Modern Family wins three Emmy Awards: See how the characters have changed

MODERN Family scooped three awards at this year’s Emmys. This is how your favourite characters look now - and when it all began.

COMEDY series Modern Family scooped three awards at this year’s Emmys, including for Best Comedy Series, and retained its status as a powerhouse of the small screen.

Actor Ty Burrell, who plays Phil Dunphy was awarded a trophy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

The show’s director Gail Mancuso took home an Emmy for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series.

Five years in a row ... Modern Family creator Steven Levitan with cast and crew accepts the Outstanding Comedy Series Emmy Picture: Getty

Overall, Modern Family won the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series — for the fifth year in a row — against shows such as Veep, Orange Is The New Black and The Big Bang Theory.

While the premise remains focused on the lives of three very different but related families, the show has changed over the years.

Modern Family...in the beginning. Picture: Supplied

The younger characters have grown up, moved on to new adventures and, as you’d expect, changed in appearance.

Holiday time ... the first vacation episode to Hawaii in season one was so successful that the Modern Family clan took other trips together in seasons to come. Picture: Supplied

Their on-screen parents have experienced their own evolutions in storylines, from marriage to new children and everything in between.

Popular cast member ... Nolan Gould, who plays Luke Dunphy. Picture: John Grainger

All grown up ... Ariel Winter, who plays Alex Dunphy. Picture: Richard Dobson

Some of the best moments from the show have occurred on family trips, which have seen the cast travel to Hawaii for a beach getaway, Montana for a “dude ranch” adventure and even Australia so Phil could discover his true roots.

Also this season, the adults spent a weekend in Las Vegas and get up to all manners of mischief.

On the ranch ... Modern Family’s vacation episode to a “dude ranch” in Montana was voted by fans as one of the best episodes. Picture: Supplied

Sin City ... the Modern Family cast also took the popular Emmy winning show to Las Vegas, where they filmed an episode. Picture: Supplied

While the Australian episode was much-hyped and created a spectacle while the cast and crew were here to film, it fell flat and attracted poor reviews from critics.

Well, here at least. In the US, audiences were much more forgiving of the cliches, obvious product placements and cringe-worthy Australianisms.

G’day mate ... Modern Family filmed an episode in Australia earlier this year. Picture: Supplied

Together with adopted daughter Lily , Mitch and Cameron have provided a whole host of humorous, poignant and touching memorable moments.

The relationship between the pair has had a positive social impact in the US, portraying a functioning same-sex couple raising a child.

Happy families ... Lily’s long-awaited arrival brought joy to Cam and Mitch’s lives. Picture: Supplied

Not a baby any more. Modern Family’s Claire (Julie Bowen) and Lily (Aubrey Anderson Emmons) Picture: Supplied

In real life, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who plays Mitch, has used his growing profile to campaign for marriage equality in the US and further afield.

When Modern Family visited Australia, he and cast mate Eric Stonestreet, who plays Mitch, sent a direct message to the government on the issue.

Gone country ... Cam, Mitch and Lily visiting family in Missouri in a recent episode. Picture: Supplied

In previous seasons, their characters have spoken about California’s Proposition 8 law, which overturned same-sex marriage, and then celebrated the repeal of the legislation.

They get married at the end of season five.

Actress Sofia Vergara in 2010 Picture: Getty

Sofia Vergara at the 66th Emmy Awards today in LA. Picture: AP)

Jay (Ed O’Neill) and Gloria (Sofia Vergara) have welcomed a new baby, giving Manny (Rico Rodriguez) a little brother and the extended family a bundle of joy to dote on.

Rico Rodriguez (Manny Delgado), Sarah Hyland (Hayley Dunphy) and Nolan Gould (Luke Dunphy) have all grown up on our screens in their television family. Picture: Supplied.

New arrival ... baby Joe was a surprising for Gloria and Jay. Picture: Supplied

Phil and Claire (Julie Bowen) continue to have their hands full with their three children Hayley (Sarah Hyland), Alex (Ariel Winter) and Luke (Nolan Gould).

The relationship between this headstrong mum and lovable and sometimes fim-witted dad is another favourite part of the series for many viewers.

Role playing ... the episode where Claire and Phil try to spice things up by assuming alter egos was another memorable one. Picture: Supplied

The show has played host to a number of guest and recurring characters, from Cam and Mitch’s hopeless trainwreck of a Sal to Hayley’s musician on-off boyfriend Dylan.

One of the more adorable regular faces has been in the form of Stella, a dog Jay reluctantly adopted and came to love.

That face ... Stella is one of two pets in the show, joining Cam and Mitch’s cat Larry. Picture: Supplied

After five seasons, Modern Family remains a firm favourite across the world and is a strong ratings performer here for Network Ten.