Sarah Jane Hyland (born November 24, 1990) is an American actress and singer best known for her decade-long portrayal of Haley Dunphy on the ABC sitcom Modern Family from 2009 to 2020. Born and raised in New York City, Hyland began her acting career as a child, making her film debut in Private Parts (1997). Over her career, she has balanced work in television, film, Broadway, and music, becoming a recognized figure across multiple entertainment platforms.
Sarah Jane Hyland Bio
Sarah Jane Hyland was born on November 24, 1990, in the East Village of Lower Manhattan in New York City, New York. She comes from a family deeply rooted in the performing arts. Her mother, Melissa Canaday, and her father, Edward James Hyland, are both established actors, and her younger brother, Ian Hyland, is also an actor. This theatrical environment provided Hyland with early exposure to the entertainment industry and laid the foundation for her future career.
Hyland attended the Professional Performing Arts School in Manhattan, an institution known for nurturing young talent in acting, music, and dance. Her education at this prestigious performing arts school equipped her with the skills and training necessary to pursue professional acting at a young age. The combination of her family’s artistic background and her formal training set the stage for her entry into the entertainment industry.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in New York City with actor parents, Sarah Jane Hyland was immersed in the world of theater and performance from an early age. Her parents’ careers in acting gave her firsthand insight into the entertainment business and sparked her interest in pursuing acting professionally. As a child, she was exposed to both the stage and screen, providing her with a well-rounded understanding of different performance mediums.
Her training at the Professional Performing Arts School emphasized a comprehensive approach to performing arts education. The school, located in Manhattan, is designed for students pursuing careers in entertainment, offering specialized instruction that prepares young artists for the demands of professional work. This educational foundation would prove invaluable as Hyland transitioned from student to working actress.
At a young age, Hyland faced significant health challenges. She was diagnosed with kidney dysplasia as a child, a condition that would require ongoing medical attention and multiple surgeries throughout her life. Despite these health obstacles, her passion for acting remained strong, and she continued to pursue opportunities in the entertainment industry while managing her condition.
Path to Acting
Sarah Jane Hyland began her professional acting career at the young age of seven when she was cast as Howard Stern’s daughter in the 1997 film Private Parts. This early role marked the beginning of her journey in Hollywood and demonstrated her natural talent for performance. The experience of working on a major film production at such a young age provided her with valuable insight into the industry.
Following her debut, Hyland continued to book roles in both film and television. She portrayed Molly in the 1999 television film adaptation of Annie and later played Maddie Healy in the NBC series Lipstick Jungle. These roles allowed her to develop her craft and gain experience across different formats of television production. She also appeared on Broadway as the young Jacqueline Bouvier in the critically acclaimed musical Grey Gardens from 2006 to 2007.
The combination of her New York stage training, television experience, and early film work positioned Hyland well for the next major step in her career. Her versatility as a performer and her ability to handle both comedic and dramatic material made her an attractive candidate for larger projects in Hollywood.
Sarah Jane Hyland Career
Early Career (1997–2008)
Sarah Jane Hyland spent her early career building a diverse portfolio of work across film, television, and stage. After her debut in Private Parts (1997), she appeared in various projects that showcased her range as a young performer. Her role in the Broadway production of Grey Gardens was particularly significant, as it represented her most substantial theatrical work to that point and demonstrated her ability to perform at the highest level of American theater.
During this period, Hyland also gained visibility through her work in television, appearing in guest roles and supporting characters in various shows. Her appearance in Lipstick Jungle from 2008 allowed her to work alongside established actresses and further develop her skills in a primetime television setting.
Breakthrough (2009–2020)
Sarah Jane Hyland achieved her breakthrough in 2009 when she was cast as Haley Dunphy in the ABC sitcom Modern Family. The show, which aired from 2009 to 2020, became one of the most successful comedies in television history. Hyland’s portrayal of Haley, the eldest Dunphy daughter, ran for all eleven seasons and became her signature role.
