Modern Family’s Eric Stonestreet says costar’s relationship inspired him to find love

Eric Stonestreet says he was inspired to seek a committed relationship after observing the marriage of one of his Modern Family costars, a moment he now credits with shaping his own romantic journey.

The Emmy-winning actor, best known for playing Cameron Tucker on the hit sitcom, discussed the experience on fellow Modern Family actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s Dinner’s On Me podcast. Reflecting on his early years as the show’s star, Stonestreet said he had a “really vivid moment” at a CAA Emmy party that changed his perspective on love.

“I’m bebopping around the room, talking to people and meeting people and doing what you do,” Stonestreet recalled. “And I have this very distinct memory of looking over and being like, ‘I want to be those people.’” He was referring to co-star Ty Burrell, who played Phil Dunphy on Modern Family, and Burrell’s longtime wife, Holly.

Stonestreet told Ferguson that what struck him most was their grounded, supportive partnership. “I know you relate to this, which is I just didn’t want somebody that wanted to be at the party more than me,” he said, underscoring his desire for a relationship based on stability rather than celebrity lifestyle. “That’s what I want to do.”

The conversation clearly resonated with Ferguson, who noted his own gratitude for finding a grounded relationship early in his Modern Family journey with husband Justin Mikita.

Stonestreet later shared with Burrell that his marriage helped inspire his path toward love. “I told him that when I called to tell him that we’re getting married,” he said. “I said, you don’t know it, but you and Holly… are very prominent in me getting on the direction of what I wanted to do.”

Stonestreet met pediatric nurse Lindsay Schweitzer at a charity event in Kansas City in 2016, and the couple were engaged in 2020. They wed in a private ceremony in 2025.

The actor’s revelation offers a rare glimpse into how personal relationships and friendships off-screen helped shape his real-life priorities. In a career filled with unforgettable comedic moments, it was a quiet example of married life that ultimately guided Stonestreet toward the family life he wanted for himself — proving that inspiration can come from seeing love lived authentically.