Ty Burrell knew his wife was 'the one' on the first date. This is their life 25 years later.

He's the TV dad we all know and love, the endearing yet ever-so cringe Phil Dunphy on Modern Family.

But did you know actor Ty Burrell actually has a sweet love story of his own?

Ty met his real-life Claire, aka his wife Holly (okay I'll stop with the Modern Family references now, sorry), in the late 1990s and the couple are approaching their 25th wedding anniversary. Talk about too cute!

This is everything you should know about their relationship and their two adopted daughters.

How did Ty Burrell meet his wife?

The couple's relationship traces back to the 1990s, when they met at the Shakespeare Theatre in Washington D.C. Ty and Holly were both understudying the lovers in Twelfth Night.

He told Redbook Magazine in 2010, he knew she was the one he wanted to marry right away.

"On our first date," he said. "I was slow on the uptake, so it took me a couple of years."

The couple later made the move to New York City to try to make something of their acting careers. While Ty found fame, Holly decided to pursue her other passion, cooking.

Ty Burrell and Holly Burrell attend the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in 2017 in Los Angeles, California. Image: Getty.

Who is Ty Burrell's wife?

Holly initially pursued acting but soon made the career change to life as a chef.

She told The Salt Lake Tribune in 2015, "After a couple years, I decided I probably was not cut out for the business." In the cut-throat industry, Holly said, "You have to really want to do it and I just didn't have the thing you need. I was interested in other things."

She shifted her focus to culinary arts, graduating with honours from the French Culinary Institute in New York. She worked in a bakery before Ty landed his role on Modern Family, and they moved to Los Angeles.

Now, she lives a private life, busy raising the couple's two daughters, Greta and Frances and isn't active on social media.

"Food is now a primary thing in my life and my family life," Holly said. "It's something I spent a lot of time and energy thinking about and reading about."

Speaking to The Guardian about his wife's cooking, Ty said: "My wife bakes so much wonderful food, I worry our children have unrealistic expectations. She's just qualified as a pastry chef, and she's so good we have to ask the girls not to be too critical in restaurants."

Ty often credits Holly for her unwavering love and encouragement during challenging times.

Ty with the cast of Modern Family in 2012. Image: Getty.

How long have Ty Burrell and his wife been married?

The couple exchanged vows on August 18, 2000, but they chose to keep their wedding out of the public eye.

He has spoke about the moment he knew it was the right time to ask the question.

"I was in Mississippi playing Oberon in a not-so-great production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Against her conservative parents' wishes, she was coming down to live with me in a roach-infested former army bunker," Ty told Elle in 2011.

"I was making $250 a week and had zero prospects for the future. Driving to the airport, I found myself overwhelmed with emotion, thinking, I need to marry this woman because she clearly loves me for who I am. I had literally nothing going for me, and she was actually seeking me out."

They've been quite private with their relationship, but Ty is never one to shy away from gushing about his wife.

"My wife has taught me about unconditional love," Ty said in an interview with Good Housekeeping in 2014. "When there's a conflict, there's never a thought that we won't work it out."

Ty and Holly are approaching their 25th wedding anniversary. Image: Getty.

Ty recently reflected on his marriage as he nears their 25th anniversary, highlighting the key to a happy relationship.

"This is probably connected to the really old axiom of 'Don't go to bed angry,' but we force ourselves to talk about stuff," he told People.

"Both of us make sure that if something's wrong, by the end of the night, we have at least had some discussion about it.

"Neither one of us are silent treatment people, and I think that's a real benefit, because I think that can be really hard on a relationship, when you don't talk about things."

Do Ty Burrell and his wife have children?

In 2010, the couple became parents through adoption, welcoming their first daughter, Frances.

They expanded their family two years later when they adopted Greta.

As for how he compares in parenting to Phil Dunphy, Ty said: "I'm more neurotic than Phil, but I screw things up just as much as he does. Holly, my wife, knows how much of Phil is actually me, so she has a good laugh."

Both Ty and Holly have chosen to keep the circumstances around their children, including their decision to adopt, largely private.

However, Ty has spoken about how much he loves his beautiful daughters.

"This might sound really dumb, but I guess I didn't realise that you actually fall in love with children," the dad of two told Elle in 2011. "That like with any other relationship, as time goes on you actually love them more."

Ty played one of TV's most lovable dads on Modern Family. Image: ABC.

Ty Burrell and his wife's life outside of Hollywood.

In 2008, the Burrell family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, seeking a lifestyle away from the Hollywood spotlight.

There, they invested in the local community by owning establishments such as The Eating Establishment in Park City and two bars, Bar X and Beer Bar, in Salt Lake City.

Reflecting on his unexpected journey into the restaurant business, Ty told Utah Business in 2021: "A lot of people ask me why we are so focused on revamping these old places throughout the valley, and it's really because we see these places as worth preserving. It's funny, we really didn't set out to do food and beverage, or refurbish all of these locations, but it has been a really cool experience for everybody involved."

"More than anything, our hope is to bring all of these locations back to their former glory, to keep the spirit alive, all while adding our own touches along the way," he added.

Ty shared that he also launched a television development company.

As for what's next? Ty is due to star in a comedy re-imagining of the 1950s drama series, Tightrope!.

But off-camera, he's happy spending time with the ones he loves.

Feature image: ABC, Getty.