Frances Burrell is the daughter of Emmy-winning actor Ty Burrell, best known for playing the lovable dad Phil Dunphy on Modern Family, a role that earned him two Primetime Emmy Awards. Offscreen, Ty’s life as a father has become an equally important part of his story.
In 2010, Ty and his wife Holly surprised themselves by becoming parents through adoption — a decision they describe as anything but meticulously planned. As Ty recalled in an interview, the moment everything changed was unexpected: his account of that day is striking:
In a weird way, it wasn’t planned. We were on an airplane on a flight from LA to New York and when we got on the flight we had intended to never have kids. When we got off in New York, we were crying that we were going to have a kid, so it was unplanned.
Two years later, in 2012, the couple expanded their family again with the adoption of another daughter, Greta Burrell. Ty has described both adoptions as “similarly irrational” — a compliment that captures how spontaneous and heartfelt the choices were.
Frances, 16, is African American, which brings an added dimension of diversity to the Burrell household. Ty often speaks about how much he values the time he spends with his daughters, whether those moments were planned or sprung on them unexpectedly.
The family deliberately shields their private life from the spotlight. You won’t find Frances or Greta posting on social media or posing on red carpets; they’re being raised out of the public eye and allowed to enjoy a normal childhood.
Beyond a handful of paparazzi photos, details about the girls are scarce. It’s been 16 years since Frances joined the family, and the Burrells have remained consistent in protecting their daughters’ privacy.
Parenthood has had a powerful effect on Ty and Holly. Asked how Frances influenced their relationship, Ty told Redbookmag:
There’s lots of problem solving in any marriage, but when you have this collective goal that is a human being, it’s an inspiring rally point.
So who is Frances? She’s the child who helped transform a sitcom father into a real-life dad, shaping a family narrative that feels even more meaningful than the stories Ty performs on screen.
Ty Burrell Is a Present, Hands-On Dad to Frances and Greta
Ty’s devotion to parenthood extends beyond his acting — he’s genuinely involved in his daughters’ lives. For Frances and Greta, having Ty as their father means being raised by someone who shows up, imperfections included.
Even with a hectic career, Ty protects family routines. The Burrells make a point of eating dinner together every night, a habit that keeps them close. Mornings can be hectic, but evening meals are a rule.
Ty openly acknowledges where he falls short as a parent. When asked about his weak spots, he laid it out:
My biggest weakness as a father is allowing my daughters to have tantrums. When I grew up, tantrums weren’t allowed… Sometimes I can be like, ‘We don’t shout. No shouting.’ There’s probably a happy medium but I’ve never found it. (sic)
But parenting isn’t only about managing outbursts. Ty has discovered a shared passion with his girls: fly-fishing. He told Fatherly, “We’ve been a few times since there’s great fishing in Utah. I expected I would be selling my daughters on it but, my God, they flip out over it.”
The Burrell kids seem to have bold personalities when they’re outdoors: “To be honest, we usually catch and release but the girls are excited about eating the fish too. They’re just like ‘I want to kill it.’ ‘No, I want to kill it.‘”
On bigger topics like faith, Ty takes a relaxed stance. Religion isn’t something he pushes; they sometimes attend a Unitarian church, but he prefers to let Frances and Greta choose their own beliefs as they grow.
Ultimately, his priority is straightforward: show up, be compassionate, and make sure his daughters feel loved. It’s not flawless parenting, but it’s authentic — and that’s what makes Ty more than a TV dad.
Ty Found Himself Missing Frances Even While She Slept
Becoming a father changed Ty profoundly. He has often talked about how much he relishes parenthood, and his descriptions make it clear he’s completely devoted to his children.
When Frances arrived, he expected an immediate rush of emotion. Instead his bond grew more gradually — a slow-building affection that kept intensifying over time.
Speaking openly in a 2011 interview with Elle, Ty summed up how his feelings continued to deepen:
Every week I feel her getting even further under my skin. Now I’m at that point where I miss her when she’s asleep.
That level of attachment — missing your child even when she’s nearby and asleep — says a lot about his devotion.
By 2014 he was fond of those early-morning moments: his favorite part of the day was when Frances or Greta would climb into bed and literally pry his eyes open. Even on mornings he wasn’t ready to start, those visits were priceless.
The girls are older now, and those sleepy wake-up calls may have become rarer. Still, it’s easy to imagine Ty’s love for them is just as strong, finding new ways to surprise and move him as they grow.
