Julie Bowen (born March 3, 1970) is an American film and television actress. Throughout Bowen’s career she has maintained supporting roles in films including Happy Gilmore (1996), Multiplicity (1996), Venus and Mars (2001), Joe Somebody (2001), Kids in America (2005), Sex and Death 101 (2007), Crazy on the Outside (2010), Jumping the Broom (2011) and Horrible Bosses (2011). Bowen first gained prominence on the television series Ed, where she played high school English teacher Carol Vessey and the love interest of the protagonist, Ed Stevens. Since then, Bowen guest starred as the character of Sarah Shephard in five episodes of Lost.
