Jesse Tyler Ferguson has revisited an awkward early career moment on the red carpet, long before he became widely known for his role in ‘Modern Family’.
Speaking on his podcast ‘Dinner’s on Me’, the actor reflected on an incident from around 2008, when he was promoting the Fox sitcom ‘Do Not Disturb’. At the time, Ferguson was still relatively unknown, despite working alongside actors such as Niecy Nash and Jerry O’Connell.
He recalled arriving at a red carpet event where media handlers were responsible for guiding guests and presenting their names to photographers. In one instance, when journalists were offered the chance to interview him, the response was a blunt refusal, something he said was relayed with an unmistakable gesture of disinterest.
Ferguson said the moment was handled lightly by him, though the assistant accompanying him was embarrassed and apologetic. He added that he reassured the young crew members that such experiences were simply part of the unpredictability of the industry.
Ferguson went on to achieve major success shortly afterwards with Modern Family, earning multiple Emmy nominations for his role as Mitchell Pritchett.
Since the show ended in 2020, he has continued working in television and film, and is currently appearing in the Off Broadway production ‘Tru’, which explores the final years of author Truman Capote.
