Who is Julianne Phillips?
Julianne Phillips was born on 6 May 1960, in Evanston, Illinois, USA. She is a former model and actress, best known for her work in the television series “Sisters” in which she portrayed the character Francesca “Frankie” Reed for five seasons. She is also known for being the first wife of American rock star Bruce Springsteen, a relationship that elevated her fame.
The Net Worth of Julianne Phillips
As of early-2020, Julianne Phillips’ net worth is estimated to be over $30 million, earned through success in her various endeavors.
While she earned some income during her time active in the entertainment industry, most of it probably was a benefit given to her during her marriage to Springsteen and their subsequent divorce settlement. Her former husband has a net worth estimated to be over $500 million.
Early Life, Education, and Career Beginnings
While Julianne was born in Evanston, her family later moved to Oregon, settling in Lake Oswego. She was raised in the Catholic faith by her father who worked as an insurance broker; her mother, on the other hand, stayed at home raising the family. She is the youngest among five children, having four older brothers with one older sister.
She expressed an interest in an acting career at a young age, and her father encouraged her to pursue her dream. She attended Lake Oswego High School and after matriculating, enrolled at the Long Beach-based Brooks College. While the school had various programs, it’s particularly identified for its fashion related programs, such as fashion marketing and fashion design. After completing her undergraduate studies, she moved to Manhattan, New York City and tried pursuing a career as a model during the 1980s.
Transition to Acting
Phillips signed a contract with Elite Modeling Agency which proved to be a lucrative endeavor with consistent work.
However, she was not settled at becoming just a model, and soon moved to Los Angeles to find work as an actress. One of her first appearances was in the music video “If I’d Been the One” by .38 Special, which led to her being cast in her first professional roles, a couple of television movies including “His Mistress” which starred Robert Urich, and “Summer Fantasy”. Around this time, she was gaining significant attention for her attractive looks which were elevated even further as she appeared in the music video of “Glory Days” with Bruce Springsteen.
The meeting with Bruce would spark the beginning of their relationship, but she continued her acting work in the next few years.
Some of her next projects included roles in “Seven Hours to Judgment”, “Sweet Lies”, and “Odd Jobs”. She also had a starring role in “Skin Deep” which saw her work with John Ritter; the film follows an author who finds himself in problems with both alcohol and women. She also worked alongside Chevy Chase in the film “Fletch Lives”, which is a sequel to “Fletch”.
Sisters and Inactivity
In 1991, Julianne got her most memorable role in the television series “Sisters”, playing the business-focused woman Frankie. The show follows the lives of four sisters living together, all of whom have vastly different personalities and lifestyles. She was present in the show until deciding to leave in 1995, though she returned for the show’s final episode the following year.
She continued appearing in other projects, such as “Tidal: Wave No Escape”, “Allie & Me”, “Big Bully”, and “Colin Fitz Lives!” after which she decided to stay away from film acting, and hasn’t taken any projects since.
However, she has occasionally appeared on television. In 2001, she made her first appearance after her inactivity in an episode of the series “Intimate Portrait”, which showcased her life while in the show “Sisters” alongside her co-star Sela Ward. After thirteen years, the two and their “Sisters” co-stars Patricia Kalember and Swoosie Kurtz appeared together in a special issue of the magazine “Entertainment Weekly”. This reunion was also aired through the program “Today” on NBC, but after which she has quietly returned to her life away from the entertainment industry.
Former Husband – Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen rose to fame in the 1970s, thanks to his work as a solo artist as well as with the E Street Band – some of his most popular songs during this time include, “Badlands”, “Thunder Road”, ‘and “Born to Run”. He became known for his lyrics, which often reflected the struggles of working-class citizens in the US. He was also known for his live performances, often identified as energetic.
He released both folk and rock songs, with his most successful being “Born in the USA” in 1984.
The success of the album established him as a rock icon – it was certified 15 times platinum in the US by the RIAA, becoming one of the best-selling albums of all time, 30 million worldwide. Some of his top hits during the 1980s include “Dancing in the Dark”, “Brilliant Disguise”, and “Glory Days”. He continues to perform and make music, and has sold over 135 million albums around the world, and won numerous awards during his career spanning five decades, including Grammys, a Tony, and an Academy Award. He is also an inductee into both the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Personal Life
Julianne was introduced to Bruce through Barry Bell, and they quickly developed a romance which turned into marriage despite a large age gap and the two barely knowing each other. The marriage quickly turned sour due to Springsteen’s heavy touring schedule which meant that he was always on the road. In 1988, after he invited longtime friend Patti Scialfa to tour with him, Julianne separated from him and then filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences, which was finalized nearly a year later after a lengthy settlement process. Springsteen later admitted that he was very unhappy during his first marriage – he eventually married Scialfa. Julianne, on the other hand, quietly lived her life away from the media and it is not known if she remarried.