Eric Stonestreet Biography: Age, Height, Wife, Career, Net Worth, Modern Family, Diabetes, Big Slick & Facts

Eric Stonestreet is an Emmy-winning American actor and comedian best known for bringing Cameron “Cam” Tucker to life on ABC’s beloved sitcom Modern Family. From his humble beginnings as a clown named Fizbo at children’s birthday parties in Kansas to becoming one of television’s highest-paid supporting actors, Stonestreet has spent more than two decades building a career defined by warmth, physical comedy, and unexpected dramatic range. In 2025, he married longtime love Lindsay Schweitzer, went public with his type 2 diabetes journey alongside an Eli Lilly partnership, and continued his work as a part-owner of the Kansas City Royals and co-host of the Big Slick charity weekend. At 54, he remains one of Hollywood’s most grounded stars—a self-described “big-boned, Kansas, corn-fed dude” who still can’t believe he gets paid to make people laugh.

Quick Facts

Related personalities: Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family co-star), Ty Burrell, Sofía Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ed O’Neill, Paul Rudd (Big Slick), Jason Sudeikis (Big Slick), Rob Riggle (Big Slick), David Koechner (Big Slick), Heidi Gardner (Big Slick), Lindsay Schweitzer (wife), Tina Fey (former teacher).

Early Life & Education

Eric Allen Stonestreet was born on September 9, 1971, in Kansas City, Kansas, to Jamey Stonestreet, a teacher’s aide, and Vince Stonestreet, who owned a retail business in Leavenworth. He grew up in the Kansas City area with his sister Mauria, and the family leased forty acres of land where Eric raised pigs and cows through elementary and high school.

As a child, Stonestreet dreamed of being a clown in the circus. At age eleven, he created a clown character named Fizbo and began performing at children’s birthday parties—complete with business cards. Decades later, the name Fizbo would be resurrected for a clown character he played on Modern Family.

He attended Piper High School in Kansas City, where he played football, before enrolling at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. At KSU, he joined the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and initially planned to become a prison administrator, having grown up near the penitentiaries in Leavenworth. He majored in sociology and graduated in 1996.

His acting career began by accident. On a dare during his junior year, he auditioned for KSU’s production of Prelude to a Kiss, won a small role, and was hooked. After college, he moved to Chicago, where he studied improvisational comedy at the famed Second City Training Center and performed at the ImprovOlympic (now iO Theater), where Tina Fey was one of his teachers.

Career Journey

Early Roles and Commercials (1999–2008)

Stonestreet spent two years in Chicago performing improv and appearing in television commercials. He then moved to Los Angeles to pursue film and television. His early credits included guest spots on Dharma & Greg, ER, Malcolm in the Middle, The West Wing, Spin City, Party of Five, Crossing Jordan, Bones, Monk, NCIS, The Mentalist, Pushing Daisies, and Nip/Tuck.

He also had a recurring role as Ronnie Litre on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation from 2001 to 2005, appearing in 12 episodes. His film debut came in 2000 as desk clerk Sheldon in Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous. Other early film credits included Girls Will Be Girls (2003), The Island (2005), and Ninja Cheerleaders (2008).

Modern Family: The Role of a Lifetime (2009–2020)

In 2009, Stonestreet landed the role that would define his career: Cameron “Cam” Tucker, the theatrical, football-coaching, stay-at-home dad on ABC’s Modern Family. The show, created by Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan, became a cultural phenomenon, airing 250 episodes over 11 seasons and winning more than 100 awards.

Stonestreet’s portrayal of Cam—equal parts flamboyant and tender—earned him widespread acclaim. He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2010 and again in 2012, and received a third nomination in 2011. He also earned three Golden Globe nominations and multiple Screen Actors Guild Awards as part of the ensemble cast, which won Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series four consecutive years (2011–2014).

At the peak of the show’s success, Stonestreet’s salary reflected his status. From 2014 to 2018, he earned $190,000 per episode; in 2018, the principal cast received raises to $500,000 per episode, amounting to roughly $12 million per season in the final years.

