What Happened To Reid Ewing After Modern Family?

If one were to combine a conventionally attractive Hollywood leading man and a self-effacing character actor, they would probably get Reid Ewing. If the name doesn't ring a strong bell, it's likely because Ewing has commonly played memorable but minor roles, most notably in the ABC sitcom "Modern Family." A contemporary update of the classic family comedy genre done in a mockumentary format, "Modern Family" subverted white, heteronormative expectations of what a family could be.

When the series begins, aging and agitated patriarch Jay (Ed O'Neill) is remarried to Gloria (Sofia Vergara), a much younger Colombian woman with a child of her own, while Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) — a couple often seen as a milestone for mainstream gay representation — attempt to adopt a child. Meanwhile, Phil (Ty Burrell) and Claire (Julie Bowen) — perhaps appearing superficially as the most "normal" couple — deal with one of the most challenging trio of kids to ever hit the small screen. The quasi-mockumentary series ran for 11 seasons and became crowded with an innumerable amount of quirky side characters — with one of the most hilarious played by Reid Ewing.

Reid Ewing played Dylan Marshall, a role that — while initially unassuming — is arguably what propelled his career to its next step. At first glance, Dylan resembles a lot of TV bad boys — a wannabe rock star with a disaffected tone of voice and a penchant for pseudo-stoic stares. But as he continuously dates, breaks up, and makes up with Phil and Claire's oldest daughter Haley (Sarah Hyland), viewers begin to realize that Dylan is much different than he appears on the surface — just not any more profound.

Ewing plays Dylan as a chill, dumb puppy dog who intensely feels emotions and isn't afraid to express them. A recurring joke over the series sees Phil eager to befriend Dylan in order to feel cool, with Dylan surprisingly enthusiastic about their odd friendship. He's not the perfect mate, but he's certainly not the worst of Haley's boyfriends on "Modern Family." Ewing played Dylan sparsely throughout the first 10 seasons — which made him feel like an outsider on the "Modern Family" set — before joining the cast as a series regular in Season 11, becoming Haley's husband and father to their children.

Reid Ewing played Dylan Marshall for the last time in 2020's series finale, and the actor has done a great deal of personal work since then. The undeniably handsome Ewing went through a dark struggle with body dysmorphia throughout the ABC comedy's tenure, eventually leading to a nightmarish experience with plastic surgery that ultimately developed into an addiction. "I genuinely believed if I had one procedure I would suddenly look like Brad Pitt," Ewing expressed in 2015, admitting that the results of his first operations were "horrendous" (via HuffPost). Around the same time, he openly confirmed that he was gay.

Post-"Modern Family," Ewing seemed to initially focus on independent projects. He appeared in back-to-back short films with director Todd Lien, 2021's "Always Come In Second" and 2022's "Nest." He was also working on a drama titled "Generation Angst," about a grunge musician trying to survive a devastating drug addiction, although it has yet to go into production at press time.

While Reid Ewing may not be as involved in acting as much as he used to be, that doesn't mean he has disappeared entirely. In fact, anyone who has some spare cash can directly interact with Ewing through the video-sharing website Cameo. The former "Modern Family" star has an active profile that allows users to essentially purchase personalized videos for a variety of events and occasions.

Prices for Ewing's Cameo videos start at $125 and the actor lists a range of messages he is willing to send, including everything from wishing someone a happy birthday to providing a motivating pep talk. You can also pay to have Ewing answer a submitted question that you might want to ask about his life or time on "Modern Family." 

Ewing has an average rating at Cameo of 4.97 out of 5 based on almost 200 reviews, suggesting that those who have used the service and gotten a video from him are happy with the finished product. As an added bonus, Ewing's Instagram makes it clear that he donates at least some of the money he receives through Cameo to charity.

