23 of the most memorable ‘Modern Family’ guest stars

Comedy legend Martin Short once appeared on Modern Family as a marketing quiz and friend of Phil Dunphy’s named Merv Schechter. Unfortunately, he did not return as Jiminy Glick. That would’ve been too iconic for an already iconic series to handle.

Elizabeth Banks is known for being one of the most fashionable characters in The Hunger Games series, but to Modern Family fans, she’s Cam and Mitchell’s hot mess express bestie, Sal.

A handful of years before Jordan Peele went from sketch comedy gold to horror director extraordinaire, he played Derrick. He started out as Jay’s enemy but, by the end of the episode, developed a friendship with the Modern Family patriarch.

Pam is one half of another LGBTQ+ couple whose child attends the same school as Lily, who Cam and Mitchell start on the wrong foot with because of their kids but winds up being a handy asset to Cam later in the series when it comes to yard renovations.

No Modern Family fan will ever forget James Marsden’s Barry, the man who made himself at home in Lily’s play castle.

The Brooklyn Nine-Nine star appeared on a handful of episodes as Gloria’s sister, Sonia. Fans who watched both shows still praise Stephanie Beatriz for playing characters that could not have been more opposite!

David Beckham didn’t have to really do much when he appeared on Modern Family because he just played himself.

There’s no doubt that Friends and Modern Family sit together in the sitcom Hall of Fame, so it was kind of a big deal when Courteney Cox guest starred as herself on the ABC series.

Adam DeVine went from a Workaholic to a manny on Modern Family when his character, Andy, was hired to help with Gloria and Jay’s new addition to the family.

Minnie Driver made Claire have a huge realization when she played an old friend named Valerie in the first season.

Oliver Platt is everyone’s favorite uncle on FX’s The Bear. Well, everyone but Cam as Platt was one of his foes, especially when it came to bowling.

Modern Family decided to poke fun at Gwyneth Paltrow’s whole wellness and lifestyle brand, goop, and got Oscar-winner Mira Sorvino to play the head of the wonderfully named company, NERP.

Before Hamilton made him a household name, Lin-Manuel Miranda was a grocery store worker named Guillermo trying everything to get Jay to invest in his idea. In the end, this is how Stella, one of the cutest dogs to ever appear on television, became part of the family.

If there is a hit sitcom, Judy Greer is going to be on it in some capacity. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Arrested Development, and, of course, Modern Family, where she plays one of Phil’s exes.

It was only a matter of time before someone from Married... with Children would grace Modern Family with their presence. However, Ed O'Neill’s former TV son, David Faustino, didn’t interact with him but instead with Claire and Phil.

There aren’t many characters throughout Modern Family’s run who dared cross Gloria, but she did meet her match with Jane Krakowski’s Dr. Donna Duncan.

Whenever Nathan Lane’s Pepper popped up on an episode of Modern Family, fans knew they were in for a treat. Outside of the main cast, Pepper is probably one of the most quoted and meme-worthy characters in the series.

Haley wanted nothing more than to be like the lavish Rhonda, a lavish member of a country club played by the always-alluring Vanessa Williams.

Those wondering how Modern Family scored the Frasier star? Both shows happened to have executive producer Christopher Lloyd (not that one) behind the scenes. No wonder both ran 11 seasons!

No one ever stole a scene on Modern Family quite like Shelley Long. She played Claire and Mitchell's often disgruntled mother. Jay’s ex was usually fired up about his marriage to Gloria and never afraid to act out about it, which made for some great physical comedy moments.

The former ‘80s and current 21st-century heartthrob played Claire’s ex, who then shows up dating her mom. Awkward…

Known for What We Do in Shadows and voicing Louise Belcher on Bob’s Burgers, Kristen Schaal is a comedic gem in whatever she does, including when she played Whitney, a woman Manny met in an online book club.

Who would have been better than Benjamin Bratt playing Gloria’s ex and Manny’s dad? Absolutely no one, that’s who.