The Ultimate Guide to Modern Family's Top 15 Memorable Guest Stars

Summary

The guest stars on Modern Family brought something special to the show, from big-name stars like Edward Norton to rising stars like Winston Duke.

Notable celebrity guest stars on the show include Nathan Fillion, who portrays a weatherman in a romantic relationship with Haley, Lin-Manuel Miranda, who takes on the role of a dog trainer, and James Marsden, who plays a massage expert residing in Cam and Mitchell's backyard. Additionally, Stephanie Beatriz appears as Gloria's vengeful sister, Jon Polito as Jay's adversary, and Kevin Hart as Phil's eccentric friend. Shelley Long, Fred Willard, Reid Ewing, and Nathan Lane all contribute to the show's comedic brilliance as well.

Modern Family has been known for its exciting guest stars throughout its critically acclaimed first season and beyond. From big-name celebrities to up-and-coming talent, these cameos have brought extra excitement to the show. With a multitude of memorable appearances, it's easy for fans to sometimes forget about the famous faces that have graced the screen. However, there are certain Modern Family guest stars who have truly stood out from the rest. While the main cast created the beloved characters that make the show so special, it's always a delight to see new characters enter the scene and leave their mark. The relationships that have come and gone, the characters who have departed, and the contributions of these guest stars have all played a significant role in the show's success. From Hollywood's biggest stars to budding talents in their earlier roles, these Modern Family guest stars have added an extra dose of something special to the series.

15 Nathan Fillion

Nathan Fillion, renowned for his notable roles in popular TV shows such as Castle and Firefly, delighted audiences with his comedic portrayal as Rainer Shine, a weatherman, in multiple episodes of Modern Family. Phil tries to establish a friendship with Rainer after encountering him at the station, inadvertently persuading him to ask Haley out, a proposal she accepts.

Their relationship begins, contrary to Phil's wishes, and progresses to the point where Rainer even proposes marriage to Haley. However, their engagement is short-lived, as both quickly realize the grave mistake it would be. Their significant age difference casts a shadow over the viability of their relationship, thereby making it challenging to fully support. Ultimately, it turns out to be a brief affair, barely even registering among Haley's numerous relationships on Modern Family.

14 Lin-Manuel Miranda

Known primarily for his contributions to musical theater, particularly his work on highly acclaimed Broadway productions like In the Heights and Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda also made a memorable appearance on an episode of Modern Family. In this episode, Miranda takes on the role of Guillermo, a character who meets Gloria at the grocery store where he is employed. Intrigued by his unique dog training ideas, Gloria decides to bring Guillermo home to pitch his innovative techniques to Jay, in hopes of securing an investment. Although Miranda's guest-starring role may appear minor, it becomes increasingly significant as it is ultimately through his character that Jay comes to adopt his cherished dog, Stella.

13 James Marsden

James Marsden rose to fame through his memorable performances in The Notebook and the X-Men film series. However, it was his guest appearance on Modern Family that truly showcased his comedic talents. In the show, Cam and Mitchell discover a charming man named Barry (played by Marsden) in their hot tub and decide to let him stay. They soon learn that Barry is not only attractive but also an expert in Reiki massages.

As the story unfolds, Cam and Mitchell find themselves at odds over whether to continue their relationship with Barry, only to discover that he has been living in their daughter's fairytale castle in the backyard. While Marsden has proven his popularity in the X-Men films, it is roles like these that allow him to embrace his sillier side, leading to his recent work on the successful Sonic the Hedgehog movies and his Emmy-nominated role in Jury Duty.

12 Edward Norton

Edward Norton, renowned for his roles in critically acclaimed films like Fight Club and American History X, was among the earliest guest stars to grace the popular show Modern Family. Collaborating frequently with filmmaker Wes Anderson, Norton's star power added immense value to the series. In one episode, Norton portrayed the eccentric musician Izzy LaFontaine, hired by Claire to perform at their house for her and Phil's anniversary. The comedic twist comes from Claire's mistaken belief that Norton was once a member of Phil's favorite band, only to discover that Phil does not recognize any of his music. It is truly a delight to witness Norton, known for his intense and serious performances, embracing a role so boisterously comical.

