Can you even imagine ‘Modern Family‘ without Phil Dunphy? For 11 seasons, Ty Burrell turned Phil into the heart of the Dunphy family and one of the best sitcom dads ever. Over the course of the show, Burrell picked up multiple Emmys for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, and for good reason.
But you’ll be surprised to know that he almost didn’t make it onto Modern Family. Before the show rose to popularity, Ty Burrell was just an actor trying (and failing) to make network execs laugh.
Ty Burrell Was Not “Funny” Enough For ‘Modern Family’
During Burrell’s appearance on Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s ‘Dinner’s on Me‘ podcast, Burrell opened up about how close he came to losing the role of Phil Dunphy. In fact, his first audition was a total flop. He recalled, “They said I wasn’t funny enough,” and admitted that some of the feedback he got was pretty brutal. A few people on the team even kept doubting him long after he was cast.
Related: Matt LeBlanc Turned Down The Offer To Play Phil Dunphy On ‘Modern Family’. Here’s Why
At the time, Burrell had done a few smaller shows that didn’t take off. And, his dry, understated humor wasn’t the kind of thing you’d expect from a network comedy lead. But ‘Modern Family‘ co-creator Steve Levitan saw something others didn’t. Determined to give Burrell another shot, he invited him to do a single-camera test with Sarah Hyland in Levitan’s own backyard.
And that backyard session changed everything. Burrell finally had the space to improvise, loosen up, and show his comedic side. He said, “We went and filmed in Steve Levitan’s yard with Sarah Hyland. We got to improvise and do a more single-camera audition for it. And that one worked.” And just like that, the role was his.
How Phil Dunphy Became A Revered Sitcom Legend
It’s funny that someone once told Ty Burrell he wasn’t comedic enough. Not only did he define ‘Modern Family’s humor, but he also changed what TV audiences expected from a sitcom dad. Phil Dunphy was somehow always lovable. And that made him one of the most relatable characters on television.
In case you missed it: ‘Modern Family’: Are Phil And Claire The Best Or The Worst Couple?
Besides earning him two Emmys, it also helped Modern Family rack up a staggering 22 Emmy wins across its run. From day one, Phil became a core part of the show. We still have a hard time getting over Phil’s philosophies, his weird behaviour and manias around Jay, and his specific phobias.
Since ‘Modern Family‘, Burrell has continued to show his range. He voiced ‘Mr. Peabody in Mr. Peabody & Sherman‘, starred in ‘Muppets Most Wanted‘ and ‘Finding Dory‘, and lent his voice to the animated series ‘Duncanville. Beyond acting, he’s also made his mark as a producer and even a bar owner in Salt Lake City. His next big project, ‘Tightrope!‘, is being produced by Bryan Cranston, and fans are already curious to see what side of Burrell we’ll get to see next.
But no matter what he does, for fans, Ty Burrell will always be Phil; the dad who loved too much, tried too hard, and somehow made every failure a hilarious parenting lesson. ‘Modern Family‘ would have never been the same without him!
