Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet, who played Mitchell and Cameron on the hit sitcom Modern Family, have opened up about the groundbreaking love story that made television history. The actors revealed that while their characters often bickered and played pranks, the romance between them was so special it changed many fans' lives.
Opposites Attract in a Groundbreaking Sitcom
Cam and Mitch met at a games night, where Mitch rolled his eyes every time Cam got boisterous. They married in two of the most romantic and near-disastrous TV episodes, and raised two adopted children, Lily and Rexford. Being a groundbreaking gay TV couple came with scrutiny, but their love shone through.
"Mitch and Cam were a gay couple raising a child on TV, so the microscope was zoomed in with a little more focus so a lot of their flaws were heightened," said Ferguson. "But I think, when you sit back and look at it, you can see how much love there is between those two people and the family they created."
Chemistry From the First Meeting
The chemistry between the two actors was instant. Stonestreet recalled meeting Ferguson during auditions: "It was like speed dating, meeting all these different guys and waiting for chemistry to happen." At one point, Stonestreet panicked during a network test and did a "gay Z snap," fearing he had messed up. Ferguson reassured him, saying: "Really good job, that was awesome."
Stonestreet, who is straight, addressed early criticism: "What really hurt my feelings in the beginning was people saying because I was straight I didn't want to kiss Jesse. First of all, that's stupid and secondly I'd been in a very gay cult classic movie called Girls Will Be Girls where I'd made out with a drag queen."
Impact on Fans and Legacy
Ferguson, who grew up gay and closeted, said he didn't have TV role models as a child. "To know that Eric and I are that for people makes this job feel like a gift," he said. Stonestreet recalled a fan telling him: "I watched three episodes during my chemo and you helped me get through those treatments."
The actors both kept mementos from the set, including a portrait of the family and a painting from the house. Ferguson stars in Tru at the Menier Chocolate Factory, London, from 19 September to 14 November.
