Interview with Charlie Trainer, Stand-In Actor on Modern Family and Network TV Series

Charlie Trainer is a stand-in actor who has worked on some of television’s most recognizable productions, including the long-running Modern Family and other network series. Trained in acting, Charlie brings a diverse background—from a degree in Political Science to professional experience in landscaping, hospitality, and media—to every role he undertakes. Fluent in Italian and highly skilled in the mechanics of set work, he offers a unique perspective on the craft of acting and the behind-the-scenes world of television production.

How did you begin your career as an actor, and what were your first steps into both stage and television work?

I studied theatre in college in Pennsylvania.  After leaving school I moved to Manhattan to work in theatre. I didn’t have much luck even in Off-Off Broadway. Few TV shows shot in NYC in the early 90’s. I remember just trying to score a gig as a dead body on Law and Order. If you can’t play a corpse, it’s time to rethink things, so I moved to Los Angeles in 1992.

For those unfamiliar, what exactly is the role of a stand-in actor, and how does it differ from other on-set positions?

A stand-in is different from a photo double—you don’t need to look exactly like your actor. The stand-ins (known as second team, as opposed to first team, the cast) watch rehearsal. After a few rehearsals the actors leave for wardrobe, hair & makeup. Instead of waiting (which can take hours), the stand-ins replicate what they saw—repeating lines and setting “marks,” the Xs of tape on the floor that tell actors exactly where to stand for each line. Then the main job is to set the lighting and camera angles so, when the actors return, they can hit the ground running. It’s a great job—way more fun than I’m explaining here.

You’ve worked on major productions for many years. Can you share an experience where your role as a stand-in required you to adapt quickly to unexpected changes on set?

I was lucky enough to work on the entire 11-season run of Modern Family and had so many fantastic experiences with the greatest cast & crew ever! In the sixth season, actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson came down with severe laryngitis. There was a lovely, elderly actress, and the producers thought we couldn’t wait for Jesse to recover, so they asked me to shoot the scene in real time as him, and later they green-screened (CGI) him in.

Your background is unusually varied, including academic studies, stage acting, and work in other fields. How have these different experiences shaped the way you approach your work in entertainment?

It still feels magical to be on any set—driving through the gates of Paramount, Fox, or Warner Bros in the pre-dawn darkness and being with hundreds of super-creative people doing their best work every day. I pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming!

Before starting on each production, you sign a non-disclosure agreement. Is there a memorable episode from your work as a stand-in that you can share without breaching confidentiality?

I did a small job on a Showtime series called I’m Dying Up Here. I was in the first scene of the first day—and it was just me and Sebastian Stan. I had the first line. I looked up into his handsome eyes and couldn’t remember my name, let alone my lines!

You speak Italian. Have you ever thought of working on an Italian set?

I would love it. I even have an EU passport through my Irish grandparents. I was even thinking of “stalking” Mel Gibson because I know he’s working in southern Italy on the sequel to The Passion of the Christ. I should be so lucky!