Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson are looking back at the television romance that made them household names.
Their “Modern Family” characters, Cameron Tucker and Mitchell Pritchett, became one of television’s most recognizable gay couples. However, that attention also brought scrutiny.
Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson featured in “Modern Family,” which ran from 2009 to 2020. The hit sitcom got 85 Emmy nominations and 22 wins during its run.
Stonestreet and Ferguson first met when producers tested potential actors for Cam alongside Ferguson, who had already been cast as Mitchell. Ferguson said the process was like speed dating with everyone waiting for the right chemistry. “I was certainly drawn to Eric as a person, he said.
Stonestreet had already auditioned three times and felt confident about his interpretation of Cam. During the network test, he suddenly felt the room go cold when a joke failed to land.
He panicked and performed a “gay Z snap,” leaving the audition convinced he had ruined his chances. Ferguson described his costar as kind, sweet, and excited to be there. The Kansas-born actor also recalled that the LGBTQ+ advocate reassured him after the audition.
Their contrasting personalities eventually became part of what made Cam and Mitch work. Ferguson explained that Mitchell found comfort in Cam’s free spirit. The Guardian reported that both actors still see their characters as a relationship built on opposites attracting.
Ferguson and Stonestreet also remain close friends despite living in different cities. Their real-life friendship has continued long after “Modern Family” ended its 11-season run in 2020.
The PDA Debate Put Stonestreet And Ferguson Under A Microscope
The Broadway veteran, Ferguson, said the PDA discussion was especially interesting because other couples on the show were not constantly scrutinized for their affection. In his words, “When you looked at all the couples on the show, there’s not a ton of PDA between Jay and Gloria either, but because we were the gay couple, we took the heat.”
Stonestreet also remembered feeling hurt by one particular assumption. Some viewers believed he avoided kissing Ferguson because Stonestreet is straight. He rejected that idea and pointed out that he had previously appeared in the gay cult film “Girls Will Be Girls,” where he made out with a drag queen.
The actors explained that the limited PDA was ultimately connected to Mitchell’s personality. The writers developed Mitchell as someone uncomfortable with public displays of affection. That storyline eventually became central to the episode “The Kiss.”
The 2010 episode handled the issue by showing Mitch sharing an affectionate moment with his father. In the background, Cam and Mitch finally shared the kiss viewers had been waiting for. Stonestreet described the speculation about his reluctance to kiss Ferguson as hurtful.
“The Kiss” became an important moment in the show’s approach to LGBTQ+ representation. “Modern Family” ultimately earned 85 Emmy nominations and 22 wins during its run, including two wins for Stonestreet.
The ‘Greatest Moment Ever’ Happened Off Camera
During a conversation on Ferguson’s “Dinner’s On Me” podcast, the actors remembered an unforgettable accident involving the show’s casting director. Stonestreet immediately called it “the greatest moment ever.” The incident happened inside the show’s craft-service area.
Ferguson explained that the space was essentially a transparent glass box sitting in the middle of the stage, complete with a kitchen, coffee machine, and seating area. The cast was eating breakfast when casting director Jeff Greenberg walked directly toward the glass.
The Kansas-born actor admitted that everyone actually watched the accident coming from far away without doing anything. Greenberg’s face print remained on the glass, and the production taped around it so the mark stayed there for months. The Blast revealed that Ferguson could barely contain his laughter when Stonestreet brought it up.
The ‘Modern Family’ Reunion
Two years after the “Modern Family” finale, Ferguson and Stonestreet reunited in New York City. The former costars shared photos and videos from their meeting on their respective Instagram accounts. The Emmy Award winner captioned his post and tagged Ferguson, “A meet-cute two years in the making. Missed this guy a lot. Love you.”
Their reunion began with an emotional hug between the longtime friends. Ferguson exclaimed, “Oh My God, Hi!” before embracing Stonestreet, who cried out, “It’s been two years.” The pair also posed together on a New York City street before sharing a particularly affectionate moment.
In one photo, Ferguson leaned over and gave Stonestreet a peck on the cheek. Ferguson captioned his own Instagram post “Huzzzbin,” while also sharing their reunion hug on his Instagram Story. The Blast reported that fans immediately flooded the comments with affection for the former on-screen husbands.
Eric Stonestreet Had A Secret Wedding
Stonestreet married Lindsay Schweitzer on September 8, 2025. It was an intimate ceremony at their Kansas City home after keeping the wedding secret. The couple had been together for years before quietly exchanging vows.
The secrecy was so extensive that even Schweitzer’s twin sons did not know about the wedding until they returned from school that day. The 54-year-old talked about the wedding with Ferguson during his appearance on the “Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson” podcast released on January 13
After they married, the Emmy Award winner sent out a prepared text containing photographs to everyone else. The September 8 date also carried personal meaning because it fell between their birthdays.
PEOPLE reported that several “Modern Family” castmates were surprised by the secret wedding but responded with congratulations and support.
