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Julie Bowen

Julie Bowen

Actor, also producer · Born March 3, 1970 (56) · Baltimore, Maryland, USA

2 Primetime Emmys · 4 Screen Actors Guild Awards

Julie Bowen Luetkemeyer (born March 3, 1970) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Claire Dunphy on the sitcom Modern Family, Carol Vessey on Ed, and Denise Bauer on Boston Legal. She began her acting career in the soap opera Loving in 1992. In 1994, she played the lead role opposite Paul Rudd, in the television film Runaway Daughters. Throughout the 90s and early 2000s, she had roles in numerous films including Happy Gilmore (1996), An American Werewolf in Paris (1997), Joe Somebody (2001) and Kids in America (2005). She gained recognition on the television series Ed, where she played high school English teacher Carol Vessey, the love interest of of the series' protagonist, Ed Stevens. She has had guest roles in many television series including Party of Five, Jake in Progress, ER and Strange Luck. In the cult series Lost, she played Jack Shepard's ex-wife, Sarah Shepard. In 2008, she had a recurring role as Lisa, the love interest of the almost legal Silas Botwin on Weeds. Since 2009, she co-starred in the hit ABC sitcom Modern Family. For her portrayal of the competitive and lovable soccer mom, Claire Dunphy, she received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, winning the award in 2011 and 2012.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 3, 1970 (56)
From
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
46 on MovieCove · 66 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 156 days to Oct 27Up 1% in 30 days

What are Julie Bowen's films like?

Across their 25 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 35th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Animation3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 6th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
37%
Self
26%
Morality
15%
Society
10%
Power
7%
Survival
4%
Ideas
1%
Family bonds10 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship7 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 21 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 15 · Serious 5 · Dark 1

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 13 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 9 · Charged 11 · Intense 1

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 8 · Shifting 9 · Whiplash 4

Funny: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their funny movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 2 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 11

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 14 · Relentless 3

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 16 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 21 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

10 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 3 of 10 analyzed roles.

Ally
3 of 10
Herald
2 of 10
Threshold guardian
2 of 10
Hero
1 of 10
Shadow
1 of 10
Mentor
1 of 10
Show the 10 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Absurd
14
Joyful
10
Tense
10
Warm
8
Hopeful
7
Other
22

How their films linger

Feel-good15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy15
  • Bittersweet7
  • Ambiguous3

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Julie Bowen's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 37 of their 46 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Julie Bowen's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

66 credits, 46 with a MovieCove page; 28 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Happy Gilmore 2(2025)

    as Virginia

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Hysteria!(2024)

    Show 8 episodes · as Linda Campbell

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Totally Killer(2023)

    as Pam Hughes

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Hailey's on It!(2023)

    Show 4 episodes · as Patricia Banks (voice)

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Prom Pact(2023)

    Executive Producer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • StoryBots: Answer Time(2022)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all shows

  • The Jennifer Hudson Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Mixtape(2021)

    as Gail

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • The Fallout(2021)

    as Patricia Cavell

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Hubie Halloween(2020)

    as Violet Valentine

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Modern Family: A Modern Farewell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    Show 1 episode · as Claire Dunphy

  • Girl Code (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Director · as Colleen

  • Life of the Party(2018)

    as Marcie Strong

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Secret of the Sundrop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Queen Arianna

  • Tangled: Queen for a Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Queen Arianna (voice)

  • DuckTales(2017)

    Show 7 episodes · as Lt. Penumbra (voice)

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure(2017)

    Show 59 episodes · as Queen Arianna (voice)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Tangled: Before Ever After(2017)

    as Queen Arianna (voice)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Planes: Fire & Rescue: Dipper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Dipper (Voice)

  • Planes: Fire & Rescue(2014)

    as Dipper (voice)

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Scooby-Doo! Mecha Mutt Menace(2013)

    as Dr. Devon Albright (voice)

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Knife Fight(2012)

    as Peaches O'Dell

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The Mindy Project(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Daisy

