Tyler Gerald Burrell was born on August 22, 1967, in Grants Pass, Oregon, where his family owned a business. His parents, Sheri Rose (Hauck),a teacher, and Gary Gerald Burrell, a family therapist, instilled in him a strong sense of ancestry, being primarily of English and German descent.
He pursued his education at Southern Oregon University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. While working as a bartender, he attended The University of Oregon before completing his master's degree in fine arts at Penn State University.
In the early stages of his career, Burrell made appearances in films such as Black Hawk Down (2001) and Dawn of the Dead (2004). He also took to the Broadway stage, starring in a production of "Macbeth".
Before landing his breakout role, Burrell made guest appearances on Law & Order (1990) and later starred in the comedy sitcoms Out of Practice (2005) and Back to You (2007),alongside Patricia Heaton and Kelsey Grammer. His film credits include The Incredible Hulk (2008) and National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007).
In 2009, Christopher Lloyd handed him the role of Phil Dunphy on the highly acclaimed television series Modern Family (2009),which garnered widespread critical acclaim, numerous Emmy awards, and consistently topped television ratings. Burrell received five Emmy nominations and two wins for his iconic portrayal.
More recently, he has appeared in films such as Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014),Muppets Most Wanted (2014),Finding Dory (2016),and Rough Night (2017).
