A close look at the zodiac matches between the cast of the hit-show Modern Family (2009–2020) is truly astounding. During its 11-season run, the sitcom proved fabulously successful with audiences and critics alike. The New York Times described in 2011, “In a rare concurrence, the darling of the critics is one of the highest rated comedies on television.” The show won 18 Primetime Emmy Awards. In 2013, the Writers Guild of America West ranked it 34th in their list of the 101 Best-Written TV Series of all time.

One of Modern Family’s signature achievements was to integrate tightly-interwoven stories across the three principal families with an atmosphere of seemingly genuine affection and personal warmth. For anyone with an interest in astrology, and specifically the combined Western and Chinese zodiacs, this infectious sense of tenderness will come as no surprise. Casting agents, indeed anyone with an interest in group dynamics, take note—the energy matches among this team of actors reflected some rare, extraordinarily harmonious energy.

A standout relationship throughout Modern Family’s overarching narrative is that between Phil Dunphy (played by Ty Burrell (08/22/1967, Leo Sheep)), and his fictional daughter, Haley (played by Sarah Hyland (11/24/1990, Sagittarius Horse)). These two shared some timeless moments of onscreen magic. Notable examples include the episode, “Unplugged” (2010), when Haley tricks Phil into using his computer by carving a phone out of soap (“Well then I hate to break it to you, Daddy, but you lose!”), or the episode, “Party Crasher” (2013) when Phil announces to wife Claire protectively—not knowing that Haley is watching him— 

Give me the ticket. I’m going after her. This little “chicken” game may work for your dad but it doesn’t work for me! That’s my little girl! I need her to know that no guy on Earth is good enough for her, much less a slimy middle-aged jeans salesman! 

In real life, Burrell (Phil) and Hyland (Haley) share a coveted Golden Nine connection, bringing together the Trine combination of Fire signs Leo and Sagittarius) with the Soulmate pairing of Sheep and Horse. The authenticity of their onscreen exchanges thus draws on a powerful potential for real-life admiration, collaboration, and affection.

Perhaps less obvious—doubtless due to the actor who played Luke Dunphy, Nolan Gould (10/28/1998, Scorpio Tiger), being only around 11 when the first series began—is a second Golden Nine relationship (!), between Gould and the actor who played Claire Dunphy, Julie Bowen (03/03/1970, Pisces Dog). Their mutual energy reflects the profound Trine connection between Water Signs Pisces and Scorpio, and the equally revered Trine affinity between Dog and Tiger. Of course, the Claire and Luke relationship contributed some of Modern Family’s most memorable moments. These include the episode, “Won’t You Be Our Neighbor?” (2014), when Claire memorably licks supposedly two-day-old peanut butter off Luke’s face. 

But these two Golden Nine matches are merely the tip of the iceberg. The central relationship between Phil (Burrell) and wife Claire (Bowen) drew on an energy match between the actors that may not be a headline-grabber, but both their Leo/Pisces and Sheep/Dog matches are naturally harmonious in the right circumstances. They are especially well suited to close collaboration. That said, some doses of tension (especially with their Western Quincunx energy) arguably contributed to the often hilarious competitiveness and misunderstandings between Phil and Claire. 

The two siblings, Haley (played by Hyland), and Alex Dunphy (played by Ariel Winter (01/28/1998, Aquarius Tiger) share a beautiful energy match, bringing together the relaxed Sextile energy of Sagittarius and Aquarius, with the marvelous Trine pairing of Horse and Tiger. With Luke Dunphy’s Nolan Gould being a fellow Tiger, he shares in the bedrock of compatible energy on the Chinese side with the actors playing his sisters. That said, the Square energy on the Western side between Gould (Luke) and Winter (Alex) (Scorpio and Aquarius), and the slow burn Semi-Sextile pairing of Scorpio and Sagittarius between Gould (Luke) and Hyland (Haley), each contribute some definite tension. It seems highly likely that this overall energy matrix contributed to these actors’ convincing, years-long portrayal of close yet inevitably fractious siblings. 

