‘I got you, don’t worry’: Rico Rodriguez shares the moment Ed O’Neill saved him on the ‘Modern Family’ set

Rico Rodriguez, known for his role as Manny Delgado in the hit series Modern Family, recently revealed touching behind-the-scenes moments from his time on the show during his appearance on Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s podcast “Dinner’s On Me.”

According to Hindustan Times, the actor, who was part of the series for all 11 seasons, shared stories about his experiences working with co-stars Sofia Vergara and Ed O’Neill, offering insights into the supportive environment on set.

During the podcast, Rodriguez recalled a particularly emotional moment early in the series when he was struggling with his lines. Feeling overwhelmed and on the verge of tears, believing he was “the reason why we’re not doing good,” O’Neill stepped in with a touching gesture of support. The veteran actor halted production, took Rodriguez aside, and helped him work through the challenging scene. The moment concluded with O’Neill giving him a reassuring wink and saying, “I got you, don’t worry.”

Sofia Vergara’s playful dynamic with young Rodriguez revealed

Rodriguez also shared amusing anecdotes about his relationship with his on-screen mother, Sofia Vergara. He mentioned how he would often arrive on set knowing everyone’s lines, including Vergara’s, which proved helpful when she would occasionally improvise and need assistance getting back on track.

The actor recounted a particular incident where he voluntarily marked Vergara’s script with line indicators when she was late to a table read. His kind gesture backfired playfully when Vergara cleverly turned it into a regular expectation, leading Rodriguez to realize he had been “played.”

Despite the clever manipulation, Rodriguez expressed that he didn’t mind helping Vergara, who would often rely on him for various on-set information, including their shooting schedules and call times.

The revelations from Rodriguez paint a picture of the close-knit relationships formed during the long-running series, highlighting how the cast supported and looked out for each other, particularly the younger actors. These behind-the-scenes stories add another layer to the beloved family comedy that aired for over a decade, showing that the family dynamic extended beyond the cameras.