Although Reid Ewing has had an Instagram account for several years, it is only in the latter half of 2024 that he actively began posting again after a break of several years. He began posting videos to his social media page in September and has continued to be semi-active since, uploading a number of live recordings. In the first of these, Ewing made it clear that he wanted to inform parents and their kids who might be thinking of going to Hollywood to become actors about the profession's perils.

Speaking in the Instagram video, Ewing explained that many people who seek to move into the entertainment industry do so without knowing about all of its pitfalls. While discussing how people try to find success in Hollywood, he spoke about how they are "really setting themselves up for all kinds of bulls***" and went on to call acting an "unhealthy process."

Ewing does still have some good things to say about acting and acknowledges that as an art form it can be beautiful, but he also wants to make people aware that the industry can take advantage of naïve youngsters. In particular, the former star talks about the power imbalance in failed auditions that cost young actors major roles and how he believes those judging potential members of a cast often lack empathy. He even goes on to say that auditions can be little more than "humiliation rituals" that severely affect self-esteem.

There are obviously several reasons why Reid Ewing is no longer working as an actor, including some of those outlined earlier, such as his addiction to plastic surgery. However, Ewing also believes that he simply doesn't have the right sort of personality for the world of entertainment, putting him at a disadvantage to others who are more cutthroat.

Speaking in a video on his Instagram page, Ewing said that Hollywood attracts those who enjoy competition and are willing to do a lot of self-promotion, traits that might seem like bragging to others, while he sees himself as a more timid person who wants everyone to get along. He also cited a lack of a support system around him, especially when he was younger, as an important factor in leaving him unprepared for life in Hollywood.

In another video, Ewing also mentioned that he believes he has ADD — an outdated term that has now been replaced with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). He explained that the neurodevelopmental disorder also made it more difficult for him to work as an actor, as he requires more of a set schedule and strict routine in order to concentrate and work to his best ability — things that are often not common in screen or theatrical acting. Ewing did say, though, that he knows people with similar conditions that are able to succeed in acting.

Fans of Reid Ewing will no doubt have noticed that he has been largely absent from television screens in recent times. But that doesn't mean that he hasn't been keeping himself busy with other work. In his various recent Instagram videos, Ewing has openly discussed the fact that he has been open to working in theater as well as in television and movies, even auditioning for roles in regional theatrical productions. This suggests that, although he might want to stay out of the Hollywood limelight, he isn't completely ready to give up on acting.

Outside of entertainment, Ewing has also confirmed that he has been looking to expand his education. He has previously spoken on social media about how he would have traded his entire time on "Modern Family" for the chance to go to college. Ewing feels that studying acting at college would have given him fundamentals he could have used throughout his career, providing him with a better idea of what is expected and how the industry works.

Ewing also confirmed that he had recently attained an associate's degree, a type of undergraduate qualification, and was intending to go back to college to complete his studies and get a bachelor's degree. However, there hasn't been any indication what his degree was in and what he might look to major in.

Reid Ewing has detailed some of the sexual abuse and inappropriate behavior he has experienced while working as an actor. One Instagram video focused on a playwright who was auditioning roles for his play in Portland, Oregon. According to Ewing, this writer acted in a way that Ewing believed took advantage of those trying to get a part in his production. Ewing alleged that this figure sent him sexual messages and met up with him outside of work, also claiming that the writer took unwanted photographs and tried to establish a relationship with him.

Ewing later spoke in another video about other alleged predatory behavior that was far more serious. He claimed that while he was working on the film "10 Rules for Sleeping Around," director Leslie Greif forced him to appear nude without being able to use a covering. According to Ewing, this director continually made lewd comments while on set and allegedly pushed the limits of what was acceptable for a film production, leaving the actor feeling humiliated. 

Worse still, Ewing claimed that he specifically did not consent to the use of graphic nude shots in the film, but that they ended up in the final version of the movie anyway — which left him with a sense of violation and betrayal.

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, or has been a victim of sexual assault, contact the relevant resources below: 

• Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
• Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).