Who is Manny Delgado in Modern Family?

Show

Modern Family

Played by

Rico Rodriguez

First episode

“Pilot”Season 1, Episode 1, aired September 23, 2009

Role

Main cast

Network

ABC

Occupation

Kid, then college student and aspiring artist

Show run

2009 to 2020

Also known as

Manuel Delgado, Manny Delgado-Pritchett

Manny Delgado is the hopelessly romantic, impossibly mature son of Gloria and stepson of Jay. Played by Rico Rodriguez, he brings the sensibility of a 40-year-old poet to elementary school and keeps it all the way through Modern Family.

On Modern Family, Manny Delgado's story runs through Gloria Pritchett (Mother), Jay Pritchett (Stepfather), Luke Dunphy (Best Friend and Step-nephew), Claire Dunphy (Stepsister), Mitchell Pritchett (Stepbrother), and Haley Dunphy (Step-niece).

Who is Manny Delgado?

Manny is Gloria's son from her first marriage to Javier Delgado, and he lives with his mother and Jay in Jay's house. He is in fifth grade when the series begins, but he acts like a worldly adult: he writes poems for his crushes, drinks coffee, discusses Claire's marriage with her, and has opinions about wine.

His relationship with Jay starts out awkward, since the gruff Jay does not quite know what to do with such a sensitive kid. Over the years they grow into a real father and son, while Manny keeps hoping for attention from his charming but unreliable biological father.

Personality and comedy

Manny's comedy comes from the collision between his age and his personality. He falls hard for older girls, makes grand romantic gestures, and treats his own feelings with operatic seriousness. In the pilot he reads a poem to a 16-year-old who promptly tells him she has a boyfriend.

He is creative rather than academic, with talents for fencing, chess, theater, and writing, and he shares his mother's passion for life. His friendship with Luke, who is technically his step-nephew, gives the show a scheming kids' duo that runs from the first season to the last.

Key storylines

Manny's youth is a parade of crushes and hobbies, from fencing lessons in season one to a student council race against Luke in season eight. He and Luke graduate high school together at the end of that season, and Manny heads off to college to study the arts at CalArts.

As a young adult he falls for Sherry, a Canadian girlfriend his family initially doubts is real. He proposes to her on his birthday and is turned down, and later Luke's kiss with Sherry sparks a fight between the friends. Near the end of the series Javier invites him on a year-long trip around the world, and in the finale Manny leaves to travel.

Behind the scenes and legacy

Rico Rodriguez was a child actor when he was cast and played Manny for all 11 seasons. His deadpan delivery of grown-up lines made Manny a standout of the show's early seasons.

Manny's mix of confidence and sincerity also gave Modern Family a gentle running theme about letting sensitive kids be who they are, often voiced by Gloria in his defense.

Manny Delgado: frequently asked questions

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