Film, Voice Work, and Post-Modern Family Projects (2011–Present)

While starring on Modern Family, Stonestreet expanded into film, co-starring with Cameron Diaz in Bad Teacher (2011) and with Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy in Identity Thief (2013). He also starred in the thriller The Loft (2014).

His voice work became equally prominent. He voiced Duke in Illumination’s The Secret Life of Pets (2016) and its sequel (2019), which grossed a combined $1.3 billion worldwide. He also voiced Minimus on 16 episodes of Disney Channel’s Sofia the First (2013–2018) and is set to reprise the role in Sofia the First: Royal Magic (2026).

Other notable projects included hosting ABC’s reality series The Toy Box (2017), guest judging America’s Got Talent (2020), and competing on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (2020), where he won $125,000 for Building Hope for Autism, a charity where his sister Mauria serves as executive director.

In 2022, he hosted the Fox game show Domino Masters. He also appeared in American Auto (2023) and played Magnus Antas / Mad Santa in season 2 of Disney+’s The Santa Clauses (2023), earning a Children’s & Family Emmy nomination.

In 2025, he guest-starred on Dexter: Resurrection as Al Walker / Rapunzel.

Career Stats

Television:

Notable Films:

Personal Life

Family Background

Stonestreet grew up in a working-class family in Kansas. His mother Jamey worked as a teacher’s aide, and his father owned a retail business. The family raised livestock on leased land, and young Eric developed a strong work ethic early on. His sister Mauria remains close to him and runs Building Hope for Autism, a Kansas City charity that Stonestreet has supported publicly.

Marriage to Lindsay Schweitzer

Stonestreet met pediatric nurse Lindsay Schweitzer in June 2017 at the Big Slick charity weekend in Kansas City. By August 2017, their relationship was public, with Stonestreet telling The Ellen DeGeneres Show that “she calms me. She calms my nerves. I’m a very high-stranged person.”

After four years of dating, Stonestreet proposed in August 2021. “She’s just a good person and a great mom,” he told PEOPLE. “I joke all the time that she’s uniquely qualified to be my fiancée because she can put up with me.”

The couple married on September 8, 2025, at their dream home in Kansas City, Missouri—strategically choosing the date because it falls between their birthdays (Lindsay’s on September 7, Eric’s on September 9). Stonestreet announced the news on Instagram on his 54th birthday with the caption, “It’s my birthday and guess what I got.”

Lindsay wore a sleeveless white silk wedding dress with a draped neckline and sparkling jeweled belt; Eric wore a fitted navy blazer with a blue tie. The intimate ceremony included musical performances with acoustic guitars. Modern Family co-star Jesse Tyler Ferguson commented, “Of all second marriages, this one is my favorite!”

Lindsay has two sons from a previous relationship, whom Stonestreet has embraced as stepchildren.

Health Journey: Type 2 Diabetes and Mounjaro

In 2009—the same year he landed Modern Family—Stonestreet was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. For years, he kept the diagnosis private, feeling ashamed. “I just kind of was ashamed and embarrassed, because, ‘Of course, a guy that looks like me has Type 2 diabetes,'” he later recalled.

In 2022, his doctor recommended Mounjaro (tirzepatide), a GLP-1 agonist medication for type 2 diabetes. Stonestreet started the weekly injections and saw dramatic improvements in his A1C levels, bringing them down to pre-diabetic numbers. The medication also inspired him to adopt healthier habits, including 150 minutes of walking per week and better dietary choices.

In May 2025, Stonestreet went public with his diagnosis in a paid partnership with Eli Lilly, launching the “Duets with Type 2 Diabetes” campaign alongside his mother Jamey, who also has the condition. He has since become an advocate for destigmatizing the disease. “There’s a pep in my step,” he told PEOPLE.

Kansas City Royals and Sports Fandom

In 2019, Stonestreet became a part-owner of the Kansas City Royals MLB team, fulfilling a lifelong dream for the die-hard sports fan. He regularly attends Kansas State University football games and has participated in numerous NASCAR events.

