ActressAmericanFilmTelevision

Julie Sommars

Julie Sommars is an American actress known for her extensive television and film work, including Golden Globe-winning roles in ''The Governor & J.J.'' and ''Matlock''.

1. Early Life and Background

Julie Sommars was born and raised in the American Midwest, where she spent her formative years before embarking on her acting career.

1.1. Childhood and Upbringing

Sommars was born on April 15, 1940, in Fremont, Nebraska. She spent her childhood and adolescence in both Iowa and South Dakota, where she was raised.

2. Acting Career

Julie Sommars had a prolific acting career spanning several decades, primarily in television but also appearing in notable films. She gained widespread recognition for her consistent performances in various genres, from comedy to drama.

2.1. Television Career

Sommars is widely recognized for her extensive contributions to television, marked by numerous guest appearances, recurring roles, and lead performances that earned her critical acclaim.

2.1.1. Early Roles and Breakthrough

Sommars made her television debut at the age of 18 in 1960, appearing in an episode of The Loretta Young Show. Following this, she took on a variety of guest-starring roles in popular series of the era. Her early television credits include appearances in Sea Hunt, Shirley Temple's Storybook, Holiday Lodge, The Tall Man, Outlaws, The Great Adventure, Alfred Hitchcock Presents (in the episode "Memo from Purgatory"), Bonanza, Sex and the College Girl, Slattery's People, Flipper, Perry Mason, Mr. Novak, Ben Casey, Death Valley Days, Gunsmoke, Run, Buddy, Run, Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre, The Fugitive, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Invaders, He & She, Dundee and the Culhane, Get Smart, European Eye, Felony Squad, Judd, for the Defense, The Name of the Game, The Virginian, The F.B.I., Lancer, and Love, American Style. She also featured in an unaired pilot film titled My Husband Tom...and John in 1966.

2.1.2. The Governor & J.J.

From 1969 to 1970, Sommars starred in the CBS comedy series The Governor & J.J. Her role as Jennifer Jo "J.J." Drinkwater, the daughter of the "Governor" played by Dan Dailey, brought her significant recognition. For her performance in the show, Sommars was awarded the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Television Series Musical or Comedy in 1970. Despite the acclaim for her role, the series concluded after two seasons.

Julie Sommars in 1970.
Julie Sommars in 1970.

2.1.3. Matlock

Sommars held a prominent role as Assistant District Attorney Julie March in the NBC legal drama series Matlock from 1987 to 1994. Her portrayal of the character across 94 episodes was highly regarded, earning her a nomination for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress on Television in 1990.

2.1.4. Other Notable Appearances

Following her work on The Governor & J.J., Sommars took on leading roles in several made-for-television movies and appeared in various pilot episodes for new series. Her guest-starring appearances in this period include roles on McCloud, Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law, Rex Harrison Presents Stories of Love, Thriller, Fools, Females and Fun, Harry O, The Rockford Files, Barnaby Jones, Switch, The Family Holvak, Three for the Road, Ellery Queen, Bronk, Jigsaw John, McMillan and Wife, Fantasy Island, Centennial, Sex and the Single Parent, Beyond Westworld, Magnum, P.I., Partners in Crime, and Diagnosis: Murder. In 1984, she was also a regular cast member in the short-lived syndicated soap opera Rituals. She also reprised her role as Betty Farmer in the television film Perry Mason: The Case of the Glass Coffin in 1991.

2.2. Film Career

In addition to her television work, Julie Sommars also appeared in several feature films, taking on notable roles in a range of genres. Her film roles include the 1965 Western The Great Sioux Massacre, where she played the female lead opposite Joseph Cotten. The following year, she starred with Brian Bedford in the comedy film The Pad and How to Use It. In 1977, Sommars co-starred with Dean Jones and Don Knotts in the Disney comedy Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo, where she portrayed the character of the assertive and beautiful Diane Darcy.

3. Awards and Nominations

Julie Sommars' acting career was recognized with prestigious awards and nominations for her performances, particularly in television.

  • Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Television Series Musical or Comedy
    • Won: 1970, for her role as Jennifer Jo "J.J." Drinkwater in The Governor & J.J.
  • Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Series, Miniseries or Television Film
    • Nominated: 1990, for her role as Assistant District Attorney Julie March in Matlock

4. Filmography

The following is a comprehensive list of Julie Sommars' appearances in television series and films.

