Emmys 2012: 'Modern Family's' Eric Stonestreet honors his nom

Emmys 2012: ‘Modern Family’s’ Eric Stonestreet honors his nom

By Patrick Kevin Day and Danielle Paquette

July 19, 2012 12 AM PT

Eric Stonestreet got his third Emmy nomination for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series for”Modern Family” on Thursday, but the actor, who already has won once, was taking everything in stride.

“Never in a million years would I think I’d be an Emmy winner and three-time nominee,” he said. “It’d be a disservice not to give it a proper amount of respect. But I have an athlete mentality. I only celebrate for a little then move on to the next thing.”

That celebrating will have to come later Thursday. For now, the actor who plays Cam hadn’t even gotten out of bed.

“That’s just the way it goes when announcements are made at 5:30 a.m,” he said. “I’m not up putting eggs in the blender Rocky-style by any means.”

“Modern Family,” which won the Emmy for outstanding comedy series last year, is nominated for 14 Emmys this year, including four nominations for supporting actor in a comedy series.

Does the four-way race in one category create any sense of competition among the cast? Stonestreet doesn’t think so.

“The beauty of winning the Emmy the first year you’re nominated is it takes the pressure off,” he said. “You don’t need to win again. We hopeJesse [Tyler Ferguson] or Ed [O’Neill] win this year.”

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