Remember Haley Dunphy from ‘Modern Family’? See How Sarah Hyland Has Transformed at 35
Sarah Jane Hyland, born November 24, 1990, in Manhattan, New York, is an actress and singer who has grown up in the public eye. She is the daughter of actors Melissa Canaday and Edward James Hyland and the sister of actor Ian Hyland.
From a young age, she showed a talent for performing and attended the Professional Performing Arts School in Manhattan. Her early roles included appearances in films like Private Parts (1997), Annie (1999), and Blind Date (2007). She also made her Broadway debut as young Jacqueline Bouvier in Grey Gardens (2006–2007), giving her a strong foundation in theater before breaking into television.
Hyland’s career took a defining turn in 2009 when she was cast as Haley Dunphy in the ABC sitcom Modern Family. The show became a cultural phenomenon, running for eleven seasons until 2020. Hyland quickly became a fan favorite, and her performance earned her a nomination for the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
Alongside her co-stars, she won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series multiple times from 2011 to 2014.
Modern Family gave Hyland global exposure and shaped her career in a way few other roles could. She honed her comedic timing, learned how to navigate the pressures of long-term fame, and became a recognizable face in households worldwide.
The show opened doors to other projects, both in film and music, and allowed her to branch into hosting and producing while maintaining her acting career. In her own words, she has said that the series taught her discipline and resilience, especially while managing health challenges on set.
During her time on Modern Family, Hyland also took roles in films such as Geek Charming (2011), Struck by Lightning (2012), Scary Movie 5 (2013), Vampire Academy (2014), See You in Valhalla (2015), XOXO (2016), Dirty Dancing (2017), and The Wedding Year (2019). She also participated in Broadway and off-Broadway productions, including The Great Gatsby (2025) and Just in Time (2025–2026). Beyond acting, she pursued music, covering songs like “Closer” and “Don’t Wanna Know” with Boyce Avenue, the latter reaching No. 62 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 in December 2016.
Hyland has remained active in television and other media. From 2022 to 2023, she hosted Love Island USA on Peacock. She also made guest appearances on shows like America’s Got Talent and starred in the Peacock film Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin. In addition, she launched Sourse, a chocolate-infused vitamin line, becoming creative director and co-founder in 2021. These endeavors show her versatility and willingness to explore multiple avenues in entertainment and business.
Hyland has faced serious health challenges throughout her life. Born with kidney dysplasia, she received a kidney transplant from her father in 2012. After the first transplant failed, she underwent a second kidney transplant in 2017 from her brother, Ian. She is on anti-rejection medication and steroids, which makes maintaining weight and muscle difficult.
She has spoken openly about the emotional strain, admitting in Self magazine that she once contemplated suicide because she felt like a burden. Despite these challenges, she continued to work, often filming Modern Family while on bed rest.
In her personal life, Hyland dated co-stars Matt Prokop and Dominic Sherwood before becoming engaged to Wells Adams in 2019. The couple married on August 20, 2022, in a California vineyard with several Modern Family co-stars attending.
Modern Family defined Sarah Hyland’s career, giving her worldwide recognition, critical acclaim, and a platform to expand into music, theater, hosting, and business ventures. She used the show as a launching point to diversify her career and establish herself as a versatile performer.
Sarah Hyland is a remarkable example of resilience and talent. Despite personal and health struggles, she has grown into a multi-talented entertainer with a thriving career. Modern Family was the foundation, but her continued work proves she is much more than her breakout role. How do you feel about her journey from Haley Dunphy to a multi-faceted career? Share your thoughts in the comments.
