Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Jesse Tyler Ferguson (born October 22, 1975)[1] is an American actor. He is best known for portraying Mitchell Pritchett on the sitcom Modern Family (2009–2020), which earned him five consecutive Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series and four Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Ferguson in May 2014
Born (1975-10-22) October 22, 1975
Missoula, Montana, U.S.
Other namesJesse Ferguson
EducationAmerican Musical and Dramatic Academy
OccupationActor
Years active1998–present
Home townAlbuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Spouse(s)
Justin Mikita
(
m. 2013)
Children1
Websitehttp://www.jessetylerferguson.com/

Ferguson made his Broadway debut in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, for which he and his ensemble cast won a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Cast Ensemble. He has appeared in theatre adaptations of A Winter's Tale, The Producers, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Spamalot and The Merchant of Venice. For his performance in the 2016 Broadway production of Fully Committed, Ferguson was awarded a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Solo Performance.

Early years

Jesse Tyler Ferguson was born in Missoula, Montana,[1] to Anne Ferguson (née Doyle) and Robert "Bob" Ferguson.[2] His parents divorced when he was 18 years old. Ferguson has a brother, Ben Ferguson, and sister, Kelly Ferguson.

Ferguson was named after his paternal grandmother, Jessie Uppercue Ferguson,[3] to whom he was very close growing up.[4] His paternal great-grandfather was also named Jesse.[5]

His family moved when he was young to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he was raised.[6] At age eight he decided to become an actor, and joined the Albuquerque Children's Theater, where he was a member for six years.[7]

At Albuquerque's St. Pius X High School, Ferguson played Albert Peterson in Bye Bye Birdie and General Bullmoose in Li'l Abner. He participated on the speech and debate team and graduated in 1994.[8] He worked as a dancer/singer at Cliff's Amusement Park.[7]

After high school Ferguson attended The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York City.

Career

Theater
Jesse Tyler Ferguson with Modern Family co-star Eric Stonestreet at the 2010 HRC National Dinner

In New York City, Ferguson worked mainly in Off-Broadway and Broadway theatre, including the Tony Award-winning The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, where he originated the role of Leaf Coneybear.[9] Ferguson starred in the Public Theater's 2007 Shakespeare in the Park production of A Midsummer Night's Dream and 2015 production of The Tempest. In the summer of 2015, he played Sir Robin in the Hollywood Bowl production of Monty Python's Spamalot.

In March 2012, Ferguson was featured as Dr. Ilan Meyer in a performance of Dustin Lance Black's play 8, a staged reenactment of Perry v. Brown, the federal trial that overturned California's Proposition 8 ban on same-sex marriage.[10] The production was held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre and broadcast on YouTube to raise money for the American Foundation for Equal Rights, a non-profit organization funding the plaintiffs' legal team and sponsoring the play.[11][12]

Television and film

On television, Ferguson was among the large ensemble cast on the short-lived CBS sitcom The Class, playing Richie Velch. Ferguson co-starred in the 2008 thriller Untraceable.

From 2009 to 2020, he has played the role of Mitchell Pritchett, the openly gay lawyer on the ABC sitcom Modern Family. For his performance, Ferguson has received five consecutive Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. He has also appeared as a judge on So You Think You Can Dance, and opposed actress Chrissy Metz in a 2017 episode of TBS's Drop the Mic.

Other works

In 2018, Ferguson was one of the actors who voiced the audiobook A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo.[13]

In 2019, Ferguson appeared in Taylor Swift's music video for "You Need to Calm Down".[14]

Philanthropy

Tie The Knot
Ferguson at a PFLAG event on October 1, 2010

In September 2012, Ferguson and his lawyer husband, Justin Mikita, started the non-profit charity 'Tie The Knot',[15] an effort to raise funds in support of same-sex marriage, using bow ties sold to retail.[16] They officially launched it as their engagement announcement in an online video where they explain only seven states at the time had marriage equality.[16][17][18] In an interview Ferguson stated that he wanted to do something that was smaller and manageable in case it did not work out as a business model.[19]

The foundation sells limited-edition bow ties with "proceeds going to organizations nationwide that are working toward marriage equality".[20] Their collections are designed by the couple plus guest designers, and is sold by The Tie Bar, a Naperville, Illinois-based online men's neckwear company.[20]

In January 2013, the couple were recruited by Lieutenant Governor of Illinois Sheila Simon to lobby legislators to pass SB10 which would allow same-sex marriage.[20] The bill passed both legislative houses,[21][22] and Governor Pat Quinn signed the bill into law,[23] going into effect on June 1, 2014.[24]

In October 2013, the American Civil Liberties Union named Ferguson the celebrity ambassador for the LGBT community.[25] He participated heavily in the ACLU's "Out for Freedom" campaign[26][27] They noted that Ferguson travelled to New Mexico, his home state, to take part in same sex marriage efforts. New Mexico does not explicitly permit or prohibit same-sex marriage; it is the only state lacking a statute or constitutional provision explicitly addressing same-sex marriage.[28] The couple's non-profit made a grant of US$10,000 to the ACLU of New Mexico for same sex efforts.[26]

