On Modern Family, Nolan Gould is best known as Luke Dunphy, the lovable but often clueless youngest child of Phil and Claire.
TV’s Favorite Wildcard
Luke was responsible for some of the show’s funniest moments, usually thanks to his bizarre logic and total lack of common sense. Whether he was getting stuck in places he shouldn’t be, inventing strange contraptions or offering wildly off-base advice, he was the Dunphy family’s resident wildcard.
His relationship with Phil was a highlight too. The two often felt more like best friends than father and son, sharing the same goofy sense of humor.
A Genius in Real Life
In real life, Gould couldn’t be more different. He reportedly joined Mensa, the high-IQ society, when he was just four years old, making him a gifted child long before he became famous for playing one of TV’s most hilariously dim characters.
He has also been reported to have finished high school early while still working on the show, juggling a demanding TV schedule with his studies.
Playing Dumb Takes Brains
It’s one of those behind-the-scenes facts that makes rewatching the show even more fun. Every time Luke says something absurd, it’s worth remembering that the kid delivering the line was probably one of the smartest people on set.
Comic timing is its own kind of intelligence. Making a character’s confusion believable, and funny, every single week for 11 seasons is no small feat.
Growing Up on Screen
Gould was just 10 when Modern Family premiered in 2009, and audiences watched him grow up over the show’s run, as Luke went from a chaotic little kid to a young adult heading out into the world.
Playing dumb convincingly, after all, takes real intelligence, and Gould proved that week after week.