12 Characters Who Left The Show Too Soon

12 Characters Who Left The Show Too Soon

Due to Modern Family revolving around three families, there wasn’t a strong focus on characters outside of the Dunphys, Tucker-Pritchetts, and Delgado-Pritchetts. But along the way, side characters from work, school, and daily life found their way into the main characters’ lives. However, there were some minor characters that fans loved and wished lasted longer.

It can get tiring seeing the same characters interact with each other for 11 seasons, which is why outside points of view and drama only made Modern Family a stronger sitcom.

Updated on May 5, 2022, by Lynn Gibbs: With characters like Phil Dunphy and Cameron Tucker, there wasn’t a need for outside characters to join the series and add comedic moments. The families within the Pritchett clan were so different from each other that there were enough personalities to never be bored by. However, little by little, the series sprinkled in guest stars and side characters that added memorable moments that are still talked about today. From Kevin Hart as the Dunphys’ neighbor to Gloria’s sister making rare appearances, these side characters should have stayed a little longer on the sitcom. 

SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY

Kenneth Ploufe

Josh Gad in Modern Family

Kenneth made small appearances in seasons 3 and 11. Played by Josh Gad, Kenneth was Phil’s childhood neighbor who always looked up to him. Now that they were older, Claire invited Kenneth over to their house to talk to Haley about the importance of college since he dropped out.

RELATED: The 15 Best Guest Stars On Modern Family

Things changed when Kenneth ended up successful without a college degree. Now a billionaire who made his riches from video games, the Dunphys were shocked by his success. Thanks to Gad’s great performance, Kenneth was upbeat, outgoing, and a fun energy to have on the show.

DeDe Pritchett

dede pritchett in modern family

DeDe Pritchett was Jay’s ex-wife and Claire and Mitchell’s mother. After their divorce, DeDe ran off and wasn’t present. Claire always said that her relationship with DeDe was toxic, while Mitchell’s was manipulative.

However, it’s their complicated relationship that was intriguing. Seeing Claire and Mitchell reconcile their issues with DeDe would have made great TV. Some fans felt the family was too harsh on DeDe. Sadly, she died on the show so Claire and Mitch never got the closure they needed.

Sal

Sal was Mitch and Cam’s best friend in their single days. She was straight, loved to party, and was as theatrical as Cam. However, as Cam and Mitch matured, Sal stayed the same. When the couple had Lily, Sal grew jealous.

Sal hated that her best friends were no longer free for partying and cared more about parenthood. She popped up throughout the series in funny ways (her wedding, the birth of her child, Valentine’s Day, etc…), but fans would have loved to see more of her. Making her their neighbor would have been the perfect amount of Sal.

Sonia Ramirez

Sonia Ramirez crying on Modern Family

Gloria’s sister Sonia was seen as a loving part of the Prichett clan before she turned into a low-key Modern family villain. Sonia was always taken aback when she stepped into Gloria’s fabulous life because of the amount of wealth the Pritchetts had. She wanted that same life for herself and tried seducing Jay behind Gloria’s back to take her place.

As always, Gloria’s tenacity won out, and Sonia headed back to Colombia. However, fans couldn’t get enough of the love/hate relationship between Sonia and Gloria and hoped for more sister-sister moments.

Andre

Andre talking to Phil in the driveway on Modern Family

Fans forget that Kevin Hart was in Modern Family. When Phil was in the process of building Luke a treehouse, he met his neighbor Andre. Andre offered to help, which surprised Phil because he never met him before.

Unfortunately, Andre was only in a few episodes in season 3 before disappearing completely. Viewers met other families who have also lived in Andre’s home afterward but they didn’t compare to the bond that Phil and Andre had. Phil’s ability to be friends with anyone was what fans loved most about Modern Family. 

Clive Bixby And Juliana

Phil and Claire as Clive Bixby & Julianna in Modern Family

Clive Bixby and Juliana weren’t real characters, but they were the alter egos of Phil and Claire Dunphy. Their roleplaying began on Valentine’s Day and continued during spontaneous date nights, spicing up their love life.

