Sarah HylandThough Sarah Hyland seemed to effortlessly portray the fun-loving Haley Dunphy on Modern Family for 11 seasons, she faced personal battles behind the scenes. Hyland was born with kidney dysplasia. It caused her to have 16 surgeries, including two kidney transplants. The first was from her father and the second from her brother after the first failed.
During her time on the show, Hyland revealed how exhausting it was to manage her health while still delivering a stellar performance. On Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s Dinner’s on Me podcast, she reflected, “There are some episodes… I don’t even remember filming because I was asleep between takes.” Despite her pain, Hyland remained dedicated: “I’d collapse when they yelled cut but was always 100% when they yelled action.”
Surviving Abuse and Finding Healing
Sarah Hyland’s struggles weren’t just limited to her health. Early in her Modern Family journey, she endured a toxic relationship with actor Matt Prokop, whom she met on the set of Geek Charming. Hyland accused Prokop of emotional and physical abuse. She got a restraining order against him. Fellow Modern Family star Julie Bowen supported her during the difficult time, helping her escape the situation.
Reflecting on her experience on The Meredith Vieira Show, Hyland said, “People have to go through things to become the person they are today.” In 2024, Prokop was arrested for assaulting another girlfriend. This confirmed her decision to leave the abusive relationship. It validated her strength and resilience.
A New Career Path: From Sitcom Star to Commercial Success
Since Modern Family ended in 2020, Sarah Hyland has pursued various projects. But, she has largely stayed out of the Hollywood spotlight. Much of her post-sitcom work has been in commercial advertising. From promoting Taco Bell to Nintendo and Jeep, Hyland has used her charm to connect with audiences in a new way.
One standout campaign was her 2021 Taco Bell ad, a horror spoof called The Craving. It featured Stranger Things star Joe Keery. Hyland joked about the experience on Instagram, saying, “Dreams do come true! I’m in @tacobell’s #nachofries latest film!” Her fiancé, Wells Adams, humorously added in the comments, “I’m weirdly OK with you dating Steve [Keery’s character].”
In Frame – Sarah Hyland
— Celebrity World (@iCelebsWorld) October 18, 2024
🇺🇲 #SarahHyland pic.twitter.com/MJF4zNrfE9
Reflecting on Modern Family’s Ending and Expressing Disappointment
Though Modern Family made her career, Hyland is unhappy with the ending of her character’s story. In an April 2020 interview with Cosmopolitan, she vented: “After Haley had twins, it felt like her storyline just fell to the wayside.””
Hyland acknowledged that motherhood is a big part of many women’s lives. But, she felt the show didn’t highlight Haley’s potential as a “badass” stylist or brand mogul. It left her professional growth unexplored. This creative disappointment left Hyland eager to revisit Haley’s journey someday.
Sarah Hyland missed the SAGs due to her kidney dysplasia. We're genuinely thrilled to see her back and looking wonderful. #Emmys pic.twitter.com/myHeQrwjVX
— TODAY Style (@TODAYstyle) September 17, 2017
Hyland Joins the Modern Family Reunion and Teases a Possible Reboot
Even though Modern Family ended, Sarah Hyland has stayed close to her castmates. In November 2023, Sofia Vergara hosted a cast reunion. It brought together nearly the entire Pritchett-Dunphy clan, except for Ty Burrell, who had scheduling conflicts. For Hyland, the reunion was a heartfelt reminder of how much the show’s family dynamic meant to her.
In a 2024 interview with People, Hyland expressed openness to the idea of a Modern Family reboot. “Creatively, I’d love to know what Haley is up to now,” she said. “I want to see her balancing motherhood and business, just like Claire [Dunphy] did.” A reboot would also allow Hyland to reconnect with her beloved co-stars, including Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who she says she’d love to work with again.