Sofía Margarita Vergara Vergara, born on July 10, 1972, in Barranquilla, Colombia, is a Colombian-American actress, television producer, presenter, model, and businesswoman.
She rose to international fame through her role as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett on the hit sitcom Modern Family, which aired from 2009 to 2020, and has since expanded her career into judging on America’s Got Talent, starring in dramatic roles like the 2024 miniseries Griselda, and building a successful entrepreneurial empire that includes beauty brands, clothing lines, and media production.
Vergara grew up in a large family in Colombia, studying pre-dentistry before being discovered as a model on a beach at age 17, which launched her into the entertainment industry.
She has been married twice, first to Joe Gonzalez from 1991 to 1993, with whom she shares a son named Manolo, and later to actor Joe Manganiello from 2015 to 2024, and is known for her advocacy in representing Latina women in Hollywood while amassing a net worth that has made her one of the highest-paid actresses in television history.
Siblings
Sofía’s older brother Rafael Vergara was tragically murdered in 1998 during a bungled kidnapping attempt in Bogotá, Colombia, an event that deeply affected her and prompted her to relocate her remaining family to the United States for safety.
Another brother, Julio Vergara, has faced personal struggles, including battles with substance abuse that led to multiple arrests and deportations back to Colombia in the early 2010s.
Sofía’s sister Veronica Vergara maintains a lower profile but often appears in family gatherings and social media posts, sharing a strong bond with Sofía and participating in celebrations for her beauty brand launches.
Additionally, Sandra Vergara, who is biologically Sofía’s cousin but was adopted by Sofía’s parents at a young age and raised as a sibling, has carved out her own path in entertainment, joining the cast of Netflix’s Selling Sunset in 2025 and frequently collaborating with Sofía on family events in Miami.
Career
Vergara’s career began in her native Colombia when she was discovered by a photographer on a beach at 17, leading to her first modeling gig in a Pepsi commercial that aired across Latin America.
She transitioned into television in the mid-1990s, co-hosting the Univision travel show Fuera de Serie from 1995 to 1998, which gained her exposure in the U.S. market, followed by hosting A Que No Te Atreves and making guest appearances on shows like Baywatch.
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Her English-language breakthrough came with the 2002 film Big Trouble, and she continued with supporting roles in movies such as Four Brothers in 2005 and Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns in 2008.
Vergara’s stardom skyrocketed in 2009 when she landed the role of Gloria Delgado-Pritchett on Modern Family, portraying a fiery Colombian trophy wife in the ensemble comedy that ran for 11 seasons and made her the highest-paid TV actress for several years, earning up to $19 million annually by 2012.
During and after the show, she appeared in films like The Smurfs in 2011, Machete Kills in 2013, Chef in 2014, Hot Pursuit in 2015 alongside Reese Witherspoon, and Bottom of the 9th in 2019 with her then-husband Joe Manganiello.
Vergara also voiced characters in animated projects such as Happy Feet Two in 2011 and The Emoji Movie in 2017, and made her Broadway debut as Mama Morton in Chicago in 2009.
In 2020, she joined America’s Got Talent as a judge, now in her fifth season, and executive produced and starred as notorious drug lord Griselda Blanco in the 2024 Netflix miniseries Griselda, marking a shift to dramatic roles.
Beyond acting, Vergara cofounded Latin World Entertainment in 1994, which has grown into a powerhouse for Hispanic talent management, and she has launched successful business ventures including her Toty beauty line, fragrance collections, and apparel deals with retailers like Kmart and Walmart.
Accolades
Vergara has garnered widespread recognition for her contributions to entertainment, earning five Golden Globe nominations, including four for Best Supporting Actress in a Series for Modern Family from 2011 to 2014 and one in 2025 for Best Actress in a Limited Series for Griselda.
She has received five Primetime Emmy nominations: four for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Modern Family between 2010 and 2013, and one in 2024 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series for Griselda.
Vergara has won multiple People’s Choice Awards, including Favorite Comedy TV Star in 2020, Favorite Comedic TV Actress in 2017, and several others for her Modern Family role.
She has also secured Screen Actors Guild Awards as part of the Modern Family ensemble, winning Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014.
In addition, Vergara earned ALMA Awards for Favorite TV Actress in Comedy in 2011 and 2012, and Imagen Awards for Best Supporting Actress in Television in 2011.
Her accolades extend beyond acting, with the inaugural Screen Actors Guild Foundation Actors Inspiration Award in 2015 for her philanthropic work, and she has been named one of the most powerful women in Hispanic entertainment by The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard.
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