Ty Burrell Shares Thoughts on Leaving Hollywood for Salt Lake City

Ty Burrell, known for his role as Phil Dunphy on the acclaimed sitcom Modern Family, recently reflected on his life after the show. After it wrapped, Burrell and his wife Holly decided to leave Los Angeles behind in favor of a quieter life in Utah for their daughter.

At 57, Burrell has expressed no regrets about this significant change. “It was just spectacular,” he said when discussing their new lifestyle in Salt Lake City. “I moved here soon after [Modern Family] ended, and I really don’t have any regrets. It’s a wonderful place to raise kids.”

Though he admitted he misses being in front of the camera, Burrell finds fulfillment in his voice work, which allows him more time for family activities. Notably, he grew up in an environment that wasn’t particularly outdoorsy. “My parents weren’t really that kind of person,” he mentioned.

Burrell isn’t the only one from Modern Family to have moved on from Hollywood. Ariel Winter, who played his on-screen daughter, also left Los Angeles, seeking to escape the pressures of childhood fame and the negative body image comments that affected her self-esteem. “It was everywhere,” she recalled, reflecting on how harsh headlines about her grew up with her. “I was 14. It completely hurt my self-esteem.”

Winter’s past wasn’t just marked by media scrutiny; she has also alleged suffering abuse from her mother, a claim the latter has denied. At 14, she found herself in her sister Shanelle’s care after being taken away by protective services, which she describes as a challenge but eventually helped her navigate her teenage years more positively.

Eric Stonestreet, who portrayed Cameron Tucker, also shared his thoughts after leaving Los Angeles. After 11 years on the show, he returned to his roots in Kansas City, where he appreciates the real moments and connections outside of Hollywood’s atmosphere. “It highlights all the great things about our business, but it amplifies the downsides too,” he noted.

Discussing his experiences, Stonestreet said that while living in Hollywood has its perks, it can also feel disconnected from reality. He reminisced about the more tangible pleasures of Kansas City — “But then you’re being offered fruit to a big committee,” he chuckled, saying the differences between the two places are stark.

When the topic of a potential Modern Family spin-off came up, Stonestreet wasn’t optimistic. “I don’t think that’s possible anymore,” he said, recalling that there had once been promising scripts that ultimately didn’t make it to production.

This shift away from Hollywood and towards quieter lifestyles has become a theme for several stars from Modern Family, as they prioritize personal happiness and family over fame.