  • Letter to Loretta as Laury Barlow (1 episode, 1960)
  • Sea Hunt as Betty Crane (season 3, episode 31, 1960)
  • Shirley Temple's Storybook as Princess Mary (1 episode, 1960)
  • Holiday Lodge as Cecilia (1 episode, 1961)
  • The Tall Man as Anna Henry (1 episode, 1961)
  • Outlaws as Ellie (1 episode, 1961)
  • The Great Adventure as Meg Jethro (1 episode, 1964)
  • Memo from Purgatory (1964)
  • Bonanza - Episode - The Roper - Emma Hewitt (1964)
  • Sex and the College Girl (1964) as Susan
  • Slattery's People as Electra Walton (1 episode, 1965)
  • Flipper as Tina's Mother (1 episode, 1965)
  • Perry Mason as Helen Kendall (1 episode, 1965)
  • Mr. Novak as Ellen Cable (1 episode, 1965)
  • Ben Casey as Ruth Ann Carmody (1 episode, 1965)
  • The Great Sioux Massacre (1965) as Caroline Reno
  • Death Valley Days as Tulie in "Peter the Hunter", and as Sister Blandina Segale in "The Fastest Nun in the West" (2 episodes, 1964, 1966)
  • Gunsmoke as Bess Campbell (4 episodes, 1964-1966; as Elsie Howell, 1 episode, 1965; as Sara Stone, 1 episode, 1966; as Gert)
  • The Pad and How to Use It (1966) as Doreen Marshall
  • Run, Buddy, Run as Betsy Jensen (1 episode, 1966)
  • Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre as Maggie Lake (1 episode, 1966)
  • The Fugitive as Carla Karac (2 episodes, 1965-1966)
  • My Husband Tom...and John unaired pilot film (1966)
  • The Man from U.N.C.L.E. as Darlene Sims (2 episodes, 1965-1967)
  • The Invaders as Grace Vincent (1 episode, 1967)
  • He & She as Rosemary Wallace (1 episode, 1967)
  • Dundee and the Culhane as Lela (1 episode, 1967)
  • Get Smart as Mimsi Sage (1 episode, 1968)
  • European Eye (1968) as Molly
  • Felony Squad as Ellen Willis (2 episodes, 1968)
  • Judd, for the Defense as Trish Overbaugh (1 episode, 1968)
  • The Name of the Game as Barbara Ellis (1 episode, 1968)
  • The Virginian as Martha Carson (1 episode, 1968)
  • The F.B.I. as Betty Caldwell (3 episodes, 1967-1969)
  • Lancer as Catha Cameron (1 episode, 1969)
  • The Governor & J.J. as Jennifer Jo Drinkwater (39 episodes, 1969-1970)
  • Five Desperate Women (1971) as Mary Grace Brown
  • The Harness (1971) as Jennifer Shagaras
  • How to Steal an Airplane (1971) as Dorothy
  • McCloud as Jennie (1 episode, 1971)
  • Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law as Jill Peniman (1 episode, 1972)
  • Rex Harrison Presents Stories of Love (1974) as Patricia
  • Thriller as Ann Rogers (1 episode, 1974)
  • Fools, Females and Fun as Alice Shoemaker (1974)
  • Harry O as Gertrude Blainey (1 episode, 1974)
  • The Rockford Files as Tawnia Baker (1 episode, 1974)
  • McCloud as Police Sgt. Mildred Cross (1 episode, 1974)
  • Barnaby Jones as Ruby Deems (1 episode, 1974)
  • Switch as Lane Cameron (1 episode, 1975)
  • The Family Holvak as Kate Gifford (1 episode, 1975)
  • Three for the Road as Amy Parsons (1 episode, 1975)
  • Ellery Queen as Emmy Reinhart (1 episode, 1975)
  • Bronk as Sara (1 episode, 1976)
  • Jigsaw John as Carol Chapman (1 episode, 1976)
  • McMillan and Wife as Carol Hanover (1 episode, 1977)
  • Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1977) as Diane Darcy
  • Fantasy Island as Carmen Drake (1 episode, 1978)
  • Centennial as Alice Grebe (1 episode, 1979)
  • Sex and the Single Parent as Bonnie (1979)
  • Barnaby Jones as Amy Cameron (1 episode, 1979)
  • Beyond Westworld as Liz Nicholson (1 episode, 1980)
  • Fantasy Island as Laura Crane (1 episode, 1980)
  • Magnum, P.I. as Jennie 'JL' Lowry/Texas Lightning (1 episode, 1982)
  • Cave-In! (1983) as Liz Johnson
  • Emergency Room (1983) as Nina Cole
  • Partners in Crime as Nola (1 episode, 1984)
  • Perry Mason: The Case of the Glass Coffin (1991) as Betty Farmer
  • Matlock as ADA Julie March (94 episodes, 1987-1992, 1 episode in 1994)
  • Diagnosis: Murder as Regina Baylor (1 episode, 1994)