10 Best Manny Delgado moments from Modern Family 

Manny Delgado is one of the sweetest, and most legendary characters in the American sitcom, Modern Family. Living with his Colombian mother, Gloria, and White stepfather Jay, Manny is like this thoughtful, precocious boy who is way too mature for the rest of the peers of his age. His old-fashioned charm and unique sense of humor make him one of the most adorable and fan-favorite personalities across television.

Rico Rodriguez delivers an outstanding performance of Manny’s coming-of-age journey, as someone who does not fear to stand out from the crowd. Whether he's sipping espresso from a whiskey glass, amusing us with his bizarre fashion sense, or providing deep, meaningful solutions to his family members, you can't help but fall in love with this character.

Here are the top 10 Manny Delgado moments from Modern Family.

Disclaimer: This article is based on the writer's opinion. Reader's discretion is advised.

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Manny’s birthday dinner (Season 2, Episode 8)

Manny has always been more mature than the rest of the kids of his age. However, it struck him on one of his birthdays that he might've just let his childhood slip away. As all the members of the extended family prepare (chaotically as always) to meet at the restaurant to celebrate Manny’s birthday, it is hilarious to see our little goofball have a young-life crisis (pun intended) about getting older.

In an attempt to catch up with the years he thinks he lost, Manny even makes prank calls and mixes different sodas. It is pure comedic gold when Manny, sulking on his water float, refuses to attend his own party and Gloria, furious with Manny’s irrational tantrums, shoots the floating device with an air gun that Jay had got as Manny’s birthday present. Later at the restaurant, Manny mentions in his speech that he's still got a lot of time to be a kid and it is one of the most heartwarming scenes in Modern Family.

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Adultlike conversation with Claire (Season 1, Episode 3)

When Manny comes over to the Dunphy household to play with Luke, he instead finds himself comforting Claire, who seems unhappy and troubled with her children. At first, Claire tried to brush him off by saying that it was just “kid stuff” that was bothering her, something she thought wouldn't be so much within Manny’s expertise. But to her surprise Manny replies, “Ugh kids! You don't have to tell me, my school's full of them.”

In no time, Claire ends up discussing her life problems with the 11-year-old, and their conversation takes on a surprisingly mature, adultlike tone. You can't help but laugh at how Manny can act beyond his age so often. Manny uses the opportunity to bond with his step-sister and the way he throws his grown-up wisdom at Claire is simply hilarious and endearing at the same time.

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The cake competition at the fair (Season 5, Episode 7)

Manny has always been a little different than most kids of his age and if anything, he's only taken pride in it. For instance, when all the other children are busy enjoying the rides and games at the fair, Manny is all set for a cake competition at the same fair. Realizing that all the other contestants are practically old women, Jay and Gloria have their doubts if this is what a teenage boy’s hobby should be. But Manny being his sweet, passionate self does not give up on his new-found interest and goes for it with all his enthusiasm. It is a chucklesome moment when Manny thinks it is the slow-moving, aged neighbouring lady Enid, who ruined his cake in order to win herself, and called her “cold as ice.”

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Manny's Valentine poem (Season 1, Episode 15)

One of the most unforgettable moments in Modern Family is when Manny pours his “heart and soul” into a poem he's written for a classmate named Fiona Gunderson on Valentine's Day, only for another kid to take the credit. Grand romantic gestures were a classic Manny move and thus he says he had “even burned the edges to make it look fancy.”

But sadly, another classmate claimed that he had written the poem and took the girl on a date to Manny’s favourite restaurant where Manny had originally planned his date. When Manny, Mitchell, and Cam (and baby Lily), after a dramatic spectacle at the restaurant, finally get the boy to admit stealing Manny’s poem, the girl somehow still finds herself attracted to that other boy. Manny finally realizes “this chick’s crazy” and proudly walks out of there.

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Sharing room with Luke (Season 1, Episode 23)

One of the most iconic uncle-nephew duos in the history of television has to be that of Manny and Luke. Their dynamic was extremely entertaining throughout the show, especially when the two shared a room in Hawaii during Jay’s birthday. Their silly little banters made them look like a typical old couple fighting on their vacation.

