Nolan Gould as a Child Star?

Nolan Gould is best known for his role as Luke Dunphy on the hit sitcom Modern Family. He joined the show when he was just 10 years old in 2009 and remained on it for its entire 11-season run until 2020. During that time, he grew up in front of millions of viewers. This raises the question – was Nolan Gould truly a child star? Let’s take a closer look at his career and impact to better understand his status as a child actor.

When Did Nolan Gould Start Acting?

Nolan Gould’s acting career began when he was just 3 years old in 2002. His first role was in a short film called Validation. He then went on to appear in several commercials and minor TV roles over the next few years.

Some of his early credits included:

• Ghoulies III: Ghoulies Go to College (2008)
• The Music Never Stopped (2011)
• Friends with Benefits (2011)

However, it wasn’t until being cast as Luke Dunphy on Modern Family in 2009 that Nolan Gould became a household name. He was only 10 years old when the show premiered.

Modern Family’s Impact and Popularity

Modern Family became an instant hit on ABC when it debuted in 2009. It remained a top 10 rated show throughout its run. At its peak, Modern Family averaged 12 million viewers per episode.

The show’s mix of heart and humor resonated with audiences. It won the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy series 5 years in a row from 2010-2014.

Being part of such a popular show made the child actors, including Nolan Gould, familiar faces to millions each week.

Nolan Gould’s Role and Performance on Modern Family

On Modern Family, Nolan Gould played the role of Luke Dunphy, the rambunctious youngest child of Claire (Julie Bowen) and Phil (Ty Burrell).

Luke is known for his dimwitted yet charming personality and frequent misadventures. Some of Luke’s funniest storylines over the years included:

• Joining the varsity basketball team in middle school due to a clerical error
• Accidentally shooting his sister Alex with a toy gun
• Getting stuck in a washing machine while hiding during a game of hide-and-seek

Gould perfectly embodied the mischievous and goofy nature of Luke throughout his over 200 episode arc on the series. His comedic timing and ability to deliver Luke’s funniest lines became a highlight for many fans.

Critical Response to Gould’s Performance

Nolan Gould earned positive marks from television critics for his portrayal of Luke Dunphy. While not the show’s breakout character, he was often cited as one of the reasons for the show’s enduring success.

Some key notes on his performance:

• The AV Club praised his “good comic timing” in early seasons.
• IGN called Gould one of the shows “secret weapons” thanks to the humor he brought as Luke.
• IndieWire appreciated that he avoided making Luke a one-note dumb kid character.

While not necessarily a prestige dramatic character, Gould developed Luke into a funny and believable pre-teen and teenager over 11 seasons.

Nolan Gould’s Fame and Success as a Child Star

Between the popularity of Modern Family and his visible role as Luke Dunphy within it, its fair to characterize Nolan Gould’s experience on the show as being a genuine child star. Here are some indicators of his fame and success during that period:

• Appeared on Kids Choice Awards and Walk of Fame ceremonies.
• Named among the richest child actors with an estimated net worth up to $7 million.
• Included on lists of “TV’s Highest Paid Kid Actors” and “Top 30 Richest Kids in the World” during the peak of Modern Family’s run.
• Featured prominently in press about the show and profiles of the child actors on it.
• Had cameos as himself or Luke on other TV shows like Yes Man, Fargo, and Space Buddies.

Additionally, Gould displayed other common traits of child stars like missing much of his standard schooling to work on set and having his parents and studio teachers provide instruction between filming.

While the tabloid media craze around many child stars didn’t surround Nolan Gould, his steady fame and success on such a hit show unambiguously made him a child star during his Luke Dunphy era.

Challenges Nolan Gould Faced Growing Up on Modern Family

However, being a child star isn’t always easy. Nolan Gould faced several challenges growing up in the public eye on Modern Family including:

Keeping Up with Education

• Had to balance working on the show with receiving schooling on set and through studio teachers.
• Missed out on traditional public school experiences like prom, extracurricular activities with consistent peer groups etc.

Intense Schedule

• Spent many hours on demanding filming and promotion schedules for up to 9 months per year.
• Had limited time for typical childhood leisure and social activities.

Public Scrutiny

• Had his appearance and maturity judged by millions of viewers as he visibly aged on screen.
• Had minimal privacy or anonymity during his peak fame years.

Typecasting Concerns

• Worried about being pigeonholed into similar ‘dimwitted kid’ roles after portraying Luke Dunphy for 11 years.
• Expressed interest in demonstrating greater range as an actor after Modern Family concluded.

Navigating these pressures at such a young age was a unique challenge. While Gould has spoken fondly of his time on the show, it undoubtedly shaped his adolescent experiences differently than that of a typical non-famous child.

Nolan Gould’s Current Projects and Career Goals

Modern Family ended its acclaimed run in 2020 after 11 seasons. So what’s next for Nolan Gould as he transitions from child star to mature actor?

