It’s pretty common in hit TV shows or sitcoms for the actor everyone expected to skyrocket to fame to surprisingly fade from the spotlight. Take Euphoria, for example, many thought Alexa Demie was destined for long-term stardom, yet it was Sydney Sweeney who ended up stealing the spotlight.
The same goes for Ty Burrell from Modern Family. While he’s a comedy genius who’s clearly proven his acting skills, he’s rarely ventured beyond comedic roles and has largely stayed out of the spotlight in recent years. So why hasn’t he explored more dramatic or diverse roles post the hit sitcom aired?
Fans miss seeing Ty Burrell on screen, especially the evil Ty Burrell!
Ty Burrell may be best known as the lovable goofball Phil Dunphy from Modern Family, but anyone paying attention could tell from the start, that this guy can act! Sure, comedy was his sweet spot, but Modern Family occasionally hinted that Burrell’s talent went far beyond just cracking jokes.
Zack Snyder‘s Dawn of the Dead remake, was enough proof of how much he can act as the bad guy (more on that in a bit).
Despite teasing his range, fans have been craving to see him tackle more serious roles. But instead of diving headfirst into Hollywood after Modern Family wrapped, Burrell chose a different path, one that led him home. After over a decade as Phil Dunphy, he decided to hit pause on acting to focus on his real-life family.
He hasn’t disappeared entirely, he voiced yet another dad in Fox’s animated series Duncanville, he also popped up in the 2010 films Fair Game and Morning Glory and even joined the Muppets in Muppets Most Wanted in 2014. But Burrell made it clear his priority was spending time with his loved ones.
Dawn of the Dead wasn’t the only time Ty Burrell proved he’s fantastic at playing a bad guy!
Fans are hopeful that if Ty Burrell decides to return to acting in a big way, he’ll channel the same energy that made him so memorable in Zack Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead. Many people might not be aware of this but before Modern Family, Burrell had a solid streak of playing jerks, and honestly, he was fantastic at it.
Much like Bryan Cranston, who went from sitcom dad in Malcolm in the Middle to the unforgettable Walter White in Breaking Bad, fans are hoping to see him make a much-needed comeback.
In a past interview (via Pioneer Press), he explained,
I played a lot of villains in film and my features lend themselves toward that, so I got turned down for a lot of leading man parts for me being menacing looking, If you knew me, I’m the biggest wimp that ever lived, I played an evil corporal in ‘Evolution,’ a true jerk in the remake of ‘Dawn of the Dead,’ a really mean boss in ‘In Good Company…
Whether it was his role as a selfish scumbag in Dawn of the Dead, a sleazy boss in In Good Company, or an arrogant anchorman in Morning Glory, Burrell had a gift for making bad guys oddly entertaining. His Dawn of the Dead performance especially stood out, he was such a memorable villain that you couldn’t help but love to hate him. Fans agree as well, here is what some of the Redditors are saying,
Considering how effortlessly he played those roles, it’s surprising he hasn’t been cast on more dark and devious characters since. Phil Dunphy was iconic, no doubt, but Burrell’s got a talent for being bad, and fans are ready to see him embrace it again.
Dawn of the Dead is streaming on Prime Video.
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