During its eleven seasons, the cast of Modern Family shared many personal and professional experiences. Even though the show ended five years ago, they remain close friends and still get together for reunions. While they all cherish their time on the show, not every moment was perfect. Jesse Tyler Ferguson recently shared a poignant memory of the cast supporting Nathan Lane when they learned about the death of Robin Williams, highlighting a difficult moment they faced together.
Josh Hutcherson recently appeared on Craig Ferguson’s podcast, Dinner’s On Me, and they discussed Robin Williams, whom Hutcherson worked with on the film RV. Williams’ unexpected death in 2014 was a shock to everyone. Ferguson recalled finding out the news while Nathan Lane was filming his recurring role on Modern Family. Interestingly, despite having worked with Williams on a famous movie, Lane momentarily forgot about it when he heard the news.
I was with Nathan Lane when we heard about Robin Williams’ death. I remember thinking, ‘I hope someone finds humor in this situation,’ but then I asked Nathan if he’d ever worked with Robin. He told me Robin had played his husband in ‘The Birdcage,’ and I immediately remembered – it’s one of my favorite movies! It was such a great film.
It’s tough being on a cheerful sitcom set and then hearing such sad news, especially because it immediately changes the atmosphere. While Robin Williams’ death was deeply felt by many, those who knew him personally, like Lane, were probably affected the most. Interestingly, I think Eric Stonestreet momentarily forgetting about The Birdcage actually offered a bit of relief and levity when everyone heard the news.
As I mentioned, Nathan Lane and Robin Williams previously collaborated on the 1996 film The Birdcage. The movie was based on the 1978 French film La Cage aux Folles, which itself was adapted from a 1973 play. It tells the story of Albert and Armand, a gay couple whose son is marrying the daughter of a politically conservative senator. The Birdcage was both a commercial hit and, for that era, a rare mainstream film to center on LGBT characters. Considering this, it’s easy to see how successful the film must have been for Lane and Williams.
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As a huge film fan, it’s really touching to see how Robin Williams is still remembered. I recently heard that Dwayne Johnson is honoring him on the set of Jumanji 4 by wearing a necklace with the dice from the original movie – what a sweet tribute! It’s a really nice gesture as they finish up filming the latest installment, and I’m already wondering what other little nods to Williams we’ll spot when the movie finally comes out in 2026. It’s great to see his legacy continuing on screen.
Hearing about Robin Williams’ death was incredibly difficult for his many fans – really, it felt like the whole world was affected. It must have helped Jesse Tyler Ferguson to be with his castmates, especially Nathan Lane, during that time, and I’m sure they shared a lot of memories and stories afterward.
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2025-12-12 20:38