You know Sofía Vergara as a glamorous TV star, fashion icon, and scene-stealer at any red carpet event. But off-camera, she proudly wears another title: Mom.
And not just any mom. Sofía raised her son Manolo Gonzalez Vergara as a teenager, and today, the two are not just family.
They’re full-on business partners, creative collaborators, and red carpet regulars. With his charming smile, effortless style, and low-key hustle, Manolo might just be one of Hollywood’s most underrated second-generation stars.
He’s Basically Her Twin—And She Knows It
Manolo was born on September 16, 1991, in Colombia, when Sofía was just 18 years old and married to her high school sweetheart, Joe Gonzalez. The couple divorced two years later, but Sofía says motherhood shaped her in ways she’s still processing.
“It’s an experience that’s unique. It changes you… and gives you a lot of headaches too,” she joked in a 2024 interview with PEOPLE.
The two practically grew up together.
“I wish I was older sometimes, because I would’ve been more mature, more prepared to be a mother… but I kind of grew up together with my son,” she added.
As for his name? Manolo was inspired by the Scarface character played by Steven Bauer.
“I looooved that movie, and I was in looove with Steven Bauer,” Sofía once told Vogue.
Her grown son’s reaction? “Oh yeah, Mom, how amazing you named me after a drug-dealer junkie!”
What Does Manolo Actually Do?
While he’s appeared in a few acting roles, like Hot Pursuit and the animated film Koati, Manolo has made his mark behind the scenes and online. He studied film production at Emerson College and graduated in 2015, with Sofía (and then-fiancé Joe Manganiello) proudly cheering him on.
He’s also a rising entrepreneur, launching a stylish pet brand called CANINI by Baguett, inspired by his French bulldog, and teaming up with Sofía to co-produce Celebrity Family Food Battle. In June 2024, they launched TOMA, a Latin cuisine brand reflecting their roots.
But Manolo’s true hidden talent? Cooking.
His Instagram features polished kitchen content ranging from pomegranate braised short ribs to Colombian coconut rice, which he jokes requires “solid rotator cuffs.”
“I learned to cook because I had to… My mom hates cooking. She can’t stand being in the kitchen,” he once admitted.
Always by Her Side—Even Down the Aisle
Manolo’s bond with his mom runs deep. When Sofía married Joe Manganiello in 2015, it was her son who walked her down the aisle. The lavish Palm Beach ceremony was star-studded, but it was the mother-son moment that stole hearts.
Manolo remained close with Manganiello throughout their marriage, even supporting his projects on social media. In 2022, he joined them at the premiere of Joe’s show Moonhaven and posted a selfie captioned, “Congrats, Joe! The show is awesome.”
Following Sofía and Joe’s divorce in 2023, Manolo stayed quietly supportive, continuing to be his mother’s rock through every chapter.
Red Carpets, Family Dinners, and Maybe Grandkids?
Whether it’s awards season or a food truck launch, Manolo and Sofía are often side-by-side. He’s been her date to the Emmys, the Golden Globes afterparty, and even her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony.
And while Sofía is no longer interested in having more children, she’s officially ready for grandma life.
“Manolo has a dog, and on the weekends he just drops the dog at my house,” she said with a laugh.
“I used to drop him at my mom’s house… now he does it to me. I already kind of feel like a grandmother.”
