Julie Bowen (born Julie Bowen Luetkemeyer; March 3, 1970) 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, 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.
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.
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. In February 2018, she filed for divorce from Phillips and cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for the divorce. It was finalized on September 14, 2018.
She is a self-described "low Protestant".
Health Bowen has the heart condition bradycardia meaning her regular heart rate is slower than normal. As a result, she has had a pacemaker implant since her early twenties.
Bowen has also publicly discussed her experience with chronic dry eye, a progressive condition she has managed for approximately two decades. She has also served as a spokeswoman for the prescription eye drop Xiidra, to help manage her symptoms.
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.
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 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. 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 Executive producer Totally Killer Pam Hughes 2025 Happy Gilmore 2 Virginia Venit Gilmore TBA Grown Ups 3 Filming
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 episodes2017Herself (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" 2019 DuckTales Lieutenant Penumbra (voice) Recurring role (season 2 & 3) 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 role2025Hollywood SquaresHerself3 episodes
Awards and nominations Organizations Year Category Work Result Ref. Critics' Choice Television Awards 2011 Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Modern Family 2012 Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Awards 2010 Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Modern Family (episode: "My Funky Valentine") 2011 Modern Family (episode: "Strangers on a Treadmill") 2012 Modern Family (episode: "Go Bullfrogs!") 2013 Modern Family (episode: "My Hero") 2014 Modern Family (episode: "The Feud") 2015 Modern Family (episode: "Valentine's Day 4: Twisted Sister") Screen Actors Guild Awards 2005 Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series Boston Legal 2006 2007 2008 Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series Weeds 2009 Modern Family (season 1) 2010 Modern Family (season 2) 2011 Outstanding Female Actor in a Comedy Series Modern Family (season 3) Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series 2012 Modern Family (season 4) 2013 Outstanding Female Actor in a Comedy Series Modern Family (season 5) Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series 2014 Outstanding Female Actor in a Comedy Series Modern Family (season 6) Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series 2015 Modern Family (season 7) 2016 Modern Family (season 8)
References
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