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.
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.
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.
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".
Filmography
Film
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1996
| Confessions of a Sleep Addict
| P.J.
|
|-
| Happy Gilmore
| Virginia Venit
|
|-
| Multiplicity
| Robin
|
|-
| 1997
| An American Werewolf in Paris
| Amy Finch
|
|-
| rowspan="4" | 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
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2005
| Kids in America
| Principal Donna Weller
|
|-
| Partner(s)
| Katherine
|
|-
| 2007
| Sex and Death 101
| Fiona Wormwood
|
|-
| 2010
| Crazy on the Outside
| Christy
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2011
| Jumping the Broom
| Amy
|
|-
| Horrible Bosses
| Rhonda Harken
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2012
| Conception
| Tiffany
|
|-
| Knife Fight
| Peaches O'Dell
|
|-
| 2013
| Scooby-Doo! Mecha Mutt Menace
| Dr. Devon Albright (voice)
| Direct-to-video film
|-
| 2014
| Planes: Fire & Rescue
| Lil' Dipper (voice)
|
|-
| 2018
| Life of the Party
| Marcie Strong
|
|-
| 2020
| Hubie Halloween
| Violet Valentine
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2021
| The Fallout
| Patricia Cavell
|
|-
| Mixtape
| Gail Moody
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2023
| Prom Pact
|
| Executive producer
|-
| Totally Killer
| Pam Hughes
|
|-
| 2025
| Happy Gilmore 2
| Virginia Venit Gilmore
|
|}
Television
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1992
| Loving
| Steffy
| 1 episode
|-
| rowspan="3" | 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"
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1994
| Runaway Daughters
| Angie Gordon
| rowspan="2" | Television film
|-
| Where Are My Children?
| Kirstie
|-
| 1995
| Extreme
| Andie McDermott
| Recurring role
|-
| rowspan="2" | 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
|-
| rowspan="2" | 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"
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2008
| Weeds
| Lisa Ferris
| Recurring role (season 4)
|-
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
| Gwen Sibert
| Episode: "Trials"
|-
| rowspan="2" | 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
| rowspan="2" | Family Guy
| Claire Dunphy (voice)
| rowspan="2" | 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
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2017
| MasterChef Junior
| rowspan="2" | 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)
|-
| align=center| 2011
| Modern Family <small> (episode: "Strangers on a Treadmill") </small>
|
| align=center|
|-
| align=center| 2012
| Modern Family <small> (episode: "Go Bullfrogs!") </small>
|
| align=center|
|-
| align=center| 2013
| Modern Family <small> (episode: "My Hero") </small>
|
| align=center|
|-
| align=center | 2014
| Modern Family <small> (episode: "The Feud") </small>
|
| align=center|
|-
| align=center| 2015
| Modern Family <small> (episode: "Valentine's Day 4: Twisted Sister") </small>
|
| align=center|
|-
! rowspan="15" scope="row" | Screen Actors Guild Awards
| rowspan="1", align=center| 2005
| rowspan=3 | Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series
| rowspan=3 | Boston Legal
|
| align=center|
|-
| align=center| 2006
|
| align=center|
|-
| align=center| 2007
|
| align=center|
|-
| align=center| 2008
| rowspan="3" | Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series
| Weeds
|
| align=center|
|-
| align=center| 2009
| Modern Family <small> (season 1) </small>
|
| align=center|
|-
| align=center| 2010
| Modern Family <small> (season 2) </small>
|
| align=center|
|-
| rowspan=2, align=center| 2011
| Outstanding Female Actor in a Comedy Series
| rowspan=2| Modern Family <small> (season 3) </small>
|
| rowspan=2, align=center|
|-
|rowspan="2" | Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series
|
|-
| rowspan=1, align=center| 2012
| Modern Family <small> (season 4) </small>
|
| align=center|
|-
| rowspan=2, align=center | 2013
| Outstanding Female Actor in a Comedy Series
| rowspan=2| Modern Family <small> (season 5) </small>
|
| rowspan=2, align=center|
|-
| Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series
|
|-
| rowspan="2", align=center | 2014
| Outstanding Female Actor in a Comedy Series
| rowspan=2| Modern Family <small> (season 6) </small>
|
| rowspan=2, align=center|
|-
| rowspan="3" | Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series
|
|-
| align=center| 2015
| Modern Family <small> (season 7) </small>
|
| align=center|
|-
| align=center| 2016
| Modern Family <small> (season 8) </small>
|
| align=center|
|}