Top 10 Best Modern Family Guest Stars
#10: Josh Gad
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Actor and comedian Josh Gad popped up in the season three episode “Punkin Chunkin” and played Kenneth, the Dunphy's former neighbor who became a billionaire after dropping out of college. The role may have been small, but it allowed us to see Phil and Kenneth pull off one of the greatest “man shakes” in TV history. Of course, Gad’s appearance on the show wasn’t all good, as it caused the Dunphy clan to split into two factions: the Dreamers and the Realists. Thankfully, it all got squared away after Cameron’s spirited punkin chunkin demonstration.
#9: Matthew Broderick
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Yes, even Ferris Bueller himself dropped by the set of “Modern Family” at one point. Broderick appeared in the season four episode “Mistery Date” and played…Phil’s love interest? Well, not quite. With Claire out of town with the kids, Phil decided to have a boys’ night and invited his new friend Dave over. However, unbeknownst to him, Dave is actually gay and thinks Phil invited him over in order to seduce him. A few awkward encounters later and both men end up feeling pretty foolish. All in all, a solid Broderick cameo.
#8: Jesse Eisenberg
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Eisenberg, best known for his Academy Award nominated performance in “The Social Network”, made his “Modern Family” guest appearance in season five, where he played Mitchell and Cameron’s super environmentally friendly neighbor. We aren’t kidding; Eisenberg’s character is so green he literally has no friends because of it. The career move was a bit of a strange one for the “Batman v Superman” actor, who up to that point had almost exclusively done feature films. Not that we’re complaining; watching Mitchell get flustered is almost as fun as watching Cameron put on his clown outfit.
#7: Shelley Long
Long feels less like a guest star and more like a regular despite the fact that she has only appeared in five episodes to date. As Claire and Mitchell’s mom and perhaps more importantly Jay’s ex-wife, Long’s DeDe has been the source of numerous comedic mishaps. From getting into a catfight with Gloria to dating one of Claire’s ex-boyfriends, DeDe always provides a good laugh. Long, who rose to prominence in the 80s playing Diane Chambers on “Cheers”, a role that ultimately earned her two Golden Globes, is easily one of our favorite “Modern Family” guest stars.
#6: Jordan Peele
Flying high off of the success of his critically acclaimed directorial debut “Get Out,” it’s highly likely that Jordan Peele’s days of making bit guest appearances like this one are numbered. The former “Mad TV” star made us bust a gut laughing in the season five episode “A Fair to Remember”, when he and Jay teamed up to police a school fair despite an earlier argument over a parking space. Not exactly the kind of role that will win you any awards, but we enjoyed seeing Peele step foot in the “Modern Family” universe nevertheless.
#5: Leslie Mann
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Mann, known for her frequent collaborations with her writer / director husband Judd Apatow, made a brief but hilarious appearance in the season three episode “Treehouse”. It all starts when Cam, Mitchell and a few friends go to a bar for drink. While there, Cam thinks the waitress is flirting with him but Mitchell insists she is just being nice. Appalled, Cam bets Mitchell he can get a woman’s phone number and approaches Leslie Mann’s character at the bar. Unsurprisingly, Cam’s natural charisma shines through and he scores her digits. Of course that’s not the end of the story, but we don’t want to give everything away! Let’s just say things get a little more…intimate.
#4: Edward Norton
Edward Norton may have only appeared in a single episode of “Modern Family,” but boy did he make it count! His cameo came in the season one episode “Great Expectations”, where he played the fictional bass player of the non-fictional band Spandau Ballet. Sporting a truly horrendous mullet / goatee combo, a vest and oh yeah, a terrible British accent, Norton serenades Phil and Claire on their anniversary, only to discover that the song he’s singing isn’t actually their song! A self-professed fan of the show, it was still a little weird seeing an actor of his caliber dressed like a total buffoon and singing the lyrics to a song that wasn’t all that special.
#3: Lin-Manuel Miranda
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Creator and star of the award-winning Broadway musical “Hamilton”, Lin-Manuel Miranda probably doesn’t have time to make small sitcom appearances like this one anymore. The Grammy and Tony winner appeared in the season two episode “Good Cop Bad Dog” and was actually responsible for introducing the much loved addition of Stella the dog to the show! Miranda played Guillermo, a grocery store employee with a business plan for a dog training company that Gloria tries to help…with mixed results. In hindsight, this cameo should have opened more eyes to Miranda’s obvious comedic skill.
#2: Nathan Lane
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Let’s be straight for a minute: has Nathan Lane ever had a cameo you didn’t enjoy? The uber-talented actor and writer has been a film, TV and theatre mainstay for years, constantly landing roles thanks to his incredible acting skills. As Cameron and Mitchell’s friend Pepper Saltzman, Lane has consistently made us laugh with his flamboyant behavior and high-class lifestyle that his friends only occasional complain about. He has appeared in many episodes of the show, each more funny than the last. In fact, his guest spots have earned him three Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy series! It’s only a matter of time until he wins one. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions - James Marsden - Minnie Driver - David Cross
#1: Elizabeth Banks
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Elizabeth Banks is one of the funniest actresses of her generation, with hilarious turns in “The 40-Year-Old Virgin”, “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” and even “The Hunger Games” franchise. Of course, her small screen stuff is just as good. Need proof? Check out the hilarious work she has put in as Sal on “Modern Family”. Sal is Cam and Mitchell’s hard partying friend who, when we first meet her, is worried that Lily will affect their relationship. Of course she learns to accept their newfound bundle of joy, and continues to pop back into their lives throughout the show. Now if they could go ahead and make Banks a regular, that would be great!
