She’s known to millions for playing the energetic and ever-capable Claire Dunphy on Modern Family, and she has always seemed the picture of health and vitality.
But behind the scenes, her journey has included a dramatic health scare that left her fearing for her life at just 29 years old—a story she recently shared with refreshing candour.
A hidden condition revealed
Speaking recently on the podcast Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum, the Emmy-winning actress Julie Bowen opened up about her surprise diagnosis: sick sinus syndrome.
It’s a heart rhythm disorder that disrupts the natural pacemaker of the heart.
For most people, a healthy heart ticks along between 60 to 100 beats per minute.
For Julie, her resting heart rate would sometimes dip into the 30s—alarming her family and eventually her medical team.
The doctors called it hypervagotonia, a condition that heightens vagus nerve activity and slows the heart rate.
‘I have a low resting heart rate,’ Julie shared. ‘And my pacemaker is set so that it can’t go below 45.’
Before that, her heart would regularly beat well below the healthy range for women her age.
A sister’s instinct
What happened next could have come straight from a medical drama.
Julie’s sister, Annie Luetkemeyer—a newly qualified doctor at the time—was the first to notice something off.
While on a family holiday, Annie listened to Julie’s heart and was immediately concerned.
‘She was like, “That is not what they’ve been telling you, and it’s not runner’s heart or whatever. That means you need to go to a cardiologist,”’ Julie recalled.
Like many of us, she initially brushed it off. But Annie was persistent, and thankfully so.
A diagnosis that changed everything
Only a month later, after finishing filming for the pilot of the NBC series Ed, Julie needed urgent help.
‘I was like, “Oh my God. My life is over. This is so weird. I’m going to die.” I didn’t know what I thought it was, because I was 29,’ she admitted.
Doctors told her that while she wasn’t likely to die, she was at risk of passing out at dangerous times—such as while driving.
‘There was a vague feeling… whenever I was relaxed, really relaxed, I’d be, like, watching TV or a movie,’ she said.
It felt, she explained, like holding her breath for a bit too long—leading to light-headedness.
One conversation sealed the deal: ‘And they said, “You’re going to be driving a car, and you’re going to pass out, and you’re going to kill somebody.” And I was like, “Oh, well, then give me the pacemaker.”’
Living with a pacemaker
Since that day, Julie has had her pacemaker’s batteries replaced three times.
But for the most part, she forgets it is even there. ‘I forget about it all the time,’ she said.
Her story is a reminder of how modern medicine can help people live full, active lives even with serious conditions.
Pacemakers—small devices implanted under the skin—help regulate heart rhythms, often near the collarbone.
For people like Julie, they’re lifesaving.
Still centre stage
Despite her early scare, Julie’s acting career has thrived. From Boston Legal to Modern Family, she has continued to light up screens.
Now, she’s set to return as Virginia Venit in the long-awaited sequel to Happy Gilmore. And true to form, her humour hasn’t faded.
When she heard rumours of being replaced by a younger love interest in the new film, she quipped, ‘I’m hurt and I so respect that move. Of course, why wouldn’t you?’
But when she received the call to return, she was genuinely thrilled.
The upcoming film boasts a star-studded cast, including Bad Bunny, Margaret Qualley, Benny Safdie, Travis Kelce, Kym Whitley and Eminem.
Julie admitted to feeling a bit starstruck—particularly around Bad Bunny.
‘I can’t actually look you in the eye. I’m going to have to walk away,’ she joked.
A gentle reminder to listen
Julie’s experience is a timely reminder to trust our instincts—and those of the people who know us best.
Especially for Australians over 50, it’s important not to ignore persistent fatigue, light-headedness or an irregular heartbeat.
If something feels off, see your GP. And if needed, get a second opinion. Sometimes, a quiet symptom is the only sign that something’s wrong.
Have you or someone you know experienced a health scare that turned out to be more serious than expected? Have you ever ignored symptoms until someone close urged you to get checked?
We’d love to hear your story in the comments below—your experience might help someone else take that vital first step.
Also read: Iconic voice of Australian rock opens up about near-death ordeal
