Biography

Julia Campbell is an American film and television actress. Her most noted role to date was Christie Masters in Romy and Michele's High School Reunion. Campbell had a starring role in the feature film, Tillamook Treasure (2006), in which she plays Kathryn Kimbell, the mother of the story's lead character. She has appeared on such television shows as Still Standing, Martial Law, Herman's Head, Ally McBeal, Malcolm in the Middle, Seinfeld ("The Frogger" episode), Friends, House, The Mentalist, The Practice, The Pretender, and Dexter. Some of her earliest notable roles were on the daytime soap operas Ryan's Hope (in which she played Ryan granddaughter Maura "Katie" Thompson) and Santa Barbara (in which she played Courtney Capwell) and the comedy film Livin' Large. In 2009, she guest starred on the NBC drama Heroes as Mary Campbell, mother of a new recurring character, Luke, in the episode "Trust and Blood". She appeared on the last episode of the series The Shield, on which her husband Jay Karnes played the character of Dutch Wagenbach.
- IMDb mini biography by: Bonitao

Growing up as an aspiring ballerina, she was sidetracked at 11 when she developed scoliosis. To treat it, she wore a neck-to-hip brace for 22 1/2 hours a day, setting aside 90 minutes for ballet practice. Her condition worsened, however, when it was discovered that her spine's center curve was 78 degrees off center, and starting to crush her right lung. Campbell underwent corrective surgery at the age of 15, recuperating in a full body cast for 11 months. Due to this condition, she is unable to participate in any activities that may put stress on her spine, such as skiing, horse-back riding, riding roller-coasters, and especially dancing.

She did a Jack-In-The-Box commercial in the 1980s that got her some attention because she had this haunted, victimized quality about her that came out in the advertisement. It led to her being cast as an inmate in the sitcom Women in Prison (1987).

Has twins, a son and a daughter, with her 2nd husband Jay Karnes.

Began taking theater classes in high school. She participated in every production, and such experience enabled her to get accepted to Webster University, where she earned her BFA in drama.

Attended high school at Lake Braddock Secondary School, Burke, Virginia