Who Did Kristen Schaal Play On Modern Family?
ABC's mockumentary format sitcom "Modern Family" spanned 250 episodes and 11 seasons. During that lengthy run, plenty of recognizable actors appear in cameo roles. For example, Matthew Broderick guest stars in a Season 4 episode that sees Phil Dunphy send an absurd and hilarious amount of mixed signals.
Meanwhile, comedic powerhouse Kristen Schaal shows up on "Modern Family" in Season 1, Episode 13. She plays a woman named Whitney who agrees to go on a date with Manny Delgado (Rico Rodriguez) based on a connection they established in an online book club. However, she doesn't realize that Manny is a pre-teen, not the adult she believed him to be based on his internet persona.
Whitney beats herself up once she learns of her mistake, which leads Gloria (Sofía Vergara) to help her with a makeover. Soon afterward, she meets and immediately falls for Cameron (Eric Stonestreet), not realizing he's gay and married. While Schaal's role may be limited to this single-episode Season 1 storyline, its over-the-top arc still makes ample use of her comedic talents.
Kristen Schaal is a modern day comedy workhorse
Even those who may not recognize the name Kristen Schaal are still most likely familiar with at least one of her numerous comedic performances.
The role that probably defines Schaal's career more than any other is her extensive work as the voice of Louise Belcher on "Bob's Burgers." She has more than 250 episodes and counting to her name, in addition to "The Bob's Burgers Movie." Other notable voice acting work from throughout her filmography includes parts in "Toy Story 3," "Toy Story 4," "Gravity Falls," "Despicable Me 2," and "BoJack Horseman."
In live-action, meanwhile, Schaal is similarly prolific. Her credits include appearances in "Ugly Betty," "Mad Men," "Broad City," "The Last Man on Earth," and "Our Flag Means Death," among numerous other big-time projects.
That said, when her "Modern Family" episode premiered in January of 2010, much of this filmography that has since come to define her career was still ahead of her. She debuted in "Bob's Burgers," for example, the following year. She was, however, already an established multi-hyphenate by that point, with acclaimed work as both a live performer and on TV already under her belt. "Modern Family," then, caught her near the start of what would turn out to be a rapid ascent in the entertainment industry.