Julie Bowen
Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox person Julie Bowen (born Julie Bowen Luetkemeyer; March 3, 1970)<ref name="biography.com">Template:Cite web</ref> is an American actress. She is best known as Claire Dunphy in ABC sitcom Modern Family (2009–2020), for which she received widespread critical acclaim, winning two Primetime Emmy Awards.
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), Totally Killer (2023), and Happy Gilmore 2 (2025).
Early life
Bowen was born on March 3, 1970 in Baltimore, Maryland,<ref name=biography.com /><ref name=tca>Template:Cite episode</ref> the second of three daughters of Suzanne Luetkemeyer (née Frey) and John Alexander Luetkemeyer Jr., a commercial real estate developer and son of John Luetkemeyer and Anne McLanahan. She is the sister of infectious disease specialist Annie Luetkemeyer and designer Molly Luetkemeyer. Bowen is of German descent.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Raised in suburban Ruxton-Riderwood, Maryland, Bowen first attended Calvert School, then Garrison Forest School, Roland Park Country School,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and St. George's School in Middletown, Rhode Island. She attended Brown University, majoring in Italian Renaissance studies.<ref name="jmarbellatbs">Template:Cite news</ref> She spent her junior year in Florence, Italy.<ref name=tca/> 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).<ref name=tca/> 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."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In November 2021, Bowen's production company, Bowen & Sons, entered a first-look deal at Universal Television.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In March 2023, Prom Pact, a movie produced by Bowen, was released on the Disney Channel and Disney+ in the United States.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Health
Bowen suffers from the heart condition bradycardia. Her regular heart rate is slower than normal. As a result, she has had a pacemaker implant since her early twenties.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Personal life
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.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In February 2018, she filed for divorce from Phillips and cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for the divorce.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was finalized on September 13, 2018.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
She is a self-described "low Protestant".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Confessions of a Sleep Addict | P.J. | |
| Happy Gilmore | Virginia Venit | ||
| Multiplicity | Robin | ||
| 1997 | An American Werewolf in Paris | Amy Finch | |
| 2001 | You're Killing Me | Jamie Quinn | |
| Amy's Orgasm | Nikki | ||
| Venus and Mars | Lisa | ||
| Joe Somebody | Meg Harper | ||
| 2002 | Stella Shorts 1998–2002 | Mother Nature | Short films |
| 2005 | Kids in America | Principal Donna Weller | |
| Partner(s) | Katherine | ||
| 2007 | Sex and Death 101 | Fiona Wormwood | |
| 2010 | Crazy on the Outside | Christy | |
| 2011 | Jumping the Broom | Amy | |
| Horrible Bosses | Rhonda Harken | ||
| 2012 | Conception | Tiffany | |
| Knife Fight | Peaches O'Dell | ||
| 2013 | Scooby-Doo! Mecha Mutt Menace | Dr. Devon Albright (voice) | Direct-to-video film<ref name="btva">Template:Cite web A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref> |
| 2014 | Planes: Fire & Rescue | Lil' Dipper (voice) | |
| 2018 | Life of the Party | Marcie Strong | |
| 2020 | Hubie Halloween | Violet Valentine | |
| 2021 | The Fallout | Patricia Cavell | |
| Mixtape | Gail Moody | ||
| 2023 | Prom Pact | Template:N/A | Executive producer |
| Totally Killer | Pam Hughes | ||
| 2025 | Happy Gilmore 2 | Virginia Venit Gilmore |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Loving | Steffy | 1 episode |
| 1993 | Lifestories: Families in Crisis | Chris | Episode: "No Visible Bruises: The Kate Koestner Story" |
| Class of '96 | Kristie Lewis | Episode: "Educating David" | |
| Acapulco H.E.A.T. | Danielle Perkins | Episode: "Code Name: Body Double" | |
| 1994 | Runaway Daughters | Angie Gordon | Television film |
| Where Are My Children? | Kirstie | ||
| 1995 | Extreme | Andie McDermott | Recurring role |
| 1996 | Party of Five | Shelley | Episode: "Unfair Advantage" |
| Strange Luck | Leigh Anne | Episode: "Healing Hands" | |
| 1998 | Three | Amanda Webb | 2 episodes |
| 1998–1999 | ER | Roxanne Please | Recurring role (season 5) |
| 1999 | The Last Man on Planet Earth | Hope Chayse | Television film |
| 2000 | Oh Baby | Nikky | 2 episodes |
| Dawson's Creek | Aunt Gwen | Episode: "Stolen Kisses" | |
| 2000–2004 | Ed | Carol Vessey | Main role |
| 2005 | Jake in Progress | Brooke | 4 episodes |
| 2005–2007 | Lost | Sarah Shephard | Recurring role (season 1–3) |
| 2005–2008 | Boston Legal | Denise Bauer | Main role (season 2–3); guest role (season 5) |
| 2007 | Wainy Days | Cheryl | Episode: "Tough Guy" |
| 2008 | Weeds | Lisa Ferris | Recurring role (season 4) |
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Gwen Sibert | Episode: "Trials" | |
| 2009 | True Jackson, VP | Claire Underwood | Episode: "True Takes Iceland" |
| Monk | Marilyn Brody | Episode: "Mr. Monk and the Bully" | |
| 2009–2020 | Modern Family | Claire Dunphy | Main role |
| 2011 | Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated | Marion Spartan (voice) | Episode: "Attack of the Headless Horror" |
| 2014 | Family Guy | Claire Dunphy (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Herself (voice) | ||
| 2015 | Childrens Hospital | First Lady | Episode: "Codename: Jennifer" |
| 2016 | Better Things | Herself | Episode: "Sam/Pilot" |
| 2017–2020 | Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure | Queen Arianna (voice) | Main role |
| 2017 | MasterChef Junior | Herself | Episode: "A Presidential Mystery Box" |
| Who Do You Think You Are | Episode: "Julie Bowen" | ||
| The Mindy Project | Daisy | Episode: "Leo's Girlfriend" | |
| 2018 | LA to Vegas | Gwen (voice) | Episode: "The Affair"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| 2019 | DuckTales | Lieutenant Penumbra (voice) | Recurring role (season 1)<ref name="btva" /> |
| 2020 | Who Wants to Be a Millionaire | Herself | 2 episodes |
| A Modern Farewell | 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 |
| StoryBots: Answer Time | Ms. Clown | Episode: "Stocks" | |
| Celebrity Wheel of Fortune | Herself | Episode: "RuPaul, Gayle King and Julie Bowen" | |
| 2024 | Hysteria! | Linda Campbell | Main role |
| 2025 | Hollywood Squares | Herself | 3 episodes |
Awards and nominations
References
External links
- Pages with broken file links
- 1970 births
- Living people
- 20th-century American actresses
- 21st-century American actresses
- Actresses from Baltimore
- American film actresses
- American television actresses
- American voice actresses
- American people of German descent
- Brown University alumni
- Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award winners
- People from Ruxton-Riderwood, Maryland
- St. George's School (Rhode Island) alumni
- American Protestants