Julie Bowen

Julie Bowen, originally born as Julie Bowen Luetkemeyer, is a highly acclaimed American actress well-known for her role as Claire Dunphy in the ABC sitcom Modern Family (2009–2020). Throughout her career-spanning over three decades, she has put up outstanding performances in a multitude of shows and films, thus garnering widespread critical acclaim. Besides Modern Family, some of her notable performances include Roxanne Please in the NBC medical drama series ER (1998–1999), Carol Vessey in the NBC comedy series Ed (2000–2004), Denise Bauer in the ABC legal drama series Boston Legal (2005–2007), and Sarah Shephard in the ABC drama series Lost (2005–2007). Besides, she has also graced the big screen with successful films like 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). Bowen was born in Baltimore, Maryland, the second of three daughters to Suzanne (née Frey) and John Alexander Luetkemeyer Jr., a commercial real estate developer. Being of German descent, she was raised in suburban Ruxton-Riderwood, Maryland. Her academic stint included Calvert School, Garrison Forest School, Roland Park Country School, and St. George's School in Middletown, Rhode Island, followed by a specialization in Italian Renaissance studies from Brown University. Throughout her college years, she nurtured her passion for acting and bagged multiple roles in theatrical productions. She started her acting career with a role in the soap opera Loving (1992), followed by a host of television series, sitcoms, films, and commercials, allowing her to spread her talent. Bowen thrives despite a cardiovascular condition called bradycardia, which required her to have a pacemaker since her early twenties. She has three sons with her ex-husband Scott Phillips, a real estate investor, and software developer.