Ty Burrell
Ty Burrell is an American actor, best known for his role as Phil Dunphy on the critically acclaimed television series *Modern Family*. Born on August 22, 1967, in Grants Pass, Oregon, he grew up in a family with no direct ties to the entertainment industry, yet he developed a passion for storytelling from an early age. After a brief stint fighting forest fires and bartending, Burrell pursued acting studies and earned a master's degree from Pennsylvania State University. His career began with small roles in television and film, including notable appearances in *Black Hawk Down* and *Dawn of the Dead*.
Burrell gained significant recognition when he was cast in *Modern Family* in 2009, a role that showcased his ability to blend humor with heartfelt performance, contributing to the show's success and earning him two Emmy Awards out of eight nominations. Beyond *Modern Family*, he has appeared in various films and lent his voice to animated features like *Finding Dory* and *Mr. Peabody & Sherman*. Outside of his professional life, Burrell is married to Holly, with whom he has two adopted daughters, and they split their time between California and Utah.
Subject Terms
Ty Burrell
Actor
- Born: August 22, 1967
- Birthplace: Grants Pass, Oregon
Contribution: Ty Burrell is an Emmy Award–winning actor who is best known for his role as Phil Dunphy in the television series Modern Family.
Background
Tyler Gerald Burrell was born in Grants Pass, Oregon, on August 22, 1967. His father was a social worker, and his mother worked as a teacher. Burrell and his three siblings grew up in the city of Ashland as well as in the more rural community of Applegate, where his family owned a store. There were no actors or artists in Burrell’s immediate family, though his father and grandfather were excellent storytellers. Growing up, Burrell and his younger brother, Duncan, liked to imitate the witty repartee between their father and uncle.
Burrell attended Hidden Valley High School, where he played football. He graduated from high school in 1985 and enrolled in the University of Oregon but left the college after a short time. Burrell briefly worked fighting forest fires and also served as a bartender at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland. After his father’s death from cancer, Burrell enrolled in Southern Oregon University to study acting. He graduated in 1993 and went on to pursue a master’s degree at Pennsylvania State University. After receiving his MFA in 1997, he moved to New York City to find work as an actor.
Career
Throughout his early career, Burrell performed in a number of plays both on and off Broadway and appeared in small roles in numerous television shows, including TheWest Wing, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Law & Order. In 2001, Burrell appeared in the Ridley Scott film Black Hawk Down, starring Josh Hartnett and Ewan McGregor, based on the true story of a 1993 US Army mission in Somalia. He subsequently played larger roles in the films Dawn of the Dead (2004); In Good Company (2004); Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus (2006); National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007); and The Incredible Hulk (2008).
Burrell found more traction in television, eventually securing supporting roles in two short-lived comedies. He played Dr. Oliver Barnes in the CBS sitcom Out of Practice (2005–6), appearing alongside veteran actors Henry Winkler and Stockard Channing, and went on to fill the role of reporter Gary Crezyzewski in Fox’s Back to You (2007–8), starring Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton. The creators of the latter show, Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd, particularly enjoyed Burrell’s ability to portray seemingly foolish characters with heart. After the cancellation of Back to You, they decided to write a character for him in their next show, a comedy about the intersecting lives of California relations titled Modern Family.
When the duo called on Burrell in 2008, they told him that he did not even need to audition for the role of Phil Dunphy, a blundering yet well-intentioned father of three. In Burrell’s hands, Phil is simultaneously a doofus and a loving father and husband; his portrayal never strains the plausibility of the world of the show, even when his misadventures are exaggerated for comedic effect. This duality, inherent to all of Modern Family’s characters, allows the show’s take on family life to be both funny and poignant. Modern Family premiered on ABC in 2009 and became an instant hit, earning praise from both audiences and critics for its talented ensemble and quick-witted dialogue.
Since obtaining his breakout role in Modern Family, Burrell has made guest appearances in various television shows and has costarred in several films. In 2011, he starred alongside Jennifer Garner in Butter, a film about a butter sculptor, and the following year he appeared in the comedy Goats, starring David Duchovny and Vera Farmiga. Burrell has also appeared in television commercials for various products and in 2012 cohosted the Billboard Music Awards with Modern Family costar Julie Bowen. He also appeared in such movies as the children's film The Muppets Most Wanted (2014) and the comedy Rough Night (2017); and lent his voice to the animated films Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014), Finding Dory (2016), and Storks (2016).
In 2019, ABC announced that the final season of Modern Family would end in 2020. Burrell remained with the show until the end, earning a total of two Emmy Award wins out of eight nominations for his role as Phil. Following the announcement, Burrell signed on to voice the lead in the new animated comedy Duncanville.
Impact
Since its premiere in 2009, Modern Family has won a slew of awards, including the Emmy Award for outstanding comedy series and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) award for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series. Like several of his costars, Burrell has been recognized for his individual performance, winning the Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series in 2011 and earning nominations for the award in 2010, 2012, and 2013.
Personal Life
Burrell married his wife, Holly, a pastry chef and former actor, in 2000. They have two adopted daughters and split their time between Los Angeles, California, and Salt Lake City, Utah.
Principal Works
Film
Black Hawk Down, 2001
Dawn of the Dead, 2004
In Good Company, 2004
The Darwin Awards, 2006
Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus, 2006
National Treasure: Book of Secrets, 2007
The Incredible Hulk, 2008
Butter, 2011
Goats, 2012
The Muppets Most Wanted, 2014
Mr. Peabody & Sherman, 2014
Finding Dory, 2016
Storks, 2016
Rough Night, 2017
Television
Out of Practice, 2005–6
Back to You, 2007–8
Modern Family, 2009–20
Bibliography
Horiuchi, Vince. “Emmy Winner Ty Burrell Raises His Own ‘Modern Family’ in Utah.” Salt Lake Tribune. MediaNews Group, 30 Sept. 2011. Web. 22 July 2013.
Owen, Rob. “Oregon Native Ty Burrell Says Life’s a Bit Surreal after an Emmy Nomination.” Oregon Live. Oregon Live, 28 Aug. 2010. Web. 22 July 2013.
Spencer, Amy. “Ty Burrell’s Real-Life Modern Family.” Redbook. Hearst Communication, 1 Sept. 2010. Web. 22 July 2013.
Tamborrino, Kelsey. “Ty Burrell Nominated for Emmy.” Daily Collegian. Pennsylvania State U, 21 Sept. 2012. Web. 22 July 2013.
Turnquist, Kristi. “Actor Ty Burrell: From Grants Pass to ABC’s Hit Comedy ‘Modern Family.’” Oregon Live. Oregon Live, 28 Nov. 2009. Web. 22 July 2013.
Weiner, Jonah. “Father Knows Jack: Modern Family’s Ty Burrell.” Men’s Journal. Wenner Media, May 2011. Web. 22 July 2013.