How Jesse Tyler Ferguson guilt-tripped Ty Burrell to attend ‘Modern Family’ SAG Awards reunion at last minute

Getting family together isn’t easy.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson revealed Friday that he had to force Ty Burell to appear at the “Modern Family” reunion at last week’s SAG Awards after several fans thought he was dead.

“Honestly, on that night, we were all busy,” Ferguson, 48, said during an appearance on the “Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.”

Jesse Tyler Ferguson revealed Friday that he had to force Ty Burell to appear at the “Modern Family” reunion at last week’s SAG Awards after several fans thought he was dead. ABC/Courtesy Everett Collection According to Ferguson, the rumors about Bruelle’s presumed death began in November 2023 when the entire “Modern Family” cast reunited without the actor. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Turner

“Sofia Vergara was supposed to be doing press, I was supposed to be here in New York, Julie Bowen was shooting a show, Ed O’Neill had a glass of wine to drink,” Ferguson continued.

“And so we all canceled those very important things, and we figured out a way to come together because the last time we had a reunion, Ty Burrell wasn’t able to come, and so we posed with a photo of Ty … and then the internet thought he was dead.”

According to Ferguson, the rumors about Bruelle’s presumed death began in November 2023 when the entire “Modern Family” cast reunited without the actor.

In a video uploaded to Instagram by Vergara, 51, several cast members can be seen gazing at a photo of their missing castmate.

“We miss you, Ty,” read the caption.

Several of the “Griselda” star’s followers were quick to ask about Butelle’s health.

During the award show, Burrell, Ferguson, Vergara, Julie Bowen, 53, Eric Stonestreet, 52, and Ed O’Neill, 77, surprised viewers when they all stepped out to present the Best Ensemble in a Comedy award. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

“THIS MADE ME THINK HE WAS DEAD I PANICKED LMAO,” laughed one user.

“I had to check Google to make sure he didn’t die,” said another.

“A cardboard cutout would’ve been soooo much better. You guys scared us all. Lol,” a third person joked.

Bowen ( back center) praised the show telling the audience that their ABC show aired for 11 seasons and 250 episodes and which came to an end in 2020. Nina Westervelt/Shutterstock for SAG

According to Ferguson, Burell, 56, was initially not supposed to be at the Netflix-streamed award show, however, the Tony Award winner managed to convince him last minute.

“When the SAG Awards happened, [Burrell] was supposed to do something else,” Ferguson said. “I was like, ‘Ty! You can’t miss it again! People will really think you’re dead!’ It’s like, ‘We need to present you to show you that you’re not dead!’ So he made it.”

During the award show, Burrell, Ferguson, Vergara, Julie Bowen, 53, Eric Stonestreet, 52, and Ed O’Neill, 77, surprised viewers when they all stepped out to present the Best Ensemble in a Comedy award.

Bowen praised the show telling the audience that their ABC show aired for 11 seasons and 250 episodes and which came to an end in 2020.

The cast also mentioned how the show had won five SAG Awards and earned 22 Emmys before they presented the prestigious award to “The Bear.”