Nolan Gould
The actor who grew up on screen as the endearingly awkward Luke Dunphy, capturing the heart of America for over a decade on a landmark sitcom.
Born 1998 (age 28)·American actor·Birthday: October 28·Generation Z
Biography
Nolan Gould didn't just play a child on television; he grew from one into a young man in front of millions. Joining the cast of 'Modern Family' at age ten, his portrayal of the sweetly eccentric Luke Dunphy became a cornerstone of the show's charm. For eleven seasons, audiences watched his character—and Gould himself—evolve, delivering deadpan humor and unexpected moments of depth. His work on the series made him a familiar face in households worldwide and earned him multiple Screen Actors Guild Awards as part of the ensemble. Beyond acting, Gould developed a reputation as an intellectual, shattering the stereotype of the child star and crafting a unique path through Hollywood.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Nolan was born in 1998, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Nolan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1998
#1 Movie
Saving Private Ryan
Best Picture
Shakespeare in Love
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Nolan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1998Born
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2003Started school
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2011Became a teenager
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Could drive
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2016Could vote
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2019Turned 21
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 28 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed Luke Dunphy for the entire 11-season run of the Emmy-winning series 'Modern Family'.
- Won four Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series with the 'Modern Family' cast.
- Became one of the youngest members of Mensa, the high-IQ society, joining at age 11.
Did You Know?
He is a member of Mensa and has an IQ reported to be around 150.
Gould is an accomplished pianist and taught himself to play the violin for a role.
He is a trained dancer in tap, jazz, and ballet.
“I learned to find the joke in the quiet moments between takes.”
