Emmy nominee Sofia Vergara made viewers laugh for more than 10 years on “Modern Family.”
And in real life, family is just as important to her.
Sofia gave birth to her sonManolo Gonzalez Vergarain 1991 when she was just 19 years old.
His father is Joe Gonzalez, Sofia’s high school flame and her first husband.
(The couple was married from 1991 to 1993.)
In 2024, Sofia and Manolo together launched the TOMA brand of empanadas.
“It destroyed my family,” she recalled in a conversation withVariety.
“It destroyed my mom.
It changed our lives completely.
We didn’t know what was happening, why he had been killed.”
She then moved her mother and siblings to Miami to live with her and her son.
He began to experiment with alcohol and drugs when he went off to college and soon became addicted.
She has been open about how being a mom at such a young age influenced her parenting style.
Vergara said being a parent is “very rewarding,” but also comes with its share of headaches.
But it is fun because I kind of grew up together with my son."
Instead of buying a pair of shoes, you have to buy diapers.
When you have a kid, you have to be more mature."
He wants to do things in life and he’s excited about life.
I think that’s what all mothers wish for.
[He’s] kind to other people.
I don’t have anything bad to say about my son."
But in 2018, Manolo had to say goodbye to a furry friend after a freak accident.
He adopted a rescue dog named Mamacita and was instantly smitten with the new pup.
But just three days after adopting Mamacita, Manolo witnessed her life come to a tragic end.
“Mamacita died.”
Manolo was visibly heartbroken when sharing the sad news.
“There was nothing they could do.
Those were the best three days of my life.
I’m so sorry, Mamacita,” he said on social media.
After losing Mamacita, Manolo adopted a Chihuahua mix named Baguette who inspired a new business venture.
In 2019, Manolo launched the CANINI by Baguette line of dog beds and other essential items for dogs.
“At 28, ‘Cancer’ was not a word I expected to hear,” Vergara wrote onInstagram.
“It was just a routine checkup.
But the doctors found a lump in my throat, and that word became part of my story.
I spent countless hours in radiation treatments, and, eventually, in surgery.
Today, I get to call myself a cancer survivor.”
Schedule your annual check-up for this year if you haven’t already."
“It was very traumatic,” she shared in a conversation withWebMDin 2013.
“I was young.
I had a young son.
But I tried not to panic.
I decided to take charge and inform myself.
But one fan took their admiration too far, and targeted both Sofia and her son.
He was released from jail in 2023.
But while on parole, Brown began trespassing near Vergara’s property.
He allegedly also sent Vergara a concerning letter promising to find her so the two could be together.
(Unfortunately,Vergara is used to dealing with lengthy legal battles.)
“At times, Brown has stated Petitioner (Vergara) ‘belongs’ to him.
Vergara and her son were granted a five-year restraining order against Brown in late 2023.
