Jesse Tyler Ferguson, best known for his role as Mitchell Pritchett on the hit sitcom Modern Family, recently opened up about a serious health scare that occurred during the filming of one of the show’s crucial episodes. In a candid discussion on the Dinner’s On Me podcast, Ferguson revealed that he was diagnosed with a vocal cord haemorrhage while shooting an episode in the fifth season of the beloved series.
Recalling the challenging time, Ferguson shared that he had to dub all his lines for the episode due to the coarse tone caused by the hemorrhage. “I went to the ENT, and they were like, ‘Oh, you need to be on vocal rest for like 10 days.’ And we were in the middle of shooting an episode,” he explained.
The situation was particularly difficult as the episode had guest stars flown in specifically for their roles. Ferguson emphasized the seriousness of the condition, stating, “Vocal rest is a very serious thing: when you’re told to go on vocal rest, you got to do it.”
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Faced with the doctor’s orders, Ferguson returned to the set to inform the producers of his inability to continue dubbing for the upcoming episodes. The actor expressed his frustration and fear, saying, “I was like, ‘You don’t understand, if I do this, it is costing me my career.’ I was so mad. Like, I had tears welling up in my eyes.”
Fortunately, the producers were understanding of Ferguson’s condition and adjusted the filming schedule accordingly. The actor recounted how he had to mouth his lines and later record them on a microphone, describing the experience as “terrible.” He humorously added, “I see that every once in a while, that episode pops up, and I look like a ventriloquist is operating my voice. I do not look like I’m speaking.”
For fans interested in the episode in question, Ferguson identified it as “ClosetCon ’13,” in which his character, Mitchell, and his husband, Cameron, take their daughter, Lily, to visit Cameron’s family farm.
Modern Family, which aired for 11 seasons, remains one of television’s most celebrated sitcoms. The show, featuring an ensemble cast including Ed O’Neill, Sofia Vergara, Eric Stonestreet, Ty Burrell, and Julie Bowen, continues to be available for streaming on Disney+.