College Life

After being tutored on studios sets for much of his education, Gould has shifted focus to attending college. He enrolled at the University of Southern California in 2020 with a major in anthropology.

Attending university allows Gould to have a somewhat normal young adult life out of the spotlight. In interviews he has spoken about enjoying the campus social environment and attending football games.

Space Force

While still enrolled at USC, Gould has continued acting with notable turns in recent series. He appeared in two episodes of Space Force starring Steve Carell in 2020. He also booked a recurring guest role on season 2 of The Mom Project in 2022.

These gigs allowed Gould to show he could pivot into different comedic roles outside of just Modern Family.

Future Plans

Gould remains passionate about acting and intends it to be a lifelong career. Though he’s open to any genre, he has noted interest in more action oriented roles and even superhero parts.

As he continues honing his craft into adulthood, expect Nolan Gould to successfully make the transition from child star to bonafide Hollywood actor. His talent and work ethic was apparent even from a young age on Modern Family.

Was Nolan Gould’s Career Trajectory Typical of a Child Star?

Nolan Gould’s path from child actor to teen star closely mirrors that of many other youths who achieved fame on hit TV shows. Let’s see how his experience aligns with common child star trends:

Early Start

Like most child stars, Gould began acting at a very young age. He booked his first gig by age 3 and had over half a dozen credits before landing his big role on Modern Family at age 10.

Family Involvement

Nolan’s parents Angela and Scott Gould were highly involved in managing his blossoming career. They accompanied him to filming and acting classes during his rise to fame.

Long Running TV Role

Gould’s career took off by getting cast on a network TV series, Modern Family, that aired for over a decade. Most iconic child stars achieve fame from starring roles on youth-oriented shows.

Challenging Transition Out of Role

As the show ended, Gould expressed concern about typecasting and proving he could extend his skills into new types of characters beyond just Luke Dunphy. Difficulty breaking away from a famous childhood role is common issue.

Attended Regular High School

Unlike stars tutored exclusively on set, Gould was enrolled in a mainstream high school, attending part-time while acting. He wanted a somewhat normal social experience.

Pursued Higher Education

After finishing high school, Gould opted to go to college at USC before fully relaunching into acting again as an adult. Higher education is often deferred for child stars.

So while achieving an atypical level of Hollywood success, Nolan Gould’s general path does share many similarities with other famous child actors over the years. The patterns of early engagement in the business, sacrificing normalcy for fame, and struggling to redefine oneself in young adulthood are near universal.

FAQ About Nolan Gould’s Child Star Experience

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Nolan Gould’s upbringing as a famous child actor on Modern Family:

How old was Nolan when he started on Modern Family?

Nolan Gould was 10 years old when Modern Family first aired in 2009. He auditioned for and won the role of Luke Dunphy at age 9.

Was he really home schooled on set?

Yes, due to the busy filming schedule, Gould was home schooled for part of elementary school and most of high school. He had in-person teachers that traveled with him.

Did he get along well with the other kid actors?

Yes, by all accounts Gould had great friendships with Sarah Hyland who played Haley and Ariel Winter who played Alex. The three young stars grew up together over 11 seasons.

What was Nolan’s best Modern Family episode?

Fans and critics agree some of Gould’s finest Luke moments came in episodes like “Halloween,” where Luke went viral for his risque costume, and “The Feud” where Luke gets trapped in the washing machine.

How much money did he make on Modern Family?

Estimates suggest Gould made between $70,000 – $100,000 per episode during the peak Modern Family years. That likely put his total earnings between $5-7 million.

Did he struggle after Modern Family ended?

The transition was challenging as Gould has been open about typecasting fears and entering adulthood outside his famous role. But college and new acting jobs are helping him redefine himself.

Overall, Gould took on the pressures of child stardom well thanks to a strong support system. His talent and work ethic poise him for continued success.

Conclusion

In summary, while still young, Nolan Gould undoubtedly qualifies for child star status due to his experiences, fame, and success starring on Modern Family for 11 seasons as Luke Dunphy.

He faced various difficulties like balancing education and maintaining some semblance of normalcy under the glare of Hollywood. But support from his family and co-stars helped him thrive in the role from ages 10 to 21.

As Modern Family wrapped up, it marked the end of Gould’s childhood fame. He’s now adjusting to adult life as a college student looking to book new mature acting roles. Only time will tell how he channels his talents and childhood fame going forward.

Nolan Gould’s journey illuminates both the rewards and challenges of being a child actor. For over a decade, he grew up in front of America making people laugh as the mischievous Luke on a beloved sitcom. He delivered a truly memorable childhood performance but also sacrificed privacy and schooling during formative years.

While fame and fortune came early, Gould has demonstrated the drive necessary to build a career over the long-term. As he balance education and new creative goals, he seems on the path to successfully transitioning from child star to versatile professional adult actor.