Highly positive energy connections extended into the other two fictional families at the heart of Modern Family. The actor who played Mitchell Pritchett, Jesse Tyler Ferguson (10/22/1975, Libra Rabbit), has described how a truly progressive aspect of his fictional relationship with Cam (played by Eric Stonestreet (09/09/1971, Virgo Pig)) was that “[T]heir gayness is about sixth on the list of their qualities.” These two actors share superb energy on the Chinese side, namely the super-harmonious combination of Rabbit and Pig, with the hesitant but ultimately often trustworthy Semi-Sextile mix of Libra and Virgo on the Western side. This accords neatly with the arc of Mitch and Cam’s relationship, which across Modern Family’s 11 seasons balanced frequently laugh-out-loud friction with a core of compelling endearment.

The third and final family was that of the patriarch Jay Pritchett, played by Ed O’Neill (04/12/1946, Aries Dog), and his wife Gloria Delgado, played by Sofía Vergara (07/10/1972, Cancer Rat). Here again, the authenticity of the familial relationships is reinforced by, incredibly, another real-life Golden Nine relationship—in this case between Jay (O’Neill) and Manny Delgado, played by Rico Rodriguez (07/31/1998, Leo Tiger). For these two actors, the Trine combination of Aries and Leo is perfectly complemented by the Trine Dog and Tiger match. Scenes such as when Manny hustled Jay out of his watch at chess (“Game Changer” (2010)), or when Jay encouraged Manny to sing to a bus full of people (“Bad Hair Day” (2013)), arguably draw on these actors’ real-life compatibility to infuse the comedy with convincing, heartfelt emotion.

It may be apparent by now that the same harmonies that existed within the three fictional families also extended across them. Jay (O’Neill) and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) shared a sometimes fraught fictional relationship between an old-school Vietnam veteran patriarch and his gay, environmental-lawyer son. Their palpable underlying bond arguably drew profoundly on the Soulmate energy of the actors’ Dog and Rabbit connection. Cam (Stonestreet) and adopted daughter Lily (played by Aubrey Anderson-Emmons (06/06/2007, Gemini Pig)) were both played by actors born in the year of the Pig, meaning they shared a Soulmate connection with the Tigers on the cast (Ariel Winter (Alex), Nolan Gould (Luke), and Rico Rodriguez (Manny)), and Trine energy with Sheep Burrell (Phil) (as well as Rabbit Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Mitch)). 

In fact, on the Chinese side, the only real outlier is Sofía Vergara, who played Gloria. Her sign of the Rat is conducive to respectful distance with most of the other cast members, but can be problematic with Sarah Hyland (Haley)’s Horse, and especially challenging with Ty Burrell (Phil)’s Sheep. Indeed, anyone who has seen the scenes with Phil and Gloria, such as when they play extras in a coffee shop (“First Days” (2013)), or the many times Phil appears smitten by Gloria’s physical appearance, may appreciate how the potential for tension in the actors’ dynamic is leveraged by the show to great comedic effect. Gloria (Vergara) and Jay (O’Neill) probably had the most quarrelsome relationship on the show, memorably represented by the neighbor who thought Gloria shouting Jay’s name was a parrot. The turbulent Square Western match between these actors’ Aries and Cancer signs appears to have enhanced the comedy no end.  

Since the final episode of Modern Family screened in 2020, the cast have provided ample evidence that the familial atmosphere projected onscreen extended to close personal bonds in real life. Certainly their once-in-a-lifetime creative achievements together provide a stirring testament to the abundant favorable energy connections among this apparently still close-knit group. 

There are 144 possible mixed Western and Chinese signs, which when 11 actors get together, means there are literally over twenty quadrillion possible combinations! That, of these, the dynamics are abundant with favorable and Soulmate energy, with no less than 3 Golden Nine matches, is truly incredible and odds-defying. With audiences around the world still loving the onscreen magic that was produced (now on Disney+), it is hard not to consider that a critical part of the success of this award winning show was written in the stars. Sheer luck or strategy?... One may well wonder.