Rico Rodriguez Reflects on Helping Sofia Vergara On and Off the Modern Family Set

In a recent episode of Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s podcast ‘Dinner’s On Me,’ Rico Rodriguez, who portrayed Manny for all 11 seasons of ‘Modern Family,’ shared a humorous behind-the-scenes story about his close working relationship with Sofia Vergara, who played his on-screen mother, Gloria. Rodriguez recounted how his habit of knowing everyone’s lines—including Vergara’s—led to him frequently assisting her during filming. He described how Vergara, known for her improvisational style, would often ask him for her next line or details like their call time. The most memorable instance came when Rodriguez, trying to be helpful, marked Vergara’s script for her when she was late to a table read. The following week, Vergara expected him to do it again, turning his one-time favor into a recurring task. Rodriguez joked that he ‘got played’ by Vergara, finding himself in a real-life version of his character Manny’s helpfulness. Despite this, Rodriguez expressed genuine affection for Vergara and said he didn’t mind helping her out. The podcast episode also touched on Rodriguez’s original approach to his character, mentorship from other cast members, and his realization about his earnings from the show. The story highlights the strong bonds and playful dynamics among the cast members of ‘Modern Family.’