Jesse Tyler Ferguson

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Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Ferguson at the Yahoo News/ABCNews Pre-White House Correspondents' dinner reception pre-party, May 2014
Ferguson in 2014
Born (1975-10-22) October 22, 1975 (age 48)
Missoula, Montana, United States
Occupation Actor
Years active 1998–present
Spouse(s) Justin Mikita (m. 2013)

Jesse Tyler Ferguson (born October 22, 1975) is an American actor best known for portraying Mitchell Pritchett on the ABC sitcom Modern Family, which has earned him five nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Previously, he played the role of Richie Velch in the CBS sitcom The Class.

Early years

Jesse Tyler Ferguson was born in Missoula, Montana, to Anne Ferguson (née Doyle) and Robert "Bob" Ferguson.[1] 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,[2] to whom he was very close growing up.[3] His paternal great-grandfather was also named Jesse.[4]

His family moved when he was young to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he was raised.[5] At age eight he decided to become an actor, and joined the Albuquerque Children's Theater, where he was a member for six years.[6]

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.[7] He worked as a dancer/singer at Cliff's Amusement Park.[6]

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

Career

Theatre

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.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10][11]

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.

Since 2009, 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.

Philanthropy

Tie The Knot

Ferguson at a PFLAG event on October 1, 2010

In September 2012, Ferguson and his lawyer husband, Justin Mikita, started Tie The Knot. The non-profit charity is an effort to raise funds in support of marriage equality for same-sex couples, using bow ties sold retail.[12] They officially launched it as their engagement announcement in an online video where they explain only seven states at the time had marriage equality.[12][13][14] In an interview Ferguson stated that he wanted to do something that was smaller and manageable in case it didn't work out as a business model.[15]

The foundation sells limited-edition bow ties with "proceeds going to organizations nationwide that are working toward marriage equality."[16] 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.[16]

In January 2013, the couple was recruited by Lieutenant Governor of Illinois Sheila Simon to lobby legislators to pass SB10 which would allow same-sex marriage.[16] The bill passed both legislative houses,[17][18] and Governor Pat Quinn signed the bill into law,[19] going into effect on June 1, 2014.[20]

Ferguson at the Muppets Most Wanted premiere on March 11, 2014

In October 2013, the American Civil Liberties Union named Ferguson the celebrity ambassador for the LGBT community.[21] He participated heavily in the ACLU's "Out for Freedom" campaign [22][23] 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.[24] The couple’s non-profit made a grant of $10,000 to the ACLU of New Mexico for same sex efforts.[22]

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,[25] including professional athlete designs with Scott Fujita and Chris Kluwe, and Brittney Griner.[26]

Personal life

Ferguson uses his full name as there was already an actor called Jesse Ferguson in the actor's union when he joined.[4]

Ferguson is openly gay and, in September 2012, he announced his engagement to lawyer Justin Mikita, his boyfriend of nearly two years. Mikita has worked for Mamiya Makita Industries (Mikita not to be confused with Makita).[27] They married in New York City on July 20, 2013,[28] with the screenwriter Tony Kushner officiating at their wedding.[4]

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 takes time.[29] His sister, Kelly, is a lesbian.[30]

Ferguson owns a dog named Zubara.[4]

Discography

Singles

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2001 Ordinary Sinner Ogden
2004 Mercury in Retrograde Duane Short film
2006 Griffin and Phoenix Student
2008 Untraceable Arthur James Elmer
2009 Wonderful World Cyril
2012 The Procession Short film
2012 8 Dr. Ilan Meyer
2012 Red Short
2016 Ice Age: Collision Course Shangri Llama (voice)

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2000 Sally Hemings: An American Scandal Young Tom Hemings TV film
2006–2007 The Class Richie Velch 19 episodes
2007, 2010 Ugly Betty Dr. Gabe Farkus Episode: "Icing on the Cake" (2007)
Episode: "The Passion of the Betty" (2010)
2008 Do Not Disturb Larry 5 episodes
2009 The Battery's Down Shamus McKelvy Episode: "The Party's Over"
2009–present Modern Family Mitchell Pritchett Main character
2011–2013 So You Think You Can Dance Himself 7 episodes
Guest judge
2012 Submissions Only Jared Halstead Episode: "Another Interruption"
2012 RuPaul's Drag Race Himself Episode: "Dads I'd Like to Frock"
2013 2013 Do Something Awards Honoree TV film
2013 Web Therapy Steve Olson 3 episodes
2013 Hot in Cleveland Wes Episode: "Love Is All Around"
2013 Project Runway Himself Episode: "Tie the Knot"
Guest judge
2014 Backstage with Disney on Broadway: Celebrating 20 Years Himself Host
2015 Comedy Bang! Bang! Himself Episode: "Jesse Tyler Ferguson Wears a Brown Checked Shirt and Stripey Socks"
2015 Running Wild with Bear Grylls Himself Episode: "Jesse Tyler Ferguson"

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes
1998–1999 On the Town Chip Broadway revival
November 19, 1998 – January 17, 1999
The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told Off-Broadway
Little Fish Marco Off-Broadway
Where Do We Live
Newyorkers
Hair Margaret Mead
SantaLand Diaries
A Midsummer Night's Dream Francis Flute Public Theater
(Shakespeare in the Park)
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
2005–2008 The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Leaf Coneybear Broadway
May 2, 2005 – January 20, 2008
2005 On the Twentieth Century Max Jacobs Special concert
September 26
2010 The Winter's Tale Shepard's Son Public Theater
(Shakespeare in the Park)
2010 The Merchant of Venice Launcelot Gobbo Public Theater
(Shakespeare in the Park)
2012 The Producers Leo Bloom Hollywood Bowl
July 27–29, 2012
2013 A Comedy of Errors Public Theater
(Shakespeare in the Park)
2015 Spamalot Sir Robin Hollywood Bowl
July 31—August 2, 2015

Awards

Won

  • 2005 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Ensemble Performance – The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
  • 2010 Screen Actors Guild Award: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series – Modern Family
  • 2011 Screen Actors Guild Award: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series – Modern Family
  • 2012 Screen Actors Guild Award: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series – Modern Family
  • 2013 Screen Actors Guild Award: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series – Modern Family

Nominated

  • 2009 Screen Actors Guild Award: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series – Modern Family
  • 2010 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Modern Family
  • 2011 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Modern Family
  • 2012 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Modern Family
  • 2012 People's Choice Awards – Favorite TV Comedy Actor – Modern Family
  • 2013 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Modern Family
  • 2013 People's Choice Awards – Favorite TV Comedy Actor – Modern Family
  • 2014 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series – Modern Family

References

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  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Stated on Inside the Actors Studio, 2011
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Interview with Ferguson by David Letterman, Late Night with David Letterman, CBS, November 20, 2013.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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