Joan Van Ark, 81, was the blonde beauty from Dallas and Knot’s Landing – see her now

Joan Van Ark, 81, was the blonde beauty from Dallas and Knot's Landing - see her now

As I delve into the captivating journey of Joan Van Ark, I am struck by the sheer breadth and depth of her acting career. From her iconic roles in Knots Landing and Dallas to her guest appearances on numerous other beloved shows, she has graced our screens for decades, leaving an indelible mark on television history.


Several well-known actors from the 1980s who have had long careers in Hollywood visited the Southfork Experience in Texas recently.

Charlene Tilton, Linda Gray, and Audrey Landers were all present, reminiscing about their tenure on the popular show Dallas.

81-year-old blonde pinup Joan Van Ark, known from the show featuring Larry Hagman, also achieved fame.

In 1978, Van Ark landed her most famous role of Valene Ewing. 

Initially, the character made their debut on the show Dallas. Later, they became the main character for an impressive 13 seasons on its spin-off series, Knots Landing, which ran from 1979 to 1992.

Joan Van Ark, 81, was the blonde beauty from Dallas and Knot's Landing - see her now

Joan Van Ark, 81, was the blonde beauty from Dallas and Knot's Landing - see her now

She received the Soap Opera Digest Award for Best Actress in both 1986 and 1989, which she earned for her acting on Knots Landing.

1992 saw her departure from the show, but she came back for the last two episodes of the series in 1993 and also starred in the 1997 miniseries titled “Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac.

Joan reprised her role of Valene in an episode of the new Dallas series in 2013.

From 2004 to 2005, she starred in the soap opera The Young and the Restless. 

The star was born in New York City then moved to Boulder, Colorado.

Van Ark began her professional career in theaters after graduating from Yale.

She was in Molière’s The Miser, Death of a Salesman, Barefoot in the Park.

Afterward, the woman with blonde hair relocated to Los Angeles, where she appeared alongside Bette Davis in a two-hour television film titled “The Judge and Jake Wyler,” which was produced in 1972.

Van Ark played the role of Erika in M*A*S*H in 1973 in the episode entitled ‘Radar’s Report.’

Joan Van Ark, 81, was the blonde beauty from Dallas and Knot's Landing - see her now
Joan Van Ark, 81, was the blonde beauty from Dallas and Knot's Landing - see her now
Joan Van Ark, 81, was the blonde beauty from Dallas and Knot's Landing - see her now
Joan Van Ark, 81, was the blonde beauty from Dallas and Knot's Landing - see her now

Additionally, Van Ark frequently appeared as a recurring character in the television series Temperatures Rising (1972-1973) and We’ve Got Each Other (1977-1978).

Then she hit it big in 1978 as Valene Ewing on Dallas. 

She also did an episode of The Love Boat at the same time.

Next was Knots Landing, in which she co-starred for thirteen of the show’s fourteen seasons. 

She left in 1992, although she did return for its final two episodes in May 1993. 

Throughout the course of the series, her character was married not just once but thrice, with Gary Ewing being her husband, portrayed by Ted Shackelford. Additionally, during the show’s duration, she also tied the knot two more times: with Ben Gibson (played by Doug Sheehan) and Danny Waleska (portrayed by Sam Behrens).

Joan Van Ark, 81, was the blonde beauty from Dallas and Knot's Landing - see her now

In May 1997, Van Ark once again portrayed Valene Ewing in the CBS miniseries titled “Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac”. Later, in December 2005, she featured in the real-life gathering called “Knots Landing Reunion: Together Again”, where she shared memories and anecdotes about the show alongside her fellow cast members.

Previously, she collaborated with Christopher Meloni on the show “Spin Doctors,” followed by her role in the 1994 film titled “Boys Will Be Boys: The Ali Cooper Story.

She originated the role of Gloria Fisher Abbott on The Young and the Restless from 2