Because he's such a great actor some people think he's gay but he isn't. He's what's called: "Gay for pay." :) His character on the show is a wannabe professional clown and that is exactly what he was doing when he was 11 years-old and performing for birthday parties. He's a huge football fan, just as he is on the show, and follows Kansas State University football (he's from Kansas City, Kansas). He has a degree in Sociology from there.
He's also a big NASCAR fan and has driven the pace car twice. He's been in 18 movies since the year 2000 and is the voice of Duke in the two: "Secret Life of Pets," movies. He's been on around 30 television shows including: Dharma and Greg, ER, The West Wing, and Bones, plus has competed on Celebrity Jeopardy, twice. Most people know him for his role on Modern Family but he's had an awesome acting career for years.