Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1971-09-09
- Born Place: Kansas City, Kansas, USA
Eric Stonestreet
Eric Allen Stonestreet is an acclaimed American actor and comedian, born on September 9, 1971, in Kansas City, Kansas. Raised on a pig farm, Stonestreet developed an early passion for performance, creating a clown character named Fizbo at age nine—a persona he famously integrated into his television work years later. He attended Kansas State University, where he initially studied sociology and criminal justice with hopes of becoming a prison administrator. However, a dare to audition for a college play sparked a career pivot that led him to study improvisational comedy at Chicago’s Second City and iO Theater before moving to Los Angeles. His early career consisted of various guest spots on popular shows such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, ER, and The West Wing, as well as a minor film debut as a hotel desk clerk in the 2000 cult classic Almost Famous. Stonestreet achieved global stardom with his portrayal of the flamboyant and lovable Cameron Tucker on the ABC mockumentary sitcom Modern Family (2009–2020). His performance was widely praised for its emotional depth and comedic timing, earning him two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Though Stonestreet is "openly straight" in real life, his nuanced portrayal of a gay father and husband became a cultural touchstone for LGBTQ+ representation on television. His success on the small screen translated to a robust film career, featuring roles in comedies like Bad Teacher (2011) and Identity Thief (2013), and providing the voice for the large, fluffy mongrel Duke in the hit animated franchise The Secret Life of Pets. In his personal life, Stonestreet is a dedicated sports fan, particularly of his hometown Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals, the latter of which he joined as a partial owner in 2019. On September 8, 2025, he celebrated a major personal milestone by marrying his longtime partner, pediatric nurse Lindsay Schweitzer, in an intimate ceremony held at their newly built home in Kansas City. As of late 2025, Stonestreet continues to be a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, recently hosting the competition series Domino Masters and taking on the role of Magnus Antas (the "Mad Santa") in the Disney+ series The Santa Clauses.