In November 2013, a pop-up retail store for 'Tie The Knot' was located at the Los Angeles Beverly Center featuring the fourth collection from the couple,[29] including professional athlete designs with Scott Fujita and Chris Kluwe, and Brittney Griner.[30]

Personal life

Ferguson uses his full name as there was already an actor called Jesse Ferguson in the actor's union when he joined.[5]

Ferguson is gay and, in September 2012, he announced his engagement to lawyer Justin Mikita, his boyfriend of nearly two years.[31] They married in Manhattan on July 20, 2013,[32] with the playwright and screenwriter Tony Kushner officiating at their wedding.[5] Their son, Beckett Mercer Ferguson-Mikita, was born on July 7, 2020.[33]

On the process of coming out, Ferguson said he had to tell his father three times (when he was 17, 19 and 21): "It's a coming out process for them as well," and it takes time.[34]

Ferguson has a dog named Leaf.[5] Ferguson is a known supporter of Democratic political candidates and is shown in the 2016 Democratic National Convention promotional trailer "Our Fight Song."[35]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2001Ordinary SinnerOgden
2004Mercury in RetrogradeDuaneShort film
2006Griffin and PhoenixStudent
2008UntraceableArthur James Elmer
2009Wonderful WorldCyril
2012The ProcessionJasonShort film
8Dr. Ilan Meyer
RedShort
2016Ice Age: Collision CourseShangri Llama (voice)First animated role and film

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2000Sally Hemings: An American ScandalYoung Tom HemingsTV film
2002Absolutely FabulousUncreditedEpisode: "Gay"
2006–2007The ClassRichie Velch19 episodes
2007, 2010Ugly BettyDr. Gabe FarkusEpisode: "Icing on the Cake" (2007)
Episode: "The Passion of the Betty" (2010)
2008Do Not DisturbLarry5 episodes
2009The Battery's DownShamus McKelvyEpisode: "The Party's Over"
2009–2020Modern FamilyMitchell PritchettMain character
2011–2013So You Think You Can DanceHimself7 episodes
Guest judge
2012Submissions OnlyJared HalsteadEpisode: "Another Interruption"
RuPaul's Drag RaceHimselfEpisode: "Dads I'd Like to Frock"
20132013 Do Something AwardsHonoreeTV film
2013–14Web TherapySteve Olson5 episodes
2013Hot in ClevelandWesEpisode: "Love Is All Around"
Project RunwayHimselfEpisode: "Tie the Knot"
Guest judge
2014Backstage with Disney on Broadway: Celebrating 20 YearsHost
2015Comedy Bang! Bang!Episode: "Jesse Tyler Ferguson Wears a Brown Checked Shirt and Stripey Socks"
Running Wild with Bear GryllsEpisode: "Jesse Tyler Ferguson"
2017NightcapEpisode: "Always a Beard, Never a Bride"
Drop the MicEpisode: "David Arquette vs. Brian Tyree Henry / Jesse Tyler Ferguson vs. Chrissy Metz"
2020Extreme Makeover: Home EditionHost[36]

Theatre
Year Title Role Notes
1998–1999On the TownChipBroadway revival
November 19, 1998 – January 17, 1999
The Most Fabulous Story Ever ToldOff-Broadway
Little FishMarcoOff-Broadway
Where Do We Live
Newyorkers
HairMargaret Mead
SantaLand Diaries
A Midsummer Night's DreamFrancis FlutePublic Theater
(Shakespeare in the Park)
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
2005–2008The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling BeeLeaf ConeybearBroadway
May 2, 2005 – June 23, 2006
2005On the Twentieth CenturyMax JacobsSpecial concert
September 26
2010The Winter's TaleShepard's SonPublic Theater
(Shakespeare in the Park)
The Merchant of VeniceLauncelot GobboPublic Theater
(Shakespeare in the Park)
2012The ProducersLeo BloomHollywood Bowl
July 27–29, 2012
2013A Comedy of ErrorsDromio of Syracus / Dromio of EphesusPublic Theater
(Shakespeare in the Park)
2015SpamalotSir RobinHollywood Bowl
July 31 – August 2, 2015
2016Fully CommittedSam and othersBroadway
April 25 – July 24, 2016

Music videos
Year Title Artist Role Notes
2012 "Glamazon" RuPaul Guest Star
2019 "You Need to Calm Down" Taylor Swift Cameo

Awards and nominations
YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult
2005 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Ensemble Performance The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Won
2009 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Modern Family Nominated
2010 Won
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
2011 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Won
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
2012 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Won
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
People's Choice Awards Favorite TV Comedy Actor Nominated
2013 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Won
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
People's Choice Awards Favorite TV Comedy Actor Nominated
2014 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
2015 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Nominated
2016 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Solo Performance Fully Committed Won
People's Choice Awards Favorite Comedic TV Actor Modern Family Nominated
2019 MTV Video Music Awards Video of the Year "You Need to Calm Down" Won
Video for Good Won
gollark: WebRTC is overcomplicated and no, so an alternative API would... allow you to listen and send on high-numbered TCP/UDP ports, or something? Not sure of the exact implications of that.
gollark: The user agent is stupid and would instead be feature flags.
gollark: As of now I believe you can check a bunch of things like that without getting permission to access them.
gollark: To reduce fingerprinting, it would not be possible to even *enumerate* cameras and whatever (they have unique IDs) without the user explicitly granting permissions for the appropriate devices.
gollark: I think this is because there's just one implementation of SQLite or something, but it's a public domain and very good implementation.

