# Julie Bowen

Julie Bowen (born Julie Bowen Luetkemeyer; March 3, 1970) is an American actress. She is best known for starring as Claire Dunphy in the ABC sitcom Modern Family (2009–2020), for which she received widespread critical acclaim. She won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2011 and 2012.
Bowen also starred as Roxanne Please in NBC medical drama series ER (1998–1999), Carol Vessey in the NBC comedy-drama series Ed (2000–2004), and Denise Bauer in the ABC legal drama series Boston Legal (2005–2007), and recurred as Sarah Shephard in the ABC drama series Lost (2005–2007).
Bowen has appeared in many films, such as Happy Gilmore (1996), Multiplicity (1996), Joe Somebody (2001), Horrible Bosses (2011), Life of the Party (2018), Hubie Halloween (2020), The Fallout (2021), and Totally Killer (2023).

## Early life

Bowen was born on March 3, 1970 in Baltimore, Maryland, the second of three daughters of Suzanne (née Frey) and John Alexander Luetkemeyer Jr., a commercial real estate developer. She is the sister of infectious disease specialist Annie Luetkemeyer and designer Molly Luetkemeyer. Bowen is of German descent.
Raised in suburban Ruxton-Riderwood, Maryland, Bowen first attended Calvert School, then Garrison Forest School, Roland Park Country School, and St. George's School in Middletown, Rhode Island. She attended Brown University, majoring in Italian Renaissance studies. She spent her junior year in Florence, Italy. During college, she had roles in Guys and Dolls, Stage Door, and Lemon Sky. Before graduating, she had the lead role in the independent film Five Spot Jewel. Bowen studied acting at the Actor's Institute, among other places.

## Career

Bowen had a role in the soap opera Loving (1992) and an episode of the college drama Class of '96 (1993). She had the lead role in the television film Runaway Daughters (1994). She played the love interest of the title character in Happy Gilmore (1996). She appeared in the films Multiplicity (1996) and An American Werewolf in Paris (1997). She has had guest roles on television series such as Party of Five (1996) and Strange Luck (1996), as well as her role as Aunt Gwen in the drama series Dawson's Creek (1999).
Bowen had a recurring role as Roxanne Please on ER (1998–99). She first gained prominence on the television series Ed (2000–04), where she played high school English teacher Carol Vessey. She then guest starred as Sarah Shephard in five episodes of Lost (2005–07). She also played attorney Denise Bauer on the series Boston Legal (2005–08), and had a recurring role on Weeds (2008). She was a spokesmodel for Neutrogena, most recently advertising the Pure Glow products. She appeared on an episode of Celebrity Jeopardy! on August 31, 2010, and again on December 4, 2022.
From 2009 to 2020, Bowen starred as Claire Dunphy on the ABC sitcom Modern Family. For her portrayal, she received six consecutive Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (2010–15), winning the award in 2011 and 2012. Bowen has said that winning an Emmy is like "German soldiers in the trenches of the World Wars" and that "when you win the award, it is like being pulled out of the trench." She also said, "As exciting and wonderful as it is not to be in the trench, and to be recognized for what you do, it also means everyone has got a clear shot at you and that is a very frightening prospect for most of us."
In November 2021, Bowen's production company, Bowen & Sons, entered a first-look deal at Universal Television.
In March 2023, Prom Pact, a movie produced by Bowen, was released on the Disney Channel and Disney+ in the United States.

## Political views

In 2016, Bowen appeared in "Fight Song", a Pitch Perfect-inspired music video shown at the Democratic National Convention in support of nominee Hillary Clinton.

