Julie Bowen

Julie Bowen (born Julie Bowen Luetkemeyer on March 3, 1970) is an American actress best known for her role as Claire Dunphy in the ABC sitcom Modern Family (2009–2020). Her performance on the series earned her widespread critical acclaim and two Primetime Emmy Awards.

Bowen was born in Baltimore, Maryland, to Suzanne Luetkemeyer and John Alexander Luetkemeyer Jr., a commercial real estate developer. She is of German descent and was raised in suburban Ruxton-Riderwood, Maryland, alongside two sisters, Annie and Molly. Bowen attended Calvert School, Garrison Forest School, Roland Park Country School, and St. George's School. She earned a degree in Italian Renaissance studies at Brown University, spending her junior year in Florence, Italy. During college, she appeared in stage plays such as Guys and Dolls, Stage Door, and Lemon Sky, and starred in the independent film Five Spot Jewel. She also studied acting at the Actor's Institute.

Bowen made early television appearances on Loving in 1992, Class of '96 in 1993, and the television film Runaway Daughters in 1994. In film, she played the title character's love interest in Happy Gilmore (1996) and appeared in Multiplicity (1996) and An American Werewolf in Paris (1997). Her early television credits include guest roles on Party of Five, Strange Luck, and Dawson's Creek, as well as a recurring role as Roxanne Please on the medical drama ER from 1998 to 1999.

Bowen first gained wider prominence playing high school English teacher Carol Vessey on the comedy-drama series Ed from 2000 to 2004. She subsequently recurred as Sarah Shephard on Lost (2005–2007), played attorney Denise Bauer on Boston Legal (2005–2008), and appeared on Weeds in 2008. Outside of acting roles, she worked as a spokesmodel advertising Neutrogena Pure Glow products and competed on Celebrity Jeopardy! in 2010 and 2022.

From 2009 to 2020, Bowen starred as Claire Dunphy on Modern Family. Her performance earned six consecutive Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series from 2010 to 2015, winning the award in 2011 and 2012. Her other film credits include 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).

In November 2021, Bowen's production company, Bowen & Sons, entered a first-look deal with Universal Television. She later produced the movie Prom Pact, which premiered on the Disney Channel and Disney+ in March 2023.

Bowen was married to real estate investor and software developer Scott Phillips from September 2004 until their divorce was finalized in September 2018, and they have three sons. She has bradycardia, requiring a pacemaker implant since her early twenties, and has managed chronic dry eye for approximately two decades, serving as a spokesperson for Xiidra. In 2016, she appeared in a music video shown at the Democratic National Convention supporting nominee Hillary Clinton.