Joan Van Ark gained prominence in the late ’70s for her role in the highly popular soap opera “Knots Landing.” The star originally decided to pursue a career in acting in high school after being snubbed for prom. Van Ark soon met actress Julie Harris when she interviewed her for the school paper, and the latter advised her to apply to the Yale School of Drama. She listened and got a scholarship to the prestigious institution on Harris’ recommendation. At the time, Van Ark was only the second female student to attend the school after Harris and was the only female student during her time there.
Van Ark began her career on the stage at the Minneapolis Guthrie Theater with “The Miser,” written by French playwright Molière. She made her Broadway debut in 1966 after she moved to a nationwide touring company called Barefoot in the Park. Van Ark moved to the small screen shortly, starring in movies like “Spider-Woman”, and “Days of Our Lives.” She earned her first Tony nomination in 1971 for Best Featured Actress in a Play for playing Agnès in “The School for Wives” revival. Van Ark got her breakthrough role in 1978 when she was cast as Valene Ewing on “Dallas”. She then played the same role as the lead character in the spin-off “Knots Landing” for 13 seasons and 327 episodes.
Van Ark has stayed out of public view in recent years, keeping a private life with her husband of 57 years. However, she was seen running errands in Los Angeles in May 2022, three years since her last public appearance and days before her birthday. Continue reading to catch up with the actress’ life and marriage.
Van Ark is most well known for her role in “Dallas” and its spin-off “Knots Landing,” but she almost missed out on the part. She told Express that she had a “three-way clash” when it came time to audition for the part as she also had an Estée Lauder commercial and “The Love Boat” appearance to do.
“I got the call asking me to do a guest appearance in this show called ‘Dallas,’ which was attracting a lot of buzz, but I said to my husband, ‘John, why should I even read this script? I can’t be in three places at once’. Then he read it and said, ‘No, you’ve got to do it. It looks wonderful,’” she recounted.
She said she was “so glad I listened to him” as Van Ark turned the two-episode guest spot into a 15-year stint. “Knots Landing” ran from 1979 to 1993 and revolved around the dramatic lives of the residents of a fictional cul-de-sac in Southern California. Van Ark’s character Valene was known for her tumultuous and complex relationships. She initially appeared as the wife of Gary Ewing, played by Ted Shackelford, but their marriage faced constant challenges. Valene’s character underwent significant development throughout the series, including divorces, remarriages, and various personal trials.
Van Ark left the show in 1992, and a year later, it was canceled. As for why she walked away, the star said she wanted to pursue other interests as it was never a good thing for an artist to feel too comfortable.
“I could stay forever on the show and be safe,” she remarked.
Although Van Ark would never again find a role bigger than “Knots Landing,” she has appeared in other popular shows such as “The Young and the Restless” and “Nip/Tuck.”
Meanwhile, Van Ark’s marriage has defied the norm in Hollywood as she and her husband have remained married for 57 years. The renowned actress and her husband, John Marshall, met while high school students in Boulder, Colorado. The high school sweethearts wed in 1966 in Germany.
Remarkably, Van Ark and her TV character, Valene, made the same choice when choosing a spouse, though the actress maintained that both marriages were strikingly different.
“Believe me, it was nothing like the marriages (Valene Ewing) has gone through,” she said in an interview with UPI in 1985.
Van Ark and John welcomed their daughter and only child, Vanessa Marshall, in 1969, and John gave up his TV anchor job to become a correspondent and have more time for their daughter. Luckily, he also thrived in his career and became an Emmy newsman. Van Ark often shared how her husband gave up his career to raise their daughter when the actress struggled to balance motherhood with a thriving career in showbiz.
Van Ark told The Leader-Post in 1988:
“He is the reason we have the most wonderful daughter in the world and that the marriage has stayed strong. I feel I am the committed person who can’t give up time for this or that.”
Vanessa followed in her mother’s footsteps and is now a renowned voice-over artist who has lent her voice to video games, animated films, and television series. The talented artist who has built a fan base on Instagram has voiced Hera in “Star Wars” and the animated “Harley Quinn” on HBO Max.
To the surprise of many, Van Ark came out of seclusion in May 2023, just days before her 80 birthday. The actress got out of her car in Los Angeles three years after disappearing from public view to run errands. She wore a white long-sleeved top and gray tights, which she paired with knee-length cowboy boots. Her mid-length blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail.
Unfortunately, Van Ark has often been criticized for her many botched plastic surgeries. A source told GLOBE in 2020 that Van Ark has always had problems with her self-image and self-esteem, and it had gotten worse with age.
“She never truly liked the way she looked, even in her youth in the ’80s, and once she had money to burn she tried to make herself pretty with plastic surgery,” the source disclosed.
Fans have also voiced their displeasure with the star’s looks on social media. Many shared their opinions under a tweet of the “Tainted Blood” actress’ latest looks. “She’s had years and years and years of major ‘work’ done, and it looks like it. They can’t stand to age naturally because they lose roles, but they don’t get them looking like this, either,” a follower explained.
Another fan was shocked and wrote, “Come on that’s got to be massively photoshopped up,” while another lamented, “You know your (sic) ruining my childhood ?.”
Fans of the actress also voiced their thoughts under a picture of Van Ark and a co-star on Facebook. A genuinely curious fan asked, “What happened to her?”
Despite the criticisms about her looks, Van Ark remains publicly unaffected and appears to be focusing on life with her husband and precious daughter.
What do you think of Van Ark? Will you be watching any of her shows after reading this? Let us know — and be sure to pass this article on to friends, family members, and fellow “Knots Landing” and “Dallas” fans!