## Personal life

Bowen suffers from the cardiovascular condition bradycardia: her regular heartbeat is below normal. As a result, she has had a pacemaker since her early twenties.
Bowen married Scott Phillips, a real estate investor and software developer, on September 9, 2004. They have three sons, the first born in April 2007, and twins born in May 2009, with whom she was visibly pregnant when shooting the pilot for Modern Family. She is a self-described "low Protestant." In February 2018, she filed for divorce from Phillips and cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for the divorce. It was finalized on September 13, 2018.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1996 | Confessions of a Sleep Addict | P.J. | |
| 1996 | Happy Gilmore | Virginia Venit | |
| 1996 | Multiplicity | Robin | |
| 1997 | An American Werewolf in Paris | Amy Finch | |
| 2001 | You're Killing Me | Jamie Quinn | |
| 2001 | Amy's Orgasm | Nikki | |
| 2001 | Venus and Mars | Lisa | |
| 2001 | Joe Somebody | Meg Harper | |
| 2002 | Stella Shorts 1998–2002 | Mother Nature | Short films |
| 2005 | Kids in America | Principal Donna Weller | |
| 2005 | Partner(s) | Katherine | |
| 2007 | Sex and Death 101 | Fiona Wormwood | |
| 2010 | Crazy on the Outside | Christy | |
| 2011 | Jumping the Broom | Amy | |
| 2011 | Horrible Bosses | Rhonda Harken | |
| 2012 | Conception | Tiffany | |
| 2012 | Knife Fight | Peaches | |
| 2013 | Scooby-Doo! Mecha Mutt Menace | Dr. Devon Albright | Voice, direct-to-video |
| 2014 | Planes: Fire & Rescue | Lil' Dipper | Voice |
| 2018 | Life of the Party | Marcie Strong | |
| 2020 | Hubie Halloween | Violet Valentine | |
| 2021 | The Fallout | Patricia | |
| 2021 | Mixtape | Gail Moody | |
| 2023 | Prom Pact | — | Executive producer |
| 2023 | Totally Killer | Pam Hughes | |
| 2025 | Happy Gilmore 2 | Virginia Venit | Post-production |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1992 | Loving | Steffy | Episode: "#1.2269" |
| 1993 | Lifestories: Families in Crisis | Chris | Episode: "No Visible Bruises: The Kate Koestner Story" |
| 1993 | Class of '96 | Kristie Lewis | Episode: "Educating David" |
| 1993 | Acapulco H.E.A.T. | Danielle Perkins | Episode: "Code Name: Body Double" |
| 1994 | Runaway Daughters | Angie Gordon | Television film |
| 1994 | Where Are My Children? | Kirstie | Television film |
| 1995 | Extreme | Andie McDermott | 7 episodes |
| 1996 | Party of Five | Shelley | Episode: "Unfair Advantage" |
| 1996 | Strange Luck | Leigh Anne | Episode: "Healing Hands" |
| 1998 | Three | Amanda Webb | 2 episodes |
| 1998–99 | ER | Roxanne Please | 9 episodes |
| 1999 | The Last Man on Planet Earth | Hope Chayse | Television film |
| 2000 | Oh Baby | Nikky | 2 episodes |
| 2000 | Dawson's Creek | Aunt Gwen | Episode: "Stolen Kisses" |
| 2000–04 | Ed | Carol Vessey | 83 episodes |
| 2002 | Justice League | Aresia | Voice, episode: "Fury" |
| 2005 | Jake in Progress | Brooke | 4 episodes |
| 2005–07 | Lost | Sarah Shephard | 5 episodes |
| 2005–08 | Boston Legal | Denise Bauer | 50 episodes |
| 2007 | Wainy Days | Cheryl | Episode: "Tough Guy" |
| 2008 | Weeds | Lisa | 7 episodes |
| 2008 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Gwen Sibert | Episode: "Trials" |
| 2009 | True Jackson, VP | Claire Underwood | Episode: "True Takes Iceland" |
| 2009 | Monk | Marilyn Brody | Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Bully" |
| 2009–20 | Modern Family | Claire Dunphy | 250 episodes; Director: "Red Alert" and "Tree's A Crowd" |
| 2011 | Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated | Marion Spartan | Voice, episode: "Attack of the Headless Horror" |
| 2014, 2017 | Family Guy | Claire Dunphy / Herself | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2015 | Childrens Hospital | First Lady | Episode: "Codename: Jennifer" |
| 2016 | Better Things | Herself | Episode: "Sam/Pilot" |
| 2017–20 | Tangled: The Series | Queen Arianna | Voice, 15 episodes |
| 2017 | MasterChef Junior | Herself | Episode: "A Presidential Mystery Box" |
| 2017 | Who Do You Think You Are | Herself | Episode: "Julie Bowen" |
| 2017 | The Mindy Project | Daisy | Episode: "Leo's Girlfriend" |
| 2018 | LA to Vegas | Gwen | Voice, episode: "The Affair" |
| 2019 | DuckTales | Lieutenant Penumbra | Voice, 7 episodes |
| 2020 | Who Wants to Be a Millionaire | Herself / Contestant | 2 episodes |
| 2020 | A Modern Farewell | Herself | Modern Family documentary |
| 2021 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Gabby McAfee | Episode: "IRASSHAIMASE!" |
| 2022 | American Dad! | Trashelle | Voice, episode: "Langley Dollar Listings" |
| 2023 | Hailey's On It! | Patricia Banks | Voice, recurring role |
| 2023 | StoryBots: Answer Time | Ms. Clown | Episode: "Stocks" |
| 2023 | Wheel of Fortune | Herself | 11/1/2023 |
| 2024 | Hysteria! | Linda Campbell | Main cast |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Association | Category | Work | Result |
| 2006 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Boston Legal | Nominated |
| 2007 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Boston Legal | Nominated |
| 2008 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Boston Legal | Nominated |
| 2009 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Boston Legal | Nominated |
| 2009 | Satellite Awards | Best Actress in a Television Series (Musical or Comedy) | Modern Family | Nominated |
| 2010 | Satellite Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film | Modern Family | Nominated |
| 2010 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Modern Family | Nominated |
| 2010 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Modern Family | Nominated |
| 2011 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Modern Family | Won |
| 2011 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Modern Family | Nominated |
| 2011 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Modern Family | Won |
| 2012 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Modern Family | Won |
| 2012 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Modern Family | Won |
| 2012 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Modern Family | Won |
| 2012 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series | Modern Family | Nominated |
| 2013 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Modern Family | Won |
| 2013 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Modern Family | Nominated |
| 2014 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Modern Family | Nominated |
| 2014 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Modern Family | Won |
| 2015 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series | Modern Family | Nominated |
| 2015 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Modern Family | Nominated |
| 2015 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Modern Family | Nominated |
| 2016 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Modern Family | Nominated |