Modern Family will feature transgender child actor
LOS ANGELES - Popular American sitcom Modern Family will include an openly transgender child actor on TV.
LOS ANGELES - Popular American sitcom Modern Family will include an openly transgender child actor on TV.
In the upcoming episode, entitled A Stereotypical Day, parents Cameron “Cam” (Eric Stonestreet) and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) permit their daughter Lily (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons) to have her transgender friend Tom over for a play-date. Both parents are filled with pride that they have done well in raising an accepting and open-minded child. But that pride quickly diminishes when Lily insults her friend, which they use as a teachable moment.
Lily’s playmate Tom will be played by 8-year-old transgender actor Jackson Millarker.
Ryan Case, who directed A Stereotypical Day, posted a shot of Millarker on set. “This is Jackson Millarker,” Case announced. He’s eight years old, from Atlanta, and just happens to be transgender. He plays Lily’s friend Tom in this week’s Modern Family and he’s wonderful. One of the many reasons I love being a part of this show.”
Modern Family has had 77 Emmy nominations and taken home 22 of the awards. The sitcom is tied with Frasier for most wins in the Outstanding Comedy Series category and is currently in its eighth season.
Other shows that have transgender characters on screen played by transgender actors include Orange Is The New Black and Nashville, but in adult roles, not child roles. - REUTERS