Modern Family: Look Who's Playing Cam's Dad

Michael Ausiello

Barry Corbin has snagged a pivotal branch on the Modern Family tree.

The veteran actor — whose myriad TV credits include Northern Exposure, One Tree Hill and, more recently, The Closer (playing dad to Kyra Sedgwick’s Brenda) — has been cast as Merle Tucker, the father of Eric Stonestreet’s Cam, a show rep confirms to TVLine.

Merle, who surfaces during May sweeps, is described as solid, masculine and gruff.

On Thursday, Stonestreet tweeted a photo of Corbin at the table read for the episode above the caption, “Fans of Modern Family: Please meet Cam’s Dad, Merle Tucker.”

Follow @MichaelAusiello