11 Matthew Broderick

Matthew Broderick, widely recognized for his memorable roles in movies such as the iconic Ferris Bueller's Day Off, made a special appearance in a Modern Family episode. In this episode, Broderick portrays Dave, one of Cam and Mitchell's acquaintances, as Cam makes an effort to encourage Dave to reenter the dating scene following his recent breakup.

Amidst their interaction, Dave and Phil discover that they both attended the same college, leading Phil to extend an invitation for Dave to join him in watching a sports game. Unbeknownst to Phil, Dave misconstrues this as a date and continuously seeks dating advice from Cam by incessantly reaching out to him throughout the evening. This comedic situation is characteristic of a typical sitcom, but Broderick's charismatic portrayal effectively enhances the storyline.

10 Winston Duke

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Prior to his scene-stealing performance as M'Baku in Black Panther and his leading role in Us, Winston Duke made a memorable appearance in the eighth season of Modern Family. Portraying the character Dwight, he played the role of a star football player on Cameron's coached team. Due to an unstable home life, Dwight sought refuge with Mitchell and Cameron, opting to remain with them until the conclusion of the football season.

During his time on the show, Dwight also enjoyed a brief romance with Alex Dunphy, the youngest daughter in the Dunphy family. His endearing presence on the series seamlessly integrated with both storylines he participated in. However, after just a few episodes, Dwight disappeared from the show without explanation, while Winston Duke went on to achieve the stardom he currently enjoys in Hollywood.

9 Chris Geere

Chris Geere gained recognition for his role as Jimmy in the beloved cable comedy You're The Worst. In addition, he made notable appearances in Modern Family as Dr. Arvin Fennerman, a respected astrophysics professor at Caltech. Despite his impressive accomplishments, Arvin exudes a charmingly geeky and socially awkward demeanor, remaining remarkably humble.

Notably, Alex Dunphy develops a clear infatuation with her instructor, and a romantic connection eventually forms between Dr. Fennerman and Haley, Alex's older sister, during the tenth season. Despite their contrasting intellectual abilities, he genuinely invests himself in their relationship. Eventually, Haley decides to reignite her romance with her former high school sweetheart, Dylan, leading to her breakup with Arvin, and he subsequently disappears from the show. Nonetheless, it was refreshing to witness a different kind of love interest for Haley.

8 Stephanie Beatriz

Before gaining recognition for her portrayal of Detective Rosa Diaz on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Stephanie Beatriz made a brief appearance on Modern Family as Sonia, Gloria Delgado Pritchett's younger sister from Colombia. Initially depicted as timid and withdrawn, Sonia took a drastic transformation when it was revealed that she was the woman previously pursued by Jay Pritchett. Consumed by resentment, Sonia became vengeful and plotted to harm her sister and entice her brother-in-law. Throughout her portrayal, Beatriz demonstrates her comedic versatility with exaggerated and uproarious performances.

7 Jon Polito

Jay Pritchett and his daughter Claire Dunphy owned a rival closet sales business called Pritchett Closets, which had an ongoing feud with Closets, Closets, Closets, Closets. The rivalry was personal for Jay, as his former partner Earl Chambers, played by the renowned actor Jon Polito, ran the opposing company. Despite Earl's occasional appearances, he made a significant impact on the series. He frequently clashed with Jay, even involving Jay's children in their disagreements. However, after Polito's unfortunate passing in 2016, Earl Chambers was briefly replaced by another actor, but the dynamic was never quite the same.

6 Kevin Hart

Before Kevin Hart became one of the world's most renowned comedians, he made a brief appearance in Modern Family's third season as Andre. Andre was the neighbor of the Dunphy family and quickly became friends with Phil. Their shared quirky sense of humor was evident when they attempted to turn the phrase "brother from another mother" into a song to capture the depth of their newfound friendship.

