Eric Stonestreet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eric Stonestreet
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Stonestreet at PaleyFest LA in March 2015
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| Born | September 9, 1971 Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Kansas State University |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Partner(s) | Lindsay Schweitzer (2016–present) |
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Eric Allen Stonestreet (born September 9, 1971) is an American actor. He is most famous for playing Cameron Tucker in the ABC comedy show Modern Family from 2009 to 2020. This role was so popular that he won two Emmy Awards, which are major awards for television shows.
Before Modern Family, he was known for a recurring role on the TV series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. He has also acted in movies like Bad Teacher (2011) and Identity Thief (2013). Many people also know him as the voice of the big, fluffy dog Duke in the animated movies The Secret Life of Pets.
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Early Life and First Steps in Acting
Eric Stonestreet was born in Kansas City, Kansas. His mother was a teacher's aide, and his father owned a retail business. Growing up, his family had a pig farm.
When he was a kid, Eric wanted to be a clown. He even created a clown character for himself named Fizbo. By the time he was 11, he was performing as Fizbo at birthday parties for younger kids. He later used the name Fizbo for the clown character he sometimes played on Modern Family.
Stonestreet went to Kansas State University and graduated in 1996 with a degree in sociology. While in college, he tried acting for the first time on a dare. He got a small part in a play called Prelude to a Kiss. After that, he studied improvisational theater, a type of acting where you make up the scenes as you go. He then moved to Los Angeles to start his acting career.
Career
From Small Parts to a Famous Role
Stonestreet's first movie role was a small part as a desk clerk in Almost Famous. He also had a recurring role as a lab technician named Ronnie Litre on the popular show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
Over the years, he appeared as a guest star in many TV shows. Some of these include Malcolm in the Middle, Monk, NCIS, and Bones.
His big break came in 2009 when he was cast as Cameron Tucker in the sitcom Modern Family. The show was a huge success, and his performance as the funny and dramatic character made him a star. For this role, he won two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. The cast of Modern Family also won four Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards for being the best group of actors in a comedy series.
Life After Modern Family
After Modern Family ended, Stonestreet continued to work on exciting projects. He has hosted TV competition shows like The Toy Box on ABC and Domino Masters on Fox. In 2020, he was a guest judge on America's Got Talent.
He also appeared in music videos for "Weird Al" Yankovic and for the song "Stuck with U" by Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber. In 2024, he was named the godfather for a new cruise ship, the Norwegian Aqua.
Personal Life
In 2016, Stonestreet began dating a pediatric nurse named Lindsay Schweitzer. They got engaged in August 2021.
On Modern Family, Eric's character, Cameron, was married to a man. In real life, Stonestreet is straight. His co-star Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who played his on-screen husband, is gay in real life and the two are good friends. Stonestreet is a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community and believes in equal rights for everyone.
Stonestreet is a huge sports fan. He loves his hometown football team, the Kansas City Chiefs. In 2019, he became one of the owners of the Kansas City Royals baseball team. He has also driven the pace car at several NASCAR races.
Famous Roles
Movies
- Almost Famous (2000) as Sheldon the Desk Clerk
- Bad Teacher (2011) as Kirk
- Identity Thief (2013) as Big Chuck
- The Loft (2014) as Marty Landry
- The Secret Life of Pets (2016) as the voice of Duke
- The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019) as the voice of Duke
Television
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2001–2005) as Ronnie Litre
- Modern Family (2009–2020) as Cameron Tucker
- American Horror Story: Murder House (2011) as Derrick
- Sofia the First (2013–2018) as the voice of Minimus
- Confirmation (2016) as Kenneth Duberstein
- The Santa Clauses (2023) as Magnus Antas / Mad Santa
Awards and Nominations
Stonestreet has been nominated for many awards for his acting, especially for his role in Modern Family.
- Primetime Emmy Awards: He won twice for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (2010, 2012).
- Golden Globe Awards: He was nominated three times.
- Screen Actors Guild Awards: He was nominated three times for his individual performance. The entire cast of Modern Family won the award for Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series four times.
