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Rico Rodriguez Says He 'Couldn't Help But Cry' When Modern Family Cast Celebrated His Birthday After Dad Died

For Rico Rodriguez, life often imitated art on Modern Family — with many of his own cast members serving as something of a de facto family after the death of his own father in between seasons of the show.

Noting that it was his father who often helped him with contract negotiations, the actor explained that he questioned whether he would come back for season 9. Rodriguez added that when filming resumed, he grew emotional when the cast celebrated his birthday at a table read. Knowing that I had you guys to be there with, to uplift and just have a good time, it really made the decision a lot easier, to come back."

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