While Manny tries to keep the room clean and organized, Luke constantly annoys him with his goofy antics and carefree attitude. Take, for example, the time when Manny accuses Luke of bringing all the sand from the beach up to their bathroom, and Luke replies, “Sorry mom!” It is even more hilarious when Manny had spotted a pair of “lovely twins down by the kids’ club” and suggests that he and Luke send over some “virgin Mai Tais” to impress them.

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The forklift incident (Season 2, Episode 7)

In Season 2, Episode 7, Gloria and Manny pay a visit to Jay's office and in a strange turn of events, Manny ends up behind the wheels of a forklift at the warehouse. He convinces one of Jay's employees, Jack, to let him drive the forklift and accidentally crashes into a wall. Jay, furious with the fact that a serious mishap could've taken place, fires Jack for handing over the dangerous machine to a kid.

Now Manny feels guilty for the poor man who lost his job because of him, and tries to reason with the overprotective Jay to rehire Jack. He even calls Mitchell to take up Jack’s case as he tries to sue Jay. It perfectly depicts how Manny has a heart of gold and a profound sense of responsibility even when he's just a child. It is undoubtedly one of Manny's best moments on Modern Family.

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Freaking out about God's existence (Season 2, Episode 3)

One of the absolute hysterical moments of Manny Delgado on Modern Family is when he has a mini existential crisis after an earthquake hits the town. He chooses to accompany Jay to the golf ground instead of going to the church with his mother, and from that moment on, he starts to panic about whether he made the right decision.

As Manny keeps pestering Jay with all his questions about the existence of God, heaven, and hell, he becomes more and more anxious with the answers. Jay totally freaks him out (unintentionally though). Manny's restless curiosity and wild overthinking offers a sharp contrast to Jay’s calm, practical approach to life. It is really funny to watch Manny have a meltdown while Jay just wants to concentrate on his golf.

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Manny leaves for college (Season 9, Episode 2)

Manny has always been at the constant beck and call of his family since childhood, and it's one of the most emotional scenes in the series when he has to leave for college. With his perpetual maturity and wisdom, Manny has been the emotional support system of the house, especially for Jay who struggles to showcase his feelings. Manny suggests they have a perfect farewell by not getting sentimental or tearful when he leaves.

However, it is either him or Jay and Gloria finding reasons to meet up to delay the whole process of saying goodbye. They all end up in a heartfelt family hug at Manny's college dorm and it is a moment that leaves a permanent impact on your mind. Manny, who's always acted like an adult even as a kid, finds it hard to wrap his head around the bittersweet ache of growing up.

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His near-death driving scene (Season 3, Episode 16)

When we're talking about Manny’s best moments on Modern Family we have to mention that epic moment he and Luke take Cam’s car for a spin in hopes of impressing Miranda, Manny's girl crush. Both still kids, find themselves completely clueless as neither of them has any knowledge about how to drive a car.

Somehow, the first time Manny manages to move the car forward in front of Miranda with surprising suave and confidence. But soon they reach a dead end. When Luke asks him to make a U-turn, Manny confesses he doesn't know how to, so he clumsily drives it again backwards. You could practically see the nerves on Manny’s face as he clutches onto the steering wheel, trying to keep things under control.

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April Fool's prank by Gloria (Season 9, Episode 18)

Gloria's April Fool prank on Manny and Jay was hands down a comedic masterpiece. She convinced the two that Jorge, who looked so much like Manny, was Manny’s biological father when in reality he was the butcher she met at the grocery store. She told them that she dated Jorge before Javier (Manny's actual father) and even got Alex to make a fake DNA test report to spice things up further.

Amidst all the fun and drama, we get a glimpse of the heartwarming bond between Jay and Manny.

As Jay consoles Manny, who is on the verge of having an identity crisis, he tells him, “You're not Javier, you're not this guy. You're you. And what you are is amazing. And for the record, I've been your dad since you were ten and I'm going to be your dad until I'm gone.” It is one of the most touching scenes in the entire show.