Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s journey to fatherhood wasn’t always a given, but his experience working on Modern Family brought his dreams of having a family to the forefront. In a 2015 interview with PEOPLE, Ferguson spoke about how his time on the set of the hit ABC sitcom helped ignite his desire to be a dad. At that point, he and his husband, Justin Mikita, were considering expanding their family in the near future.
Ferguson shared that having young costars like Sarah Hyland, Ariel Winter, Rico Rodriguez, Nolan Gould, and Aubrey Anderson-Emmons—who played his on-screen daughter Lily—only deepened his longing to have children. Being around the kids as they grew up on set gave Ferguson a special connection to their experiences, which made him even more eager to start his own family.
Additionally, Ferguson’s involvement with Turnaround Arts, an organization supporting elementary and middle schools, further fueled his baby fever. He recalled working with children in the program and their sweetness, which continued to inspire his desire to have kids.
As fans know, Ferguson’s character, Mitchell Pritchett, and Eric Stonestreet’s character, Cameron Tucker, eventually adopted their daughter, Lily, on Modern Family. The dynamic between Ferguson and Stonestreet’s characters, along with the show’s portrayal of their family, provided a heartwarming model of fatherhood that resonated with many viewers.
Ferguson’s love for kids and his passion for family life have since been realized, as he and Mikita are now parents, creating the sweet family life they once dreamed of.