'Answer the call despite your fears' | 2021 UO Commencement Keynote from Ty Burrell

Burrell was the keynote speaker at the June 12 virtual commencement ceremony.

Burrell received eight consecutive Emmy nominations for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series and won twice during the 11-season run of “Modern Family,” which ended last year. He also won Screen Actors Guild and Critics Choice awards for the role.

A native of Grants Pass, Burrell grew up rooting for the Ducks and would travel with his family to Eugene to attend Oregon games. He attended the UO in the late 1980s, studying theater, and got his first-ever acting role in a campus production of “Lysistrata.”

“I can remember the rush of going out on stage and feeling like I had a purpose,” Burrell told the UO Alumni Association newsletter in 2015. “It’s literally where I discovered I wanted to be an actor, and I’ll always be grateful to the University of Oregon for that.”

Burrell later transferred to Southern Oregon University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1993. He received a master’s degree in fine arts from Penn State University.

But Burrell remains deeply connected to the UO. He and his wife have established the Ty and Holly Burrell Scholarship in the Department of Theatre Arts. And he can be spotted in Ducks gear attending football games at Autzen as well as at big bowl games.

[marcovarela]

This is one of the best (if not the best) videos of Ty Barrel out there. Pure gold! ⭐

[vrinda]

this is tooo funny, probably funnier than other interviews<3 we love you ty

[meraki]

Why does this looks like a deleted footage from modern family 😂😂😂