Ty Burrell

A versatile talent with a knack for playing egotistical heels, Emmy-winning Ty Burrell was a supporting actor and occasional lead who established himself in the industry with strong performances in the horror feature "Dawn of the Dead" (2002) and on the television series "Modern Family" (ABC, 2009- ). He was exclusively a stage actor in the late 1990s before making inroads to television and features; his turn as a smarmy yuppie in Zack Snyder's remake of "Dawn" made him a go-to for that character type, but he also showed considerable comic chops on the short-lived series "Out of Practice" (CBS, 2005-06) and "Back to You" (Fox, 2007-08). Both programs were produced by the successful team of Steve Levitan and Christopher Lloyd - best known for their success with "Frasier" (NBC, 1993-2004) - who were impressed enough to tap Burrell once again for his most successful TV outing, the critical darling and ratings hit "Modern Family," which showcased him as a scene-stealing comic star on the rise.