Biography
Julie Sommars was born in Fremont, Nebraska, to a government grain inspector and a schoolteacher. She attended schools across Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota. While studying in Onawa, Iowa, her father secretly entered her in a global talent search. At 15, Julie auditioned in Chicago for Otto Preminger for the lead in "Saint Joan." Though she didn’t secure the role, as a high school senior she won the American Legion State Oratory Contest in Aberdeen, South Dakota, becoming the only female winner among the then 48 states.
After graduating high school, Julie took a Greyhound bus to California for a summer job teaching horseback riding and swimming, and enrolled at San Bernardino Valley College. Her role in the play "Our Town" led to her portraying Loretta Young’s daughter in an episode of the "Loretta Young Show" at age 19.
Her major break came through another talent competition. She won the female lead in Ross Hunter’s search for unknown actors for the 1966 black comedy "The Pad and How to Use It," adapted from Peter Shaffer’s play "The Private Ear."
In 1969, she starred as J.J., daughter of Dan Dailey’s character, in the comedy series "The Governor and J.J." In 1970, she earned a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy, tying with Carol Burnett, and received the Best New Star Award from the Television Critics Association for that role.
Julie also appeared alongside Dean Jones and Don Knotts in the Disney film "Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo." Her television roles included appearances in "Get Smart," "Barnaby Jones," "Harry O," "The Rockford Files," "McMillan and Wife," "McCloud," and "Magnum P.I." During the 1970s, she starred in several TV movies such as "The Harness," "Five Desperate Women," "Cave-In," and "Centennial."
From 1987 to 1994, Julie co-starred with Andy Griffith in "Matlock" as Assistant District Attorney Julie March, his love interest. She received a Golden Globe nomination in 1990 for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama for this role.
After retiring, from March 1999 to March 2000 she served as a public member on the California Judicial Performance Commission, and from 2000 to 2003 she was a public member on California’s Board of Governors.
As of 2021, Julie lives in California with her husband of 38 years, John Karns. Together, they have three children: Jacey Erwin, Mike Karns, and Bill Karns.
