Modern Family casts 8-year-old transgender actor for new episode

US sitcom Modern Family has cast an 8-year-old transgender actor for an upcoming episode, continuing to weave LGBTIQ+ stories into the much loved program.

Jackson Millarker will play a trans* character in the episode A Stereotypical Day, the second episode of the shows eighth season.

Millarker has been cast as Tom – a friend to Lily who is the adopted daughter of gay couple Cam (Eric Stonestreet) and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson).

Super proud of this weeks episode of @ModernFam! #Equality#ModernFamilyhttps://t.co/UAZVr0nT19

— Jesse Tyler Ferguson (@jessetyler) September 27, 2016

Modern Family director Ryan Case posted about the casting on Instagram.

“This is Jackson Millarker, he’s 8-years-old, from Atlanta, and just happens to be transgender,” Case wrote.

“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.”

Millarker’s casting is believed to be the first instance of an openly transgender child performing on a television program.

OIP Staff