Sofía Vergara says 'Modern Family' cast is 'always connected' six years after finale
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Actress Sofia Vergara reflected on an enduring friendship with the 'Modern Family' cast, revealing that former co-stars are still missed nearly six years after the hit sitcom ended.
She spoke particularly fondly of actor Ed O'Neill, who played her on-screen husband, and shared how the cast continues to stay connected through a group chat. Vergara also discussed those lasting relationships while promoting the 'Detect the SOS' public health campaign.
Sofia Vergara opens up about missing Ed O'Neill and the Modern Family cast
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Vergara, admitted that while she misses the entire cast, she especially misses O'Neill, who played her on-screen husband, Jay Pritchett.
“I miss Ed O'Neill so much,” she said adding, “I mean, I miss everyone, but ... most of my scenes were always with Ed O'Neill. I spent the most of the 11 years with him."
She continued, "I miss him so much. He was such a great friend, such a great pillar for me, because I had never really ... That was like my first really acting job.”
She credited him for helping her navigate the show and supporting her throughout its run.
“So to have someone like Ed O'Neill guiding you and helping you through a show like Modern Family was a dream. I couldn't have done it without him and I miss him. It's been already six years that we stopped, but I miss everybody. I wish that we could all come to ... We see each other but not as much as we should,” she added.
Vergara recently paid tribute to him on his birthday, sharing a throwback photo of the pair on Instagram. Despite not seeing each other often, the cast remains connected through a group chat, revealing that O'Neill sometimes responds days later, leaving everyone confused.
“Yes, we do. We do and we use it a lot. It's very confusing. Ed answers like five days later about something, and then we have no clue what he's answering about. So it's pretty cool,” she said.
Looking back on a recent reunion, she described it as a special experience.
“It was very special,” she said, noting that it was “the first time we had all seen each other in almost four years, making it very exciting for all of us. It's amazing, because we're always connected."
Sofia Vergara discusses the 'Detect the SOS' campaign and health awareness
More recently, Vergara teamed up with actress Octavia Spencer and pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim, with support from advocacy groups including the American Diabetes Association (ADA), for the 'Detect the SOS' public health campaign.
Explaining her involvement, she said the campaign is particularly meaningful because of its relevance to the Latino community.
“And also because as a Latin woman, there are millions of Latin people, unfortunately, that they suffer from high blood pressure and diabetes."
"Which is one of the most important things, one of the most important causes that you can get chronic kidney disease, and problems like heart attack and stroke. And this mission lets me get to them and for something that is such an important thing, like take control of your health,” she added.
In her 'Mission: SOS' advertisement, which aired during the Super Bowl on February 8, Vergara encourages Americans living with high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes to prioritize screening to detect early signs of kidney damage and increased risks of heart attacks and strokes.
“We have a mission! We're gonna save the world now,” Vergara joked adding, “But no, it's beautiful because we're coming together in this empowering public health message that hopefully will reach millions of people in a fun, easy way for people to understand.”
