Rob Riggle was reportedly offered the role of Phil Dunphy on Modern Family but turned it down, a decision he later admitted he regretted.
The Role That Got Away
The part went to Ty Burrell instead, and his take on the lovable, goofy dad became one of the show’s most iconic performances. It’s hard now to imagine anyone else delivering Phil’s “Phil’s-osophy,” his magic tricks or his famously awkward attempts to be a “cool dad.”
Burrell’s performance earned him two Emmys and made Phil one of the most beloved sitcom fathers of his generation.
Riggle Still Got His Shot
In a funny twist, Riggle still ended up on the show. He appeared as Gil Thorpe, Phil’s competitive real estate rival and one of his recurring nemeses.
Gil was everything Phil wasn’t: smug, aggressive and a little ruthless. Their rivalry gave the show some of its funniest real estate storylines, with each man trying to outdo the other.
A Perfect Fit
Riggle, a former Marine and Daily Show correspondent known for films like 21 Jump Street and Step Brothers, brought big, confident energy that worked perfectly for an antagonist.
In many ways, Gil Thorpe was a better use of his comic style than Phil might have been.
The Backstory Makes It Better
So instead of playing the Dunphy family patriarch, Riggle spent his time on Modern Family trying to beat him at his own job.
Knowing that backstory makes his scenes with Burrell even more fun to watch. On screen, Gil desperately wants what Phil has. Off screen, Riggle once had the chance to be Phil.
It’s a classic Hollywood “what if,” with a happy ending for everyone involved.