Sofia Vergara misses Ed O'Neill most from 'Modern Family' cast
Synopsis
Six years after Modern Family ended, Sofia Vergara says she misses Ed O'Neill — her on-screen husband for 11 seasons — more than anyone else from the cast. The real twist: the entire ensemble still has an active group chat, where O'Neill reportedly replies to messages five days late, leaving everyone guessing what he's responding to.
Key Takeaways
Sofia Vergara named Ed O'Neill as the Modern Family costar she misses most, citing their 11 years of working together closely.
Vergara called O'Neill a 'great pillar' who guided her through what she described as her 'first really acting job.' The full Modern Family cast maintains an active group chat, with O'Neill reportedly replying to messages up to five days late.
Vergara posted a birthday tribute for O'Neill, now 80 , on 12 April on Instagram.
The cast held a reunion in 2023 , bringing together O'Neill , Julie Bowen , Sarah Hyland , Eric Stonestreet , Jesse Tyler Ferguson , and others alongside showrunners Chris Lloyd and Steve Levitan .
Sofia Vergara has opened up about the deep bond she formed with her Modern Family costars during the show's 11-year run, singling out co-star Ed O'Neill as the colleague she misses most — and revealing that the cast still stays connected through an active group chat.
Missing Ed O'Neill
In a candid conversation with People magazine, Vergara described O'Neill as far more than a scene partner. 'I miss Ed O'Neill so much. I mean, I miss everyone, but... most of my scenes were always with Ed O'Neill. I spent the most of the 11 years with him. I miss him so much. He was such a great friend, such a great pillar for me, because I had never really... That was like my first really acting job,' she said.
O'Neill, now 80, played Vergara's on-screen husband Jay Pritchett throughout the series. Vergara acknowledged just how formative that professional relationship was. 'So to have someone like Ed O'Neill guiding you and helping you through a show like Modern Family was a dream. I couldn't have done it without him and I miss him,' she added.
Six Years On, the Bond Holds
Modern Family wrapped its final season in 2020, and Vergara noted that roughly six years have passed since the cast last worked together on the show. Despite the time apart, she says the connections remain genuine. 'It's been already 6 years that we stopped, but I miss everybody. I wish that we could all come to... We see each other but not as much as we should,' she told the magazine.
Notably, Vergara had earlier posted a birthday tribute for O'Neill on 12 April, captioning a throwback photo on Instagram: 'Feliz cumpleanos to my favorite husband. I miss u Ed O'Neil.'
The Group Chat That Never Died
Perhaps the most endearing detail Vergara shared was about the cast's ongoing group chat — still active and, by her account, frequently used. 'Yes, we do. We do and we use it a lot. It's very confusing. Ed answers like five days later about something, and then we have no clue what he's answering about. So it's pretty cool,' she said with evident affection.
The anecdote paints a picture of a cast that, despite busy individual careers, has not let the show's end sever their personal ties.
The 2023 Reunion
Vergara's nostalgia is grounded in real-world gatherings as well. In 2023, she reunited with the core cast — including O'Neill, Julie Bowen, Sarah Hyland, Eric Stonestreet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ariel Winter, Rico Rodriguez, Nolan Gould, and Aubrey Anderson-Emmons — alongside showrunners Chris Lloyd and Steve Levitan. The gathering underscored that the ensemble's chemistry extends well beyond the scripted world of the Pritchett-Dunphy family.
With no revival currently announced, fans of the long-running sitcom can at least take comfort in knowing the cast's affection for one another is very much alive — even if O'Neill's group chat replies arrive a week late.
Point of View
And Vergara is its most visible engine. What's worth noting is the specificity of her affection for O'Neill — she frames him not just as a costar but as a professional mentor who shaped her as an actress. That's a more substantive tribute than the usual reunion-circuit pleasantries. The group chat detail, meanwhile, is the kind of humanising aside that travels on social media precisely because it is mundane and real. Whether this signals a formal revival conversation in the background remains to be seen, but the cast's sustained closeness keeps that door open in the public imagination.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Modern Family costar does Sofia Vergara miss the most?
Sofia Vergara has said she misses Ed O'Neill the most, noting that the majority of her scenes over the show's 11-year run were with him. She described him as a 'great friend' and a guiding presence during what she called her first real acting job.
Do the Modern Family cast members still keep in touch?
Yes. According to Vergara, the cast maintains an active group chat that they 'use a lot.' She noted that Ed O'Neill tends to reply to messages about five days late, often leaving the rest of the cast unsure what he is responding to.
When did Modern Family end, and has the cast reunited since?
Modern Family concluded in 2020 after 11 seasons. The cast reunited in 2023, with Vergara, O'Neill, Julie Bowen, Sarah Hyland, Eric Stonestreet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ariel Winter, Rico Rodriguez, Nolan Gould, and Aubrey Anderson-Emmons all taking part, along with showrunners Chris Lloyd and Steve Levitan.
What did Sofia Vergara post about Ed O'Neill on his birthday?
Vergara shared a throwback photo with O'Neill on Instagram on 12 April, captioning it: 'Feliz cumpleanos to my favorite husband. I miss u Ed O'Neil.' O'Neill is currently 80 years old.
Is a Modern Family revival being planned?
No revival has been officially announced. However, Vergara's public comments about missing the cast and the ensemble's continued contact through their group chat have kept fan speculation about a potential reunion project alive.
