Remember Haley Dunphy from ‘Modern Family’? Here’s What Sarah Hyland Looks Like Now at 35
Sarah Jane Hyland, born on November 24, 1990, in Manhattan, New York, has grown into one of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces. The daughter of actors Melissa Canaday and Edward James Hyland, she began performing at a young age.
She attended the Professional Performing Arts School in Manhattan, which helped shape her early career in acting and singing. Her first screen role was in the 1997 film Private Parts, where she played Howard Stern’s daughter. She later appeared in Annie (1999) and Blind Date (2007), steadily building her resume in both film and theater.
Hyland’s big breakthrough came in 2009 when she was cast as Haley Dunphy on the hit ABC sitcom Modern Family. The show ran for eleven seasons until 2020 and was a defining role in her career.
She received widespread recognition and praise for her work, earning a nomination for the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. More importantly, Modern Family cemented her place in Hollywood, giving her the opportunity to showcase her comedic timing and charm on a global platform.
The ensemble cast also won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series multiple times from 2011 to 2014. Hyland herself has said that the show shaped her professionally and personally, helping her learn discipline, resilience, and how to navigate fame from a young age.
While Modern Family brought her massive fame, Hyland has always been active in other projects. She starred in Disney Channel Original Movie Geek Charming (2011), appeared in Struck by Lightning (2012), and had roles in Scary Movie 5 (2013), Vampire Academy (2014), See You in Valhalla (2015), XOXO (2016), Dirty Dancing (2017), and The Wedding Year (2019). She has also performed on Broadway and off-Broadway in productions like Grey Gardens (2006–2007), The Great Gatsby (2025), and Just in Time (2025–2026), demonstrating her range as a performer.
In addition to acting, Hyland has pursued a music career. She sang covers like “Closer” and “Don’t Wanna Know” with Boyce Avenue, with “Don’t Wanna Know” reaching No. 62 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 in December 2016. She has also collaborated with artists such as BoTalks, Jordan McGraw, and Adam DeVine. Her music work shows her versatility and willingness to explore different creative outlets beyond acting.
Hyland’s career expanded further with hosting roles, including Love Island USA on Peacock from 2022 to 2023. She also appeared in commercials for Nintendo 3DS and Taco Bell, partnered with Olay, and launched a chocolate-infused vitamin line called Sourse in 2021, taking on the role of creative director. These ventures demonstrate her ability to combine entertainment with business and branding opportunities.
On the personal side, Hyland has faced significant health challenges. Born with kidney dysplasia, she received her first kidney transplant from her father in 2012. After that kidney failed, she underwent a second transplant in 2017 from her younger brother, Ian. She takes anti-rejection medication and steroids, which makes maintaining her weight and muscle mass difficult.
In interviews, she has spoken openly about the physical and emotional toll, saying in Self magazine that she once contemplated suicide because she felt like a burden on her family. Despite these struggles, she has continued to work, sometimes filming Modern Family while on bed rest.
Hyland’s personal life has also seen highs and lows. She had relationships with actors 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 Modern Family co-stars in attendance.
Modern Family remains the cornerstone of Sarah Hyland’s career. The show gave her global recognition, industry respect, and a platform to take on bigger roles in film, music, and business. She has successfully transitioned from child star to accomplished actress, singer, and entrepreneur, proving her resilience and versatility.
Sarah Hyland is a remarkable example of someone who has used early fame responsibly while facing serious personal challenges. She continues to evolve professionally and personally, inspiring fans with her talent and determination. What do you think of her career journey and how Modern Family shaped her? Share your thoughts in the comments.