While the cast of "Modern Family" made the world laugh for 11 years straight, they dealt with several personal struggles. During a 2025 appearance on Jesse Tyler Ferguson's "Dinner's On Me" podcast, Rico Rodriguez revealed the tragic reason he almost left "Modern Family" after Season 8. The former child actor shared that his father, Roy Rodriguez, passed away shortly after they finished filming. As the then-18-year-old actor processed the unimaginable loss, he was unsure whether he could return to the sitcom for another season. "I mean, the patriarch of our family is gone, and he was the biggest motivator. He was all of our ideas," Rico shared of his feelings at the time.

However, he ultimately decided to return because he wanted to continue honoring all the hard work he and his fathe

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