Classic television didn't just happen by accident. It relied on steady, versatile performers who anchored shows week after week without demanding tabloid headlines. Julie Sommars carved out a remarkably consistent career across four decades, transitioning effortlessly from 1960s guest star to award-winning sitcom lead and finally to a beloved fixture of late-80s legal dramas. While she might not carry the household name recognition of some contemporaries, her body of work forms a textbook example of professional longevity in the American entertainment industry.
If you look for a single defining archetype for Sommars, you won't find one. She played everything from cunning suspects to sharp-witted attorneys, earning a Golden Globe along the way. This overview examines her rise through early television, her breakthrough comedy years, her memorable run alongside Andy Griffith, and her later public service.
Early Beginnings and 1960s Television Stints
Born in Fremont, Nebraska, in 1940, Sommars grew up in the Midwest before entering the entertainment industry as a teenager. She made her television debut in 1960 on The Loretta Young Show. That single appearance opened doors across the major television networks during an era when anthology series and episodic westerns dominated prime-time slots.
Throughout the early and mid-1960s, she appeared as a guest actor on nearly every major classic TV show. Her credits from this decade read like a historical index of American television:
- Gunsmoke
- Bonanza
- Perry Mason
- The Fugitive
- Get Smart
Unlike actors who struggled to break out of bit parts, Sommars brought a grounded realism to her guest roles. This steady exposure built trust among casting directors, positioning her for leading television work by the end of the decade.
Breaking Out: The Governor and J.J.
Sommars hit a major career milestone when she cast as Jennifer Jo "J.J." Drinkwater in the CBS comedy series The Governor & J.J. The show ran from 1969 to 1970 and focused on a widowed governor—played by Dan Dailey—and his bright, independent daughter who frequently acted as his unofficial hostess and political foil.
Her performance captured public and critical attention. In 1970, Sommars won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy, beating out several established stars of the era. Though the series only lasted two seasons, it proved she could carry a weekly television project with comedic timing and charm.
Following this success, she maintained a busy schedule in both television movies and feature films. Filmgoers might recognize her from the 1965 western The Great Sioux Massacre or her role as Diane Darcy in the 1977 Disney comedy Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo alongside Dean Jones and Don Knotts.
The Matlock Years and Assistant District Attorney Julie March
For many television fans, Sommars is best known for her long-running role as Assistant District Attorney Julie March on the NBC legal drama Matlock. Starring opposite Andy Griffith from 1987 to 1994, she appeared in nearly 100 episodes.
Her character was professional, composed, and possessed a dry wit that played well against Griffith's folksy, sharp-minded defense attorney Ben Matlock. The chemistry between the two characters added a layer of warmth and subtle romantic tension to the courtroom proceedings. This role brought her a second major accolade: a nomination for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1990.
Transition to Public Service
After wrapping up her work on Matlock in the mid-1990s, Sommars largely stepped away from regular on-screen acting. Instead, she channeled her public-facing experience into civic and legal administration in California.
She served as a public member of the California Commission on Judicial Performance during the late 1990s. Following that appointment, Governor Gray Davis named her to the State Bar Board of Governors in May 2000, where she completed a three-year term overseeing attorney regulation and public protection standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Julie Sommars' first major television role?
Her television career began with an appearance on The Loretta Young Show in 1960, which quickly led to recurring guest spots on popular westerns and dramas of the era.
Did Julie Sommars win any major awards?
Yes. She won a Golden Globe Award in 1970 for her starring role in the comedy series The Governor & J.J. She received a second Golden Globe nomination in 1990 for her work on Matlock.
Which feature film is she most recognized for?
While she acted in several films, movie audiences frequently remember her co-starring role as Diane Darcy in the 1977 Disney film Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo.
Why did she stop acting?
Sommars did not formally announce a dramatic retirement; rather, she naturally transitioned away from television acting in the mid-1990s to focus on public service and legal administrative boards in California.
