# Eric Stonestreet
**Eric Stonestreet** (born 1971) is an American actor and comedian best known for playing Cameron Tucker on the ABC sitcom *Modern Family* (2009–2020), a role that won him two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, in 2010 and 2012.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/eric-stonestreet) Born in [Kansas City, Kansas](https://www.edgepedia.org/kansas-city-kansas), he came to acting late, through a college dare, after working as a birthday-party clown and studying sociology.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/eric-stonestreet) • [2](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-dec-24-la-et-stonestreet24-2009dec24-story.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1971, Kansas City, Kansas[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/9281/eric-stonestreet) • [1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/eric-stonestreet) |
| Signature role | Cameron Tucker on *Modern Family*, 2009–2020, 11 seasons on ABC[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/eric-stonestreet) • [4](https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article292738974.html) |
| Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, 2010 and 2012; nominated in 2011[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/eric-stonestreet) |
| Other nominations | Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations for the same role, plus a TCA Award nomination[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/eric-stonestreet) |
| Education | Sociology degree, Kansas State University, 1996[5](https://www.inkansascity.com/innovators-influencers/people/in-conversation-with-eric-stonestreet/) |
| Notable films | *Almost Famous*, *Bad Teacher*, *Identity Thief*, *The Loft*; voice of Duke in *The Secret Life of Pets* films[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/eric-stonestreet) • [6](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/tsc_s2_eric_stonestreet_bio_a17027e3.pdf) |
| Charity work | Co-host of Big Slick, an annual celebrity fundraiser for Children's Mercy hospital in Kansas City[5](https://www.inkansascity.com/innovators-influencers/people/in-conversation-with-eric-stonestreet/) |
## Early life and the clown years
Stonestreet grew up in Kansas City, Kansas, and attended Piper High School.[5](https://www.inkansascity.com/innovators-influencers/people/in-conversation-with-eric-stonestreet/) As a child he was fascinated by circus clowning and worked as a clown at birthday parties, earning a write-up in the Kansas City paper while he was still in grade school.[2](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-dec-24-la-et-stonestreet24-2009dec24-story.html) His first career ambition was not entertainment: he pictured himself as a prison administrator.[2](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-dec-24-la-et-stonestreet24-2009dec24-story.html)
At [Kansas State University](https://www.edgepedia.org/kansas-state-university) he majored in sociology. A friend dared him to audition for the play *Prelude to a Kiss*; he won the role, people told him he was good, and he has been acting since.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/eric-stonestreet) • [2](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-dec-24-la-et-stonestreet24-2009dec24-story.html) He graduated in 1996.[5](https://www.inkansascity.com/innovators-influencers/people/in-conversation-with-eric-stonestreet/) He applied to the [Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College](https://www.edgepedia.org/ringling-bros-and-barnum-and-bailey-clown-college) and was not accepted, a rejection he later described as possibly for the best.[2](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-dec-24-la-et-stonestreet24-2009dec24-story.html) The clowning background resurfaced decades later: his *Modern Family* character Cameron is a classically trained clown named Fizbo, which Stonestreet described as coming full circle.[2](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-dec-24-la-et-stonestreet24-2009dec24-story.html)
## Chicago and early television work
After college, Stonestreet moved to Chicago, where he spent about two years doing television commercials and studying and performing with Improv Olympic (IO) Chicago and [The Second City](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-second-city) before moving to Los Angeles.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/eric-stonestreet) • [2](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-dec-24-la-et-stonestreet24-2009dec24-story.html)
His early screen career was built on guest parts. He appeared on shows including *Dharma & Greg*, *Malcolm in the Middle*, *Party of Five*, *Spin City*, *ER*, *The West Wing*, *Providence*, *Crossing Jordan*, and *Bones*.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/eric-stonestreet) His most notable early recurring role was Ronnie Litre, a documents technician on the original *CSI*, appearing in seasons 1 through 5.[2](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-dec-24-la-et-stonestreet24-2009dec24-story.html) He also guest-starred on *The Mentalist*, *NCIS*, *Pushing Daisies*, and *Monk*, and played Wesley Clovis, an obese prisoner who undergoes liposuction before his execution, in a 2009 episode of *Nip/Tuck*.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/eric-stonestreet) • [7](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/eric-stonestreet/) On film, he broke in as the hotel desk clerk Sheldon in [Cameron Crowe](https://www.edgepedia.org/cameron-crowe)'s *Almost Famous* (2000), and appeared in *Bad Teacher* (2011).[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/eric-stonestreet) • [8](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0832314/bio/)
## Modern Family
Stonestreet was cast as Cameron Tucker, the boisterous, clown-trained half of a married couple with Mitchell Pritchett ([Jesse Tyler Ferguson](https://www.edgepedia.org/jesse-tyler-ferguson)), when *Modern Family* premiered on ABC in 2009.[2](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-dec-24-la-et-stonestreet24-2009dec24-story.html) • [9](https://abc.com/shows/modern-family/cast) The role made him one of the breakout stars of that television season and defined his career for eleven seasons, until the series ended in 2020.[2](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-dec-24-la-et-stonestreet24-2009dec24-story.html) • [4](https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article292738974.html)
