After premiering in 2009, Modern Family made it big with its relatability and comedic timing. The idea of a tight-knit family with different lifestyles hit close to home for many viewers. Sadly, after 11 amazing seasons, the ABC sitcom came to an end and we had to say goodbye to some of TV's best characters.
Throughout the years, the Dunphys, Tucker-Pritchetts, and Delgado-Pritchetts changed tremendously in both looks and growth. From jobs to babies to graduations, let's dive into how the main cast changed from season one to the final season.
Claire
Claire Dunphy went from being a busy stay-at-home mom trying to change her neighborhood for the better to a big fish in the closet industry. After raising three kids, Claire started working for her dad and moved all the way up to CEO.
But what didn't make sense about Claire was that after a few years of being CEO, she was ready for a change. She ended up leaving her own family business to pursue a new job with an organizational company, something that would make her happier than running a closet business. By the end of the series, Claire and Phil were empty-nesters with new opportunities on the horizon.
Phil
In the pilot, Phil Dunphy let viewers know that he was a "cool dad." He tried relating to his kids through the kinds of things they liked, which ultimately embarrassed his kids— but that's what made him so lovable. He was a man-child who would do anything for his family.
By the final season, Phil was still working in real estate and planning a cross-country excursion with Claire once the kids left the house. He was one character fans could always rely on to lift the mood, and thankfully that didn't change after 11 seasons.
Haley
Haley Dunphy is one character who progressed, but then slowly regressed. In the pilot, Haley was the stereotypical teenager who would rather party with her friends than spend Friday night at her grandpas. Eventually, she grew into a young woman who tried to get her life on track.
After dating Andy, Haley found a job and became more serious about the world. It was after their breakup that she fell back into old habits and back into the arms of Dylan. By the 11th season, Haley and Dylan were married with twins and a new home.
Luke
Luke is another Dunphy who found his passion later in the series but was one of the most likable characters on the show. As the youngest Dunphy, Luke followed in his dad's footsteps and loved to think outside of the box.
In the first season, he was a young boy getting in trouble for annoying his sisters but by the final season, he and his sisters had come full circle and bonded. Fans saw him graduate high school, get a job, and eventually get accepted into college to start his adult life independently.
Alex
In the pilot episode, it was clear Alex was different from her siblings. She was far more mature than Haley and Luke and loved going to school. For fans, it was cool to watch Alex chase her dreams of high education and actually succeed.
By the 11th season, the plain Jane of the Dunphy girls became a stunning young woman with a job opportunity in Switzerland with her favorite professor (and love interest), Arvin. Alex wasn't always the funniest person in the family, but she did loosen up by the final season and relate more to her family members.
Jay
Jay Pritchett had the kind of personality that many saw as dated, but that was his generation. As the eldest in the family and the patriarch, Jay went from a crotchety old man who judged everyone to an understanding and open-hearted man in the series' final season.
With Gloria as his wife, Jay learned to be a better husband and even had a third chance at fatherhood, which he was excited about. He totally adapted to the modern age and did it with his family's support.
Gloria
After meeting Gloria in the series premiere, fans quickly realized she had it all. She was gorgeous, she had a wealthy husband, she had a well-mannered son— there was nothing she couldn't have. By the final season, all of that remained true. Gloria's relationship with Jay has had its ups and downs over the years but they became closer as she aged.
The couple also had a baby together, which brought them together instead of tearing them apart. When Gloria was ready to be a career woman in the final season, Jay supported her and let her shine. Over 11 seasons, she was one of the funniest and charismatic characters that fans loved.
Manny
Manny was one of the most unique characters in Modern Family when the show first premiered. He wasn't your average kid on TV. He was wise beyond his years, intelligent, and far more mature than his age. He enjoyed espressos and button-down shirts instead of soda and t-shirts. Manny has also always been a romantic. He was chasing older women in the pilot and continued to write poems for women as he grew up.
By the final season, Manny was still a mama's boy who was learning to grow independently when he accepted the chance to travel the world with his biological dad Javier.
Cam
Cameron Tucker was an outsider to the Pritchett family who was only taken seriously when he and Mitchell adopted Lily. Even though he and Mitchell were longtime committed partners, Jay— and sometimes Claire— didn't fully accept him until down the road.
The beautiful thing about Cam is he stays true to himself throughout the series. And while he made plenty of mistakes, he's theatrical and dramatic but slowly found his passion for football and was able to support his family from it.
Mitch
When we first met Mitchell Pritchett, he was a lawyer who just adopted a baby with his partner, Cam. He was strong in his convictions but quickly got anxiety when things went awry. Nevertheless, fans have seen Mitch face his fears multiple times throughout the series and become a better man.
He found trust in Cameron, he changed jobs a few times, and he let go of his control issues from time to time. It was sweet to see Mitch change for the better while creating deeper relationships with his dad and sister.