Big Slick Charity

Since 2010, Stonestreet has co-hosted Big Slick Celebrity Weekend in Kansas City alongside fellow Kansas natives Paul Rudd, Jason Sudeikis, Rob Riggle, David Koechner, and Heidi Gardner. The event has raised nearly $30 million for Children’s Mercy Hospital to advance pediatric cancer research and treatment.

Controversies

Stonestreet has maintained a relatively clean public image throughout his career, though a few moments have drawn attention:

Type 2 Diabetes Stigma: His 2025 decision to partner with Eli Lilly and publicly discuss his Mounjaro use sparked some debate about celebrity pharmaceutical endorsements, particularly for GLP-1 drugs that have become cultural flashpoints. However, Stonestreet has emphasized that his motivation is health, not weight loss for appearance’s sake. “I’m not all of a sudden going to be Brad Pitt over here and chiseled at 175 pounds,” he told USA Today. “I’m always going to be a big-boned, Kansas, corn-fed dude.”

Rick Santorum Photo Refusal: Stonestreet made headlines when he refused to pose for a photo with former Senator Rick Santorum, a vocal opponent of gay rights, demonstrating his solidarity with the LGBTQ community despite playing a gay character while being straight himself.

Awards & Achievements

• Primetime Emmy Award — Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (2010, 2012) for Modern Family
• Primetime Emmy Nomination — Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (2011) for Modern Family
• Golden Globe Nominations — Best Supporting Actor (2011, 2012, 2013) for Modern Family
• Screen Actors Guild Awards — Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) for Modern Family
• Critics’ Choice Television Award Nomination — Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (2011) for Modern Family
• TV Guide Award Nomination — Favorite Actor (2012); Favorite TV Couple with Jesse Tyler Ferguson (2012)
• Children’s & Family Emmy Nomination — Outstanding Supporting Performer (2025) for The Santa Clauses
• Gold Derby Award Nomination — Comedy Supporting Actor of the Decade (2019) for Modern Family
• Society of Professional Journalists Awards — For Louisville Courier-Journal columns (not applicable to Stonestreet; this is a Scott Jennings award)

Physical Statistics

Quotes

“I’m a regular dude from Kansas who grew up with pigs and cows.”
— On his rural roots

“Look, I’m not all of a sudden going to be Brad Pitt over here and chiseled at 175 pounds. Let’s be real clear about that. I’m always going to be a big-boned, Kansas, corn-fed dude.”
— On his weight loss journey with Mounjaro, 2025

“There’s a pep in my step.”
— On how Mounjaro and lifestyle changes have improved his health, 2025

“She calms me. She calms my nerves. I’m a very high-strung person.”
— On wife Lindsay Schweitzer, 2017

“It’s my birthday and guess what I got.”
— Announcing his marriage on Instagram, September 9, 2025

Favorites

Earnings

As of 2026, Eric Stonestreet’s estimated net worth is approximately $22–25 million. His wealth has been accumulated through:

• Modern Family salary: $190,000 per episode (2014–2018), then $500,000 per episode (2018–2020), totaling roughly $12 million per season in the final years
• Film roles: Bad Teacher, Identity Thief, The Secret Life of Pets franchise ($1.3 billion combined box office)
• Voice acting: Duke in The Secret Life of Pets, Minimus in Sofia the First
• Television hosting: The Toy Box, Domino Masters
• Eli Lilly partnership: Paid spokesperson for Mounjaro (2025–present)
• Real estate: Purchased a Studio City home for $735,000 in 2008, sold it for $1.1 million in 2016; owns a Valley Village home purchased in 2002 for $540,000

Interesting Facts

• Eric Stonestreet created his clown character Fizbo at age 11 and performed at children’s birthday parties with business cards.
• He was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2009, the same year Modern Family premiered.
• He was a prison administration major at Kansas State before switching to sociology after discovering acting.
• Tina Fey was his teacher at Chicago’s Second City.
• He won $125,000 on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire for his sister’s autism charity.
• He became a part-owner of the Kansas City Royals in 2019.
• Big Slick has raised nearly $30 million for Children’s Mercy Hospital.
• He refused to take a photo with Rick Santorum due to Santorum’s anti-gay rights positions.
• He was the “purple pride guy” in Kansas State University and Big 12 Conference TV commercials in 1996.
• He and his wife Lindsay chose their wedding date (September 8) because it falls between their birthdays (September 7 and September 9).

