Julie Bowen has a new man in her life, and she is sharing a few details about what makes him special. The Modern Family star, 56, revealed at Step Up’s 2026 Annual Inspiration Awards in Los Angeles on Friday, Sept. 25, that she is dating someone new. She described him as “smart and funny” and confirmed that intelligence matters most to her.
What Julie Bowen Said About Her New Boyfriend
Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE at the Skirball Cultural Center event, Bowen kept his identity private but offered a clear picture of the qualities she values in a partner.
“I have a lovely friend,” Bowen said.
The actress, who played Claire Dunphy on the hit ABC sitcom for 11 seasons, explained that humor and intelligence are the two things she looks for in a relationship.
“I need smart and funny. Those are the two [characteristics I look for in a partner],” she said.
Bowen also addressed the topic of physical appearance with a lighthearted comment. She said she does not care what people look like, though she noted that her new boyfriend happens to be good-looking.
“I don’t care what people look like — though he happens to be good-looking,” she quipped. “But I don’t care what people look like. I like the brains.”
A Look at Julie Bowen’s Past Relationship
Bowen was previously married to real estate investor Scott Phillips. The couple wed in September 2004 and separated after 13 years of marriage. Their divorce was finalized in September 2018.
Bowen and Phillips share three sons. Oliver is 19, and the twins Gustave and John are 17. Oliver is now a student at the University of Oregon, a change that has shifted the rhythm of Bowen’s household. She told PEOPLE at the same event that her home is “30% more quiet” now that her eldest son is away at college.
Parenting three teenage boys “is a lot,” Bowen said, joking about late-night basketball games. “I was going to a basketball game at 9 p.m., and I was like, ‘Oh, no.’”
Julie Bowen’s Career Beyond Modern Family
Bowen remains one of the most recognizable faces in American television. She starred as Claire Dunphy on Modern Family from 2009 to 2020, a role that earned her two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. The show ran for 11 seasons on ABC and became a global hit.
More recently, Bowen appeared in the comedy film Happy Gilmore 2 and the Peacock series Hysteria!. She has also stayed connected with her Modern Family castmates. Last October, she visited the University of Oregon to watch a football game with her son Oliver and her former on-screen husband, Ty Burrell, who attended the school in the late 1980s.
“Great (wet) weekend with @itsoliverphillips at U of Oregon,” Bowen wrote in an Instagram post at the time. “Dancing bears, old friends and a deluge…all capped off by a win from the Oregon Ducks at Autzen!”
Julie Bowen on Parenting and Trust
Bowen has been open about the challenges and rewards of raising three boys. She previously told PEOPLE that motherhood has taught her to trust her children more. “Believe in them,” she said, adding that learning not to micromanage has been an important part of the process.
When she dropped Oliver off for his freshman year of college, Bowen shared an emotional Instagram post about the milestone.
“Sweet Baby Oliver…you were born 5 minutes ago, so how can I possibly be leaving you at college?” she wrote. “You made me a mother, and I learned more (and been humbled more) from being your mom for the past 18 years than I could ever have imagined. Now I have to learn to do the hardest thing a parent has the privilege of doing and let you go.”
She added, “No, it’s NOT forever, but it’s the end of one big chapter, so – yeah – I’m going to cry.”
About the Step Up Inspiration Awards
Step Up is a national nonprofit that provides mentorship programs for girls and young women. The 2026 Annual Inspiration Awards took place at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. Other attendees included Demi Moore, Tallulah Willis, Ali Larter, and Rebecca Gayheart. The event raises funds for Step Up’s mission to help young women define their goals and build their paths.
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Details Julie Bowen Has Not Shared
Bowen has not shared any additional details about her new boyfriend or how long they have been together. She has also not posted about the relationship on social media. For now, she is keeping that part of her life private while sharing the qualities that matter to her.
The actress continues to balance her career with her role as a mother. She has expressed interest in a Modern Family reboot, telling USA TODAY in May 2026 that she would do it “in a heartbeat.” Bowen has not announced any new acting projects since then.
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