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all shows

  • Horrible Bosses(2011)

    as Rhonda Harken

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Jumping the Broom(2011)

    as Amy

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Conception(2011)

    as Tiffany

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Marion Spartan (voice)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Crazy on the Outside(2010)

    as Christy

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Modern Family(2009)

    Show 250 episodes · Director · as Claire Dunphy

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Childrens Hospital(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as First Lady

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • True Jackson, VP(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Claire Underwood

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all shows

  • Sex and Death 101(2007)

    as Fiona Wormwood (#29)

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Kids in America(2005)

    as Principal Weller

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Weeds(2005)

    Show 7 episodes · as Lisa

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Partner(s) (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Katherine

  • Jake in Progress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Boston Legal(2004)

    Show 52 episodes · as Denise Bauer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Lost(2004)

    Show 6 episodes · as Sarah Wagner

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Stella Shorts 1998-2002 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Mother Nature

  • Monk(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Marilyn Brody

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Joe Somebody(2001)

    as Meg Harper

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Justice League(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as Aresia (voice)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Venus and Mars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Lisa

  • Amy's Orgasm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Nikki

  • You're Killing Me...(1999)

    as Jamie Quinn

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Curb Your Enthusiasm(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Gabby McAffe

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Ed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 83 episodes · as Carol Vessey

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Gwen Sibert

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Last Man on Planet Earth(1999)

    as Hope Chayse

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Family Guy(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Claire Dunphy (voice) · as Julie Bowen (voice)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Oh Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 4 episodes · as Nikky

  • Three (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 13 episodes · as Amanda Webb

  • Dawson's Creek(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Aunt Gwen

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • An American Werewolf in Paris(1997)

    as Amy Finch

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • E! True Hollywood Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Multiplicity(1996)

    as Robin

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Happy Gilmore(1996)

    as Virginia Venit

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Extreme (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 7 episodes · as Andie McDermott

  • ER(1994)

    Show 9 episodes · as Roxanne Please

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Where Are My Children?(1994)

    as Kirstie

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Party of Five(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Shelley

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • Runaway Daughters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Angie Gordon

  • Rebel Highway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Angie Gordon

  • Acapulco H.E.A.T.(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Danielle Perkins

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all shows

  • Class of '96 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Kristie Lewis

  • Grown Ups 3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 66 titles, 65 of them dated from 1993 to 2025; peak year 1996.

Biggest box office

Horrible Bosses (2011)

$210M worldwide

Highest rated

Modern Family (2009)

Midcredits 96th

Film career

MilestoneAward winNomination
19932025

Peak 1996 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 7 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

Show 1 more milestone

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting65 of 66: 63 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score57thDirecting2 of 66: 0 only directing, 2 with another roleProducing1 of 66: 1 only producing, 0 with another role

By decade

1990s18 · acting2000s19 · 19 acting · 1 crew2010s17 · 17 acting · 1 crew2020s11 · 10 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 0% of 20 roles
960616

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

2 Primetime Emmys and 4 Screen Actors Guild Awards from 21 major nominations, 2006–2017.

WinNomination
  1. 2017
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
  2. 2016
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
  3. 2015
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
  4. 2014
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
  5. 2013
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
  6. 2012
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
  7. 2011
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, won · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
  8. 2010
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
Show 4 earlier years
  1. 2009
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
  2. 2008
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  3. 2007
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
  4. 2006
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Julie Bowen's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 38th percentile, the median of all 24; across their 21 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 33rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

33rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Approval · how many liked their films

38thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Reach · how many have seen their films

88thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 21

Midcredits score across 46 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th11

Shape of the crowd

16 of their 46 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed16

Most divisive · actor

Hailey's on It! (2023)

81st percentile spread · 19% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, director

Modern Family (2009)

Midcredits 96th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the acting 62/100 in their films, across 21 reviewed titles; fans 74, detractors 38. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Julie Bowen's work okay for kids?

Across up to 16 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films and frightening / intense lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore12 titles10–49 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity16 titles17–59 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity13 titles34–67 · median 48 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs10 titles31–61 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense11 titles7–71 · median 20 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Julie Bowen work with?

People who share at least 2 of Julie Bowen's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Adam Sandler shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers

Mixed roles