'Modern Family' actress Sarah Hyland says ex Matthew Prokop choked, threatened her life: report

Haley Dunphy’s onscreen boyfriend problems are nothing compared to the real life restraining order “Modern Family” star Sarah Hyland got against her ex-boyfriend — claiming he choked her, pushed her and threatened her life.
The petite actress, 23, said in court papers that her ex Matthew Prokop had physically and verbally abused her for the last four years, TMZ reported Tuesday.
According to court docs obtained by the website, Hyland’s onscreen mom Julie Bowen even witnessed some of the abuse.
Prokop, 24, who once appeared on “Modern Family,” allegedly pinned the diminutive Hyland against a car door during an argument in May over her clothes, TMZ said.
He called her “c--t” over and over, TMZ said, citing court records.
“His grip was so tight that I could not breathe or speak. I was scared and in fear for my life,” Hyland said in the court papers, according to TMZ.

Hyland’s voice was injured in the alleged assault and she had a “very sore throat following this event.”
The 5-foot-2 star wrote in her court filing that she knew she was in an abusive relationship and asked her co-star, Bowen, to help her when she ended her six-year relationship with Prokop in late August.
Hyland, who shot to fame for her role as the beautiful, ditzy Haley Dunphy, started dating Prokop in 2008 when they met during their audition for “High School Musical 3.”
Bowen went to their house to help Hyland “peacefully end the relationship,” TMZ said, citing the court documents.
The actress said she presented Prokop with a plane ticket back to his home in Texas, but he “ran outside into the backyard and began screaming,” TMZ reported.

He allegedly threw a lighter at Hyland, who also claimed he threatened to set one of her homes on fire and told her she’d never see her dog again.
Her distraught ex-boyfriend then “relentlessly bombarded me with vile, threatening and emotionally disturbing texts and voice mails including his own suicide threats,” the star wrote in court papers, according to TMZ.
In the filing, Hyland said Prokop went to rehab in August but got out Sept. 21. She said the facility director contacted her after he was released and suggested she get a restraining order for her own protection, TMZ said.
A court granted Hyland’s request for a restraining order. Prokop must stay 100 yards away from her and her dog, TMZ said.
Calls to Hyland and Prokop and their reps weren't immediately returned.

Hyland's lawyer said the restraining order request was granted Sept. 19.
"The documents filed speak for themselves. Out of respect for the court, the process and all parties, I have advised Ms. Hyland not to comment on the matter. We request that you respect the parties' privacy during this time," said attorney Lee Sherman.
Reached by phone, Prokop's dad said he was completely in the dark.
“I’m not aware of the filing, but I will look into it,” said Tony Prokop said before hanging up.
Prokop is best known for his role as Jimmie "The Rocket Man" Zara in "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" and Josh Rosen in the Disney Channel Original Movie, "Geek Charming."

His Twitter feed showed plenty of pictures and comments from happier times with Hyland. The couple took recent trips to Hawaii and Brazil for the World Cup.
But summer's end brought an abrupt change.
"Yay Friday night and I'm home alone....awesome," he wrote in one tweet, with an unhappy emoticon.
"Here comes that sun again... Means another day without you my friend," he said in another.