Although Andre's presence was limited to the episodes "Treehouse" and "Planes, Trains, and Cars", his friendship with Phil resulted in some uproarious escapades. One memorable instance was when he convinced the impulsive Phil to purchase a far more extravagant car than necessary. However, it seemed that there were originally plans for Hart's character on the show that never came to fruition.

5 Kevin Daniels

In the early seasons of the series, Cam and Mitch's close-knit group of gay friends added a touch of hilarity and became instantly iconic. One of these beloved characters was Longinus, played by Kevin Daniels. Longinus, with his larger-than-life personality, had the potential to become a sitcom legend purely based on his name. In the early seasons, he worked as a cologne salesman, which led to comical mishaps at the mall. One memorable moment involved a cologne spraying war between Longinus and Phil, who ended up spraying each other directly in the face.

Unfortunately, as the series progressed, Longinus made fewer appearances, which is a shame considering the dry wit and physical humor he brought to the early seasons. While he has shown up occasionally at events thrown by Cam and Mitch, such as their wedding, nothing has quite compared to the golden years of the show.

4 Shelley Long

Married with Children's Ed O'Neill, a sitcom icon, was cast as the family patriarch Jay Pritchett in Modern Family. In order to match his caliber, the show needed an actress to play the Pritchett matriarch, and they found the perfect fit. Over the course of the first ten seasons, Shelley Long, a sitcom legend known for her role as Diane on Cheers, made recurring appearances as the bohemian and outspoken DeDe Pritchett.

Although she only appeared in eight episodes, DeDe's presence in Modern Family always brought drama and hilarity. Whether she was getting into physical fights with Gloria, engaging in heated arguments with ex-husband Jay, or sarcastically commenting on her children's lives, DeDe was undeniably one of the show's secret weapons. Unfortunately, DeDe's character met her demise in season 10 of Modern Family.

3 Fred Willard

The Pritchett children aren't the only ones with comedy icons as parents. Phil Dunphy's father, Frank Dunphy, portrayed by comedy legend Fred Willard, is a lovably eccentric and optimistic character, recognized for his roles in This Is Spinal Tap and Everybody Loves Raymond. While Phil is often seen as a quirky dreamer, meeting his father reveals that he inherited these traits from Frank.

Throughout the series, Frank's appearances are usually unexpected, presenting challenges for the Dunphy family as they navigate his straightforward and sometimes blunt nature. As the show progresses, Frank remarries, coincidentally to a woman who used to be Phil's babysitter and his first crush. In a poignant turn, Frank's character dies in the final episode of the show, paralleling Fred Willard's real-life passing just a few months later.

2 Reid Ewing

Since his introduction in the Modern Family pilot, Dylan Stardust Marshall has been a standout character thanks to the talented portrayal by Reid Ewing. Throughout the years, Dylan has maintained his lovably foolish persona, showcasing a deep understanding of Haley like no one else. Despite their past as naive high school sweethearts who always found themselves in trouble, Dylan and Haley have matured over time.

In the eleventh season, Dylan and Haley are now married and expecting twins. Ewing's consistent comedic performance has been a delightful highlight throughout the series. He effortlessly delivers his lines and excels in the physical humor that the show demands of him. Dylan is unquestionably one of Modern Family's most memorable and unique characters, and this is all thanks to the exceptional talent of Reid Ewing.

1 Nathan Lane

Nathan Lane quickly established himself as one of Modern Family's top guest stars, with his portrayal of the hilarious Sherman "Pepper" Saltzman. Despite his small stature, Pepper's larger-than-life personality and role as a wedding planner make him a standout character in the series. Unlike the other characters, Pepper's dramatic tendencies never grow tiresome or predictable. Instead, his over-the-top antics are contagious, leaving viewers in fits of laughter as he navigates through one outrageous moment after another. Lane's portrayal of Pepper's relationships, particularly with his husband Ronaldo, Jay, and Phil, have been particularly memorable during his time on Modern Family.