Julie Bowen

Julie Bowen Luetkemeyer (born March 3, 1970) is an American actress 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 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 Shephard's ex-wife, Sarah Shephard. 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.