She captivated audiences as Valene Ewing on Knots Landing, a small-town waitress turned bestselling novelist. Joan Van Ark’s portrayal of the character brought her fame, but what about her life off-screen?
For 14 dramatic seasons, fans followed Val’s ups and downs. Meanwhile, Joan’s own story played out much more quietly behind the scenes. So, what’s the real story behind the ultimate dream girl of the 1980s?
From her marriage to her departure from Knots Landing, we’re uncovering what happened to Joan Van Ark. Let’s explore the woman behind the TV drama queen and her fascinating journey.
A Life-Changing Encounter Leads to Stardom
Joan Van Ark was born on June 16, 1943, in New York. Her father named her after Joan of Arc, predicting she would one day be famous. And he was right.
At just 15, Van Ark interviewed actress Julie Harris for her school newspaper. That meeting would change her life. Harris recommended her to the Yale School of Drama, where Van Ark became the second youngest student to receive a scholarship.
As it turns out, Julie Harris was the youngest. She later played Van Ark’s mother on Knots Landing and became a lifelong mentor to her.
High School Sweethearts with a Twist of Fate
Joan Van Ark and John Marshall were high school sweethearts from Boulder, Colorado. They got married in Germany while Marshall worked with the Armed Forces Television Service.
After his service, Marshall became a correspondent for KNBC-TV, winning an Emmy and a Golden Mike. In 1992, he was controversially let go by new management and briefly joined a competing station, only to leave after one day.
Their daughter, Vanessa Marshall, was born on October 19, 1969. Like her parents, she pursued the arts, earning a degree from Princeton and over 200 voice acting credits, including Star Wars Rebels and Guardians of the Galaxy.
Joan’s Early Roles Before Knots Landing
Before Knots Landing, Joan Van Ark worked with some of Hollywood’s biggest names, including Telly Savalas, Bette Davis, and James Garner. She also appeared in popular shows like Gunsmoke and M*A*S*H, showcasing her range as an actress.
In the Gunsmoke episode “Striker,” she played Sarah Jean Striker, the daughter of a man released after 15 years in prison. Her performance caught attention, and she continued to build her acting career.
On M*A*S*H, she appeared as Lieutenant Erica Johnson in “Radar’s Report.” Her character assists Captain Hawkeye Pierce, who quickly falls for her, only to be heartbroken when she’s transferred to Japan at the end of the episode.
The Role That Almost Didn’t Happen for Joan Van Ark
When Dallas premiered in 1978, it was just a short miniseries. Joan Van Ark almost passed on the role of Valene Ewing because of her commitments in New York. But her husband convinced her, and soon she was bringing Val to life, accent and all.
Dallas creator David Jacobs wanted a show about middle-class families, but CBS wanted something flashier. After Dallas became a hit, the network expanded it, leading to the spinoff Knots Landing with Val and her husband, Gary.
Val’s journey on Knots Landing was full of wild twists. She had her husband stolen, her twins kidnapped, and survived a drug overdose. Her dramatic life could rival any Hollywood legend’s.
Reuniting with Donna Mills and Facing Hollywood Pressures
In 2008, Joan Van Ark and Donna Mills reunited on the FX show Nip/Tuck. Van Ark joked about how different the role was from Valene Ewing, saying, “We were all in bed with Dr. Christian… so un-Valene.” She loved portraying confident women over 40.
A 2007 photo of Van Ark at a Hollywood benefit sparked rumors about her efforts to fight aging. She was parodied on Family Guy and even scrutinized by a plastic surgeon in the National Enquirer. On Oprah in 2014, she responded to the buzz, saying, “It’s the norm now… the whole nine yards is expected.”
Despite challenges, Van Ark never felt burnout on Knots Landing. However, in 1992, she left the show for the short-lived Spin Doctors. Looking back in a 2022 podcast, she admitted leaving was a mistake and that she never felt on autopilot while filming.
Joan’s Iconic Guest Appearances and Soap Opera Legacy
Joan Van Ark has made memorable guest appearances on several classic TV shows. You might remember her on The Six Million Dollar Man, Quincy, and Rhoda. She also had roles on Medical Center, The Rockford Files, and The Love Boat.
In 2009, she shared her ghostly encounter on Celebrity Ghost Stories. Joan returned to full-time television in 2004 as Gloria Fisher Abbott on The Young and the Restless. However, she left in 2005, stating, “It was a nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there.” Her last on-screen role was as Aunt Daisy in the 2017 film Psycho Wedding Crasher.
Knots Landing was a groundbreaking soap opera about middle-class families, running for 13 seasons. Van Ark earned six nominations and two awards for her role as Valene. The cast reunited for a miniseries in 1997 and a virtual reunion in 2020. In 2022, she was spotted by Daily Mail while running errands, reminding everyone she’s still in the public eye.