Phil and Claire were both incredibly dedicated to their roles and created backstories for their characters without floundering. The best moments between Clive and Juliana added a level of excitement to the show not matched by other storylines.

Pam

Pam and Cam talking during then house rennovation on Modern Family

Pam was first introduced in ‘Schooled’ when Cameron threatened her child for bullying Lily. The two did not get on the right foot and insulted each other’s lifestyles as a way of protecting their children. The principal suggested the Pritchett-Tuckers and Pam and her wife set up a playdate for their children as a fresh start.

RELATED: 10 Times Cameron Was Toxic On Modern Family

The playdate had its ups and downs but Cam and Pam slowly became friends. Pam popped up again in ‘The Wow Factor’ when Cam and Claire were renovating a home and needed her professional opinion. Her presence proved there was some kind of friendship brewing between the two, even though Cam had his toxic moments with her. Sadly, Pam never showed up again after this episode.

Reuben Rand

Reuben was one character fans wished had a happy ending. As Luke’s friend, Reuben popped up randomly throughout the series, particularly when Alex was around. Reuben always had a crush on Alex and tried becoming a potential love interest.

Alex didn’t want to be with Reuben but she did like the attention and was caught making out with him on numerous occasions. Finding out what happened to Reuben and his future would have been validating for his supporters.

Vincent

Vincent talking to Jay and Mitchell on Modern Family

Fans really got behind Jay’s relationship with best friend, Vincent. It was refreshing to see Jay have an endearing friendship with someone outside of the family; it showed his softer side. Vincent was Jay’s golfing buddy and the two often spent time together when they weren’t working.

But once Vincent and his wife moved to Costa Rica, his friendship with Jay literally went south. He made a brief appearance in season 9 when he came back but their friendship wasn’t the same. Fans would have loved more boys’ nights between Jay and Vincent.

Keifth Banks

Most of Cameron’s abandonment issues came from his former relationship with Keifth and it was obvious that Cam needed closure from that relationship before working on himself in his marriage.

Keifth finally made an appearance in ‘Ringmaster Keifth’ and was a bundle of secrecy and magic. As a former ringmaster for the circus, Keifth was a true showman. Having him a part of Cam and Mitchell’s daily lives would have been humorous to watch — especially because of his connection to Cam.

Andy Bailey

Adam Devine and Sarah Hyland as Andy Bailey and Haley Dunphy in Modern Family

Casting Adam Devine was a great move for the series. As the Delgado-Pritchetts’ former nanny, he later became Haley’s boyfriend. He acted like a younger version of Phil and was an amazing addition to the family. Sadly, fans had one question about his character: Why did Andy leave Modern Family?

Even though Andy was one of Haley’s more serious relationships and fans felt she should have been with Andy instead of Dylan, they broke up when he got a job in his home state of Utah. Andy came back in season 9 when Hailey was hospitalized but he disappeared from the series too soon when she healed.

Katie

Katie and Cam talking at the bar on Modern Family

When Cam and Mitchell were at a bar, Mitchell made a bet with Cam that he wasn’t capable of flirting with a straight woman and getting her phone number. Cam approached a woman named Katie who appeared giddy and willing to get to know Cam more, so she gave him her number. The two acted like long-lost best friends and got along like they knew each other for years.

Katie showed up at the Tucker-Pritchett house the next day to tie some loose ends with Cam and promised to call him. But unfortunately, Katie and Cam were never shown again. Their connection was electric and was missed by fans even though she was only in one episode. However, their bond made fans question Mitchell and Cam’s chemistry because Cam seemed to have more of a spark with Katie!

NEXT: 10 Things That Make No Sense About Mitchell & Cam’s Relationship On Modern Family

Better Call Saul: The Real Reason Gus Fring Has So Many Yellow Shirts

About The Author

Lynn Gibbs
(1671 Articles Published)

Lynn is a nomad who travels the globe on the hunt for her next adventure with her husband. A lover of being outside (and finding the best latte in town), Lynn is typically hiking, walking, or jogging when she’s not focusing on her love of writing. When it comes to shows streaming on Netflix or anything Bravo-related, Lynn’s your gal.

More From Lynn Gibbs

Author: Deann Hawkins