Modern Family received widespread critical acclaim and won numerous awards throughout its run. From 2011 through 2014, Hyland and the entire cast won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series each year. Her individual performance earned recognition as well, including a nomination for the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
The long-running nature of Modern Family provided Hyland with a stable platform to pursue additional creative projects. During the show’s run, she appeared in several films, including the Disney Channel Original Movie Geek Charming (2011), Struck by Lightning (2012), Scary Movie 5 (2013), Vampire Academy (2014), See You in Valhalla (2015), XOXO (2016), Dirty Dancing (2017), and The Wedding Year (2019).
Notable Works and Milestones
Beyond her work on Modern Family, Sarah Jane Hyland has demonstrated her talents as a singer and stage performer. In 2016, she collaborated with Boyce Avenue to cover songs including “Closer” and “Don\’t Wanna Know,” which peaked at number 62 on the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 chart. She has also performed on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and in various concert settings throughout her career.
In 2019, Hyland released her debut single “Met At a Party” with Jordan McGraw at the Teen Choice Awards, releasing the track through Republic Records. Her music career complements her acting work and showcases her versatility as an entertainer.
Continued Work (2021–Present)
Following the conclusion of Modern Family in 2020, Sarah Jane Hyland continued to expand her career into new areas. In October 2021, she became the creative director and co-founder of Sourse, a line of chocolate-infused vitamins including Beauty Bites and Mood Bites. This venture marked her entry into entrepreneurship and the beauty and wellness industry.
In August 2022, Hyland began hosting Love Island USA on Peacock, marking her transition into television hosting. That same month, she appeared on America\’s Got Talent alongside Sofía Vergara during a live results show. She also starred in Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin, which premiered in November 2022 on Peacock.
Hyland returned to the stage in May 2024, playing Audrey in the Off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors opposite Andrew Barth Feldman. In February 2025, she made her return to Broadway as Daisy in The Great Gatsby, starring opposite Ryan McCartan in the title role.
Sarah Jane Hyland Health
Sarah Jane Hyland has been open about her lifelong battle with kidney dysplasia, a condition she was diagnosed with as a child. In April 2012, she received a kidney transplant from her father, Edward James Hyland. Unfortunately, that kidney failed after a few years, leading to a second transplant in September 2017, this time donated by her younger brother, Ian Hyland.
Hyland requires regular anti-rejection medicines and steroids to prevent her body from rejecting the donated kidney. These medications have caused challenges with maintaining weight and muscle mass, and she has been placed on bed rest multiple times. She has undergone a total of 16 surgeries to improve her health, including numerous kidney surgeries and a laparoscopic surgery to treat endometriosis. Despite these challenges, Hyland continued to work, filming Modern Family episodes even during the most difficult periods of her health struggles.
Sarah Jane Hyland Awards
Sarah Jane Hyland has received recognition for her work throughout her career. She was nominated for the Critics\’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in Modern Family. Additionally, she was part of the ensemble cast that won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for four consecutive years from 2011 to 2014.
Sarah Jane Hyland Family
Sarah Jane Hyland is the daughter of Edward James Hyland and Melissa Canaday, both of whom are established actors. Her younger brother, Ian Hyland, is also an actor and was the donor for her second kidney transplant in 2017. The family has been supportive throughout Hyland\’s career and her health challenges, with her father initially donating a kidney before her brother provided the second transplant.
Personal Life
Sarah Jane Hyland was previously in a four-year relationship with her Geek Charming co-star Matt Prokop from 2010. In August 2014, she obtained a domestic violence temporary restraining order against Prokop for physical and verbal abuse during their relationship. The restraining order became permanent in October 2014. She later dated her Shadowhunters and Vampire Academy co-star Dominic Sherwood from 2015 until 2017.
In 2017, Hyland began a relationship with Wells Adams, a radio and television personality and former contestant on The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise. The couple became engaged in July 2019 and purchased a home in Los Angeles in May 2020. Their wedding, originally planned for 2020, was postponed multiple times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They were married at a California vineyard on August 20, 2022, with Hyland\’s Modern Family co-stars in attendance.