Eric Stonestreet’s Affection For Jesse Tyler Ferguson Goes Way Beyond Modern Family – Looper

In a red carpet interview with E! from 2012, Eric Stonestreet discussed all things “Modern Family” — including his off screen dynamic with his main scene partner, Jesse Tyler Ferguson (via DailyMotion). The interview occurred right after Stonestreet won the Emmy for his performance as Cameron (Stonestreet was nominated for three Emmys in 2010, 2011 and 2012, winning the first and the third). Stonestreet noted that he expected either Ed O’Neill, who portrays Mitchell’s father Jay, or Ferguson to win the award that year; this segued into him discussing his relationship with Ferguson, who he thanked during his speech.

Stonestreet told E!, “I’m getting choked up thinking about it because I love him. We wouldn’t be successful as a comedy duo, and that’s exactly what we are, if we didn’t have genuine affection for each other.” The actor continued by noting that he knows that he and Ferguson admire and respect one another.

Stonestreet then went on to express his desire for Ferguson to get his own award recognition. He continued, “It doesn’t feel right that I’ve won two and he hasn’t won one … it’ll never feel right until we’re on equal terms because that’s exactly what we are. We are equals.” Ferguson received five Emmy nominations during the course of “Modern Family,” but didn’t end up winning one.