More than 15 years after taking on the role, Jesse Tyler Ferguson has opened up about the pressure he once felt portraying Mitchell Pritchett. The actor, nominated five times for an Emmy, admitted he carried a “responsibility” to represent the LGBTQ community accurately throughout his time on the ABC sitcom, which ran for 11 seasons between 2009 and 2020.
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Speaking on his podcast Dinner’s On Me, Ferguson recalled: “I was in the trenches fighting for marriage equality, and I felt so lucky to be part of a cultural touchstone that was linked to that same issue. It was difficult because I had to block out the noise of the community wanting me to get it exactly right, while also balancing my own desire to bring nuance, layers and poignancy. It often felt impossible to please everyone.”
He went on to explain how his outlook has shifted: “When I was given the role, I felt such responsibility to play it with care and precision. Now, as an actor, I’m drawn to characters who are messy and flawed, because that’s what makes them real. It’s what makes audiences more engaged in watching me.”
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Ferguson has also reflected on how Modern Family shielded him during difficult moments. He recalled that playing such a beloved character provided him with “a protection” when he encountered anti-gay reactions from some viewers. On screen, Mitchell raised an adopted daughter, Lily, with his partner Cameron (played by Eric Stonestreet). Their wedding, shown in the series’ two-part finale in 2014, remains a landmark television moment for LGBTQ representation.