The awards followed quickly. He won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2010, his first nomination in the category, and won again in 2012; he was nominated in 2011.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/eric-stonestreet) He also received Golden Globe nominations and [Screen Actors Guild](https://www.edgepedia.org/screen-actors-guild) nominations for the portrayal, including a 2015 SAG nomination for male actor in a comedy series.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/eric-stonestreet) • [6](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/tsc_s2_eric_stonestreet_bio_a17027e3.pdf) The two award bodies list the Golden Globe years differently: the Television Academy bio gives 2010, 2012, and 2013, while his Disney biography gives 2011, 2012, and 2013.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/eric-stonestreet) • [6](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/tsc_s2_eric_stonestreet_bio_a17027e3.pdf)
## Film and later television
Stonestreet played Big Chuck in the comedy *Identity Thief* ([Universal Pictures](https://www.edgepedia.org/universal-pictures)), directed by [Seth Gordon](https://www.edgepedia.org/seth-gordon) and starring [Melissa McCarthy](https://www.edgepedia.org/melissa-mccarthy) and Jason Bateman; the film opened number one at the box office on February 8, 2013, with $34.5 million.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/eric-stonestreet) In the thriller *The Loft*, directed by Erik Van Looy, he played Marty Landry, one of five friends who share a loft for extramarital affairs, a departure from his sitcom persona.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/eric-stonestreet) • [10](https://www.bizcommunity.com/PDF/PDF.aspx?c=482&ci=137157&ct=1&l=196) He voiced Duke, the dog, in *The Secret Life of Pets* films.[5](https://www.inkansascity.com/innovators-influencers/people/in-conversation-with-eric-stonestreet/)
On television after *Modern Family*, he hosted Fox's reality competition series *Domino Masters* and played Magnus Antas, the Mad Santa, in season 2 of the Disney+ series *The Santa Clauses*.[5](https://www.inkansascity.com/innovators-influencers/people/in-conversation-with-eric-stonestreet/) • [7](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/eric-stonestreet/) In 2025 he joined the cast of *Dexter: Resurrection* on [Paramount+](https://www.edgepedia.org/paramount) with Showtime as a serial killer named Al, appearing in four episodes.[11](https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article310401480.html) • [3](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/9281/eric-stonestreet)
## Kansas City ties and charity work
Stonestreet has remained closely identified with Kansas City. He is part of what local media call the "KC mafia" of actors, alongside [Rob Riggle](https://www.edgepedia.org/rob-riggle), Paul Rudd, David Koechner, Jason Sudeikis, and [Heidi Gardner](https://www.edgepedia.org/heidi-gardner), who host Big Slick, an annual celebrity weekend fundraiser for Children's Mercy hospital.[5](https://www.inkansascity.com/innovators-influencers/people/in-conversation-with-eric-stonestreet/) He is the only Big Slick co-host who lives in the Kansas City area, and he is a visible fan of the [Kansas City Chiefs](https://www.edgepedia.org/kansas-city-chiefs) and Kansas State Wildcats.[12](https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article289147514.html) In 2010 he was named an ambassador for Stand Up to Cancer, a charity organization raising awareness that everyone is connected by cancer.[1](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/eric-stonestreet)
## Personal life
Stonestreet met pediatric nurse Lindsay Schweitzer at a hospital in 2017; the couple married in September 2025.[13](https://www.thedailybeast.com/modern-family-star-eric-stonestreet-appears-unrecognizable-after-weight-loss) Shortly after landing *Modern Family* in 2009 he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and in 2025 he spoke publicly about living with the disease and about using Mounjaro, saying he wanted to reduce the secrecy that often surrounds a diabetes diagnosis.[13](https://www.thedailybeast.com/modern-family-star-eric-stonestreet-appears-unrecognizable-after-weight-loss) • [14](https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/eric-stonestreet-life-diabetes-no-170418324.html)
## References
1. [Eric Stonestreet, Emmy Awards and Nominations, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/eric-stonestreet)
2. [He can clown around, St. Louis Post-Dispatch via Los Angeles Times (December 24, 2009)](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-dec-24-la-et-stonestreet24-2009dec24-story.html)
3. [Eric Stonestreet, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/9281/eric-stonestreet)
4. [In new interview, Eric Stonestreet talks KC wedding plans, 'Modern Family' Xmas special, Kansas City Star (September 20, 2024)](https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article292738974.html)
5. [IN Conversation With Eric Stonestreet, IN Kansas City Magazine (June 1, 2023)](https://www.inkansascity.com/innovators-influencers/people/in-conversation-with-eric-stonestreet/)
6. [Eric Stonestreet biography, The Santa Clauses season 2, Disney+ press materials](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/tsc_s2_eric_stonestreet_bio_a17027e3.pdf)
7. [Eric Stonestreet, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/eric-stonestreet/)
8. [Eric Stonestreet biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0832314/bio/)
9. [Modern Family, Cast, Characters and Stars, ABC](https://abc.com/shows/modern-family/cast)
10. [The Loft production notes, bizcommunity.com](https://www.bizcommunity.com/PDF/PDF.aspx?c=482&ci=137157&ct=1&l=196)
11. [Eric Stonestreet talks wedding plans at 'Dexter: Resurrection' red carpet premiere, Kansas City Star (July 10, 2025)](https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article310401480.html)
12. [Eric Stonestreet on Chiefs, Royals, Michael Buble, KC tacos, Kansas City Star](https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article289147514.html)
13. ['Modern Family' Star, 55, Appears Unrecognizable After Weight Loss, The Daily Beast](https://www.thedailybeast.com/modern-family-star-eric-stonestreet-appears-unrecognizable-after-weight-loss)
14. [Eric Stonestreet on Life With Diabetes: 'There's No Shame' (EXCLUSIVE), Yahoo Lifestyle / First for Women (May 1, 2025)](https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/eric-stonestreet-life-diabetes-no-170418324.html)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Sp to S*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license