References
  1. "Jesse Tyler Ferguson". TV Guide Online. Archived from the original on April 3, 2016.
  2. "Robert B Ferguson". United States Public Records, 1970–2009. FamilySearch. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  3. "Jesse Tyler Ferguson follows the trouble-filled story of his great-grandfather's life—and draws conclusions about his ultimate legacy". Ancestry.com. August 1, 2014. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
  4. Strohm, Emily (July 30, 2014). "Jesse Tyler Ferguson Discovers a Dark Crime While Tracing His Family Tree". People. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  5. "Jesse Tyler Ferguson 25 Things You Don't Know About Me". Us Magazine. July 26, 2014. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  6. "Modern Family Biography: Mitchell Played by Jesse Tyler Ferguson". ABC. Archived from the original on June 23, 2011. Retrieved August 6, 2011.
  7. Allen, Steven Robert (September 19–25, 2013). "Wedding Bells for Jesse Tyler Ferguson". Alibi. V.22 No.38. Retrieved August 4, 2014.CS1 maint: location (link)
  8. Artavia, David (May 21, 2013). "Jesse Tyler Ferguson Slams His Former Catholic School for Forcing Trans Teen to Wear Women's Graduation Garb". Advocate. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  9. Stated on Inside the Actors Studio, 2011
  10. "'Glee' Stars 'Touched' By Pitt & Clooney's Support of '8'". Access Hollywood. March 5, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  11. "'8': A Play about the Fight for Marriage Equality". Retrieved March 18, 2012 – via YouTube.
  12. "YouTube to broadcast Proposition 8 play live". Pink News. March 1, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
  13. Perkins, Dennis (March 19, 2018). "John Oliver hijacks homophobe Mike Pence's bunny book with a better one in A Day In The Life Of Marlon Bundo". AV Club. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  14. TaylorSwiftVEVO (June 17, 2019), Taylor Swift - You Need To Calm Down, retrieved June 17, 2019
  15. "Home". Tie The Knot.
  16. "Modern Family's Jesse Tyler Ferguson Buys Gwen Stefani's Home for $4.55 Million". Realty Today. November 6, 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  17. Riggs, Erika (November 5, 2013). "Jesse Tyler Ferguson Buys Gwen Stefani's Former Home". Zillow. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  18. "'Modern Family' Star Jesse Tyler Ferguson Marries!". Entertainment Tonight. April 29, 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  19. Interview with Ferguson by David Letterman, Late Night with David Letterman, CBS, November 20, 2013.
  20. "Gay marriage bill voted through Illinois House". 89 WLS AM. November 5, 2013. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  21. Garcia, Monique; Long, Ray (November 5, 2013). "Lawmakers approve gay marriage in Illinois". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  22. "Gay marriage bill passes in Illinois house, senate – on to governors desk". Chicago Sun-Times. November 5, 2013. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  23. Garcia, Monique (November 20, 2013). "Quinn signs Illinois gay marriage bill". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  24. Geiger, Kim (November 5, 2013). "Q&A on same-sex marriage". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved November 21, 2013.
  25. "ACLU Ambassadors – Jesse Tyler Ferguson". aclu.olrg (American Civil Liberties Union). Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  26. "ACLU Names Celebrity Ambassadors for Key Civil Liberties Issues". American Civil Liberties Union. October 29, 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  27. Ehrman-Dupre, Joseph (October 29, 2013). "Jesse Tyler Ferguson Named Celebrity Ambassador For Marriage Equality By ACLU: VIDEO". Towleroad. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  28. Grovum, Jake (February 12, 2013). "How New Mexico Legalized Gay Marriage – For 8 Hours". Statelines. Pew Charitable Trust. Archived from the original on April 12, 2014. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  29. Matthew Breen. "Modern Family's Jesse Tyler Ferguson releases bow tie collection". Pursuitist. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  30. Tschorn, Adam (November 18, 2013). "Tie the Knot pops up at the Beverly Center through Jan. 10". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  31. Chi, Paul (September 19, 2012). "Jesse Tyler Ferguson Is Engaged to Justin Mikita". People. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  32. Rizzo, Monica (July 21, 2013). "Jesse Tyler Ferguson Marries Justin Mikita". People. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  33. "Jesse Tyler Ferguson Is a Dad! Actor Welcomes First Child, Beckett Mercer, with Justin Mikita". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  34. Winfrey, Oprah (October 27, 2013). "Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Dan Bucatinsky and Wanda Sykes Reflect on Coming Out" (video interview). Oprah's Next Chapter. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
  35. "Democratic National Convention - Our Fight Song". YouTube. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  36. Roberts, Madison (June 19, 2019). "Modern Family's Jessie Tyler Ferguson Will Host Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Reboot on HGTV". People. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
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