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Actor

1975-09-01 · Springfield, Missouri, USA · Female

6 series in the catalog

Dana Powell is an American comic actress best known for playing Pam Tucker, Cam's sister, on Modern Family (2013–2019).

Early life and education

Powell grew up in Springfield, Missouri, where she went to Hillcrest High School. She developed an interest in theater after an unsuccessful audition for Fiddler on the Roof as a high school freshman. Her first acting role was the housekeeper in a high school production of The Sound of Music. After briefly attending Ozarks Technical Community College, she earned a bachelor's degree in theater from Missouri State University in 1999. She worked in the newsroom of Springfield 33 (a radio station later known as KSPR) before moving to Los Angeles to study improvisational comedy at the iO West and the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.

Career

An early television role for Powell was on Reno 911! in 2005. She played a flight attendant in the 2011 film Bridesmaids and had a recurring role on the ABC sitcom Suburgatory (2011–2013). Other guest appearances include on television comedies such as Two Broke Girls, The Office, and Veep.

Powell's best-known role is Pameron "Pam" Tucker, the sister of the main character Cameron "Cam" Tucker (Eric Stonestreet), on the ABC sitcom Modern Family. First appearing in the fifth season episode "Farm Strong" in 2013, she returned for 14 episodes in total. Powell knew Stonestreet from their improvisational comedy days and considered him her "unofficial big brother in real life". Her character was met with controversy with viewers finding her character annoying and unlikeable. Pam Tucker has been cited as being one of the worst supporting characters on the show.

Powell has worked in digital advertising as a writer. She and actress Alison Royer hosted the Absolute Worst Podcast from May 2017 to December 2018. Since 2019, she has hosted The Rants and Raves Podcast with actress Jessica Young.

Personal life

Powell is married to Dan Tipton, who worked as a production supervisor for Modern Family. They met at Missouri State, and not long after graduation he invited her to move to Los Angeles. They have one son.