Did You Know Already?

• Eric Stonestreet was born in Kansas City, Kansas, not Missouri.
• He created the clown character Fizbo as a child, and the name was later used as a Modern Family character.
• He was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes the same year Modern Family premiered (2009).
• He is a part-owner of the Kansas City Royals MLB team.
• He won $125,000 on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire for his sister’s charity.
• He married pediatric nurse Lindsay Schweitzer on September 8, 2025, at their Kansas City home.
• He and his mother Jamey both take Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes and appear together in Eli Lilly’s “Duets with Type 2 Diabetes” campaign.
• He was taught improv by Tina Fey at Chicago’s Second City.
• He has no biological children but is stepfather to Lindsay’s two sons.
• He turned down a photo with Rick Santorum over LGBTQ rights.

Social Media Links

• Instagram: @ericstonestreet
• Twitter/X: @ericstonestreet
• Facebook: Eric Stonestreet Official
• IMDb: Eric Stonestreet
• TikTok: @ericstonestreet

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Eric Stonestreet in 2026?
Eric Stonestreet is 54 years old (turning 55 on September 9, 2026). He was born on September 9, 1971, in Kansas City, Kansas.

Who is Eric Stonestreet’s wife?
Eric Stonestreet is married to Lindsay Schweitzer, a pediatric nurse. They wed on September 8, 2025, at their home in Kansas City, Missouri, after dating since 2017 and getting engaged in 2021.

What is Eric Stonestreet’s net worth?
Eric Stonestreet’s estimated net worth is between $22 and $25 million as of 2026, accumulated through his acting career, voice work, endorsements, and real estate investments.

Is Eric Stonestreet gay in real life?
No, Eric Stonestreet is straight. He played the gay character Cameron Tucker on Modern Family but has been an outspoken supporter of LGBTQ rights, even refusing to pose for a photo with anti-gay politician Rick Santorum.

What health condition does Eric Stonestreet have?
Eric Stonestreet was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2009. In 2022, he began taking Mounjaro (tirzepatide) to manage the condition and went public with his journey in 2025 through a partnership with Eli Lilly.

How many Emmys has Eric Stonestreet won?
Eric Stonestreet has won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for Modern Family (2010 and 2012) and received a third nomination in 2011.

What is Big Slick?
Big Slick is an annual charity weekend in Kansas City co-hosted by Stonestreet and fellow Kansas natives Paul Rudd, Jason Sudeikis, Rob Riggle, David Koechner, and Heidi Gardner. It has raised nearly $30 million for Children’s Mercy Hospital.

Does Eric Stonestreet own the Kansas City Royals?
Stonestreet became a part-owner of the Kansas City Royals MLB team in 2019.

Conclusion

Eric Stonestreet’s journey from a kid performing as Fizbo the Clown at Kansas birthday parties to a two-time Emmy winner and one of television’s most beloved sitcom stars is a testament to talent, persistence, and an unshakable sense of self. With Modern Family, he created a character so indelible that Cam Tucker remains a cultural touchstone years after the show’s finale. Yet Stonestreet’s story extends far beyond Hollywood—through his ownership stake in the Kansas City Royals, his nearly $30 million raised for pediatric cancer research via Big Slick, and his courageous 2025 decision to publicly confront the stigma of type 2 diabetes. In 2026, newly married and healthier than ever, he continues to prove that the most compelling performances come from actors who never forget where they came from.

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