Overview

• On Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s Dinner’s On Me podcast, Rodriguez described how his fellow Modern Family actors formed a second family after his father’s 2017 passing.
• He initially hesitated to return for season 9 after his father Roy died two weeks after season 8 wrapped before deciding that returning would honor his father’s memory.
• His castmates surprised him with a birthday celebration at the first table read, prompting tears and securing his commitment to the series.
• Ed O’Neill halted production to coach Rodriguez through a difficult scene, solidifying his role as a mentor on set.
• Producers guided the young actor to play Manny as an “old soul” akin to Antonio Banderas in a child’s body, defining the character’s gentle maturity.