reunion. He sent a video message to his former colleagues, expressing his love and gratitude for them. He also joked that he was glad to miss the reunion because he did not want to see Ferguson’s face. Ferguson replied that he missed Burrell too and that he was the best TV husband ever.
Life and Career of Ty Burrell
Early life
Ty Burrell was born on August 22, 1967, in Grants Pass, Oregon. His parents were Sheri Rose, a teacher, and Gary Gerald Burrell, a family therapist. He has a younger brother named Duncan. He grew up in Applegate, Oregon, near the California border. He attended Hidden Valley High School, where he played football as a lineman. He graduated from Southern Oregon University with a bachelor’s degree in theater arts in 1993. He then attended the University of Oregon, where he worked as a bartender at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. He later earned a master’s degree in fine arts from Penn State University, where he met his future wife, Holly.
Other ventures
Before landing the role of Phil Dunphy, Burrell had several roles in movies and TV shows, such as Evolution, Black Hawk Down, Dawn of the Dead, The Incredible Hulk, and National Treasure: Book of Secrets. He also appeared in Broadway and off-Broadway plays, such as Macbeth, Burn This, and Show People. He was a co-writer and actor in the off-Broadway play Babble with his brother Duncan. He also had starring roles in the sitcoms Out of Practice and Back to You, co-starring Patricia Heaton and Kelsey Grammer.
Burrell is also known for his voice work in animated films, such as Mr. Peabody & Sherman, Finding Dory, and Storks. He also voiced characters in the TV shows The Penguins of Madagascar, Family Guy, and Duncanville. He also appeared in the short film Jimmy Kimmel’s The Terrific Ten, a parody of superhero movies.
Burrell is also involved in various philanthropic and environmental causes. He is a supporter of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, a group that aims to protect the natural landscapes of Utah. He also co-owns two bars in Salt Lake City, Utah, called Bar X and Beer Bar, which serve local and organic products. He also co-founded the non-profit organization Kids in the Spotlight, which helps foster children express themselves through filmmaking.
What Ty Burrell Has Been Up To Since ‘Modern Family’
Decision to step away from the screen
After Modern Family ended in 2020, Burrell decided to take a break from acting and focus on his family and other interests. He said that he wanted to spend more time with his wife and their two adopted daughters, Frances and Greta. He also said that he felt satisfied with his career and did not feel the need to chase more fame or money. He said that he was grateful for the opportunity to play Phil Dunphy and that he did not want to repeat the same character or genre.
Burrell also said that he wanted to explore other creative outlets, such as writing and directing. He said that he had some ideas for projects that he wanted to develop, but he did not reveal any details. He said that he was not in a hurry to return to the screen and that he would only do it if he found something that he was passionate about.
Future projects
Although Burrell has been mostly out of the spotlight since Modern Family, he has not completely retired from acting. He is still voicing Jack Harris, the father of the titular character, on the animated sitcom Duncanville, which is co-created by Amy Poehler and Mike Scully. The show premiered in 2020 and has been renewed for a third season, which is expected to air in 2022.
Burrell is also set to star in a new comedy series called Yours, Mine & Paul’s, which he will also executive produce. The show is created by Julia Meltzer, who was a writer and producer on Modern Family. The show is about a woman who agrees to be a surrogate for her best friend Paul and his husband. However, when Paul dies unexpectedly, she is stuck with his widowed husband and his opinionated mother. The show is expected to premiere on ABC in 2022.
Conclusion
Ty Burrell is an award-winning actor and comedian who played Phil Dunphy on Modern Family for 11 seasons. He won two Emmys and four Screen Actors Guild Awards for his performance. He also appeared in several movies and TV shows, such as The Incredible Hulk, Finding Dory, and Duncanville. He is also a philanthropist and an environmentalist who supports various causes. He is married to Holly Burrell and has two adopted daughters.
After Modern Family ended, Burrell decided to step away from the screen and focus on his family and other interests. He said that he was happy with his career and did not want to do the same thing over and over. He also said that he wanted to try other creative outlets, such as writing and directing. He is still voicing Jack Harris on Duncanville and will star in a new comedy series called Yours, Mine & Paul’s. He is not in a hurry to return to the screen and will only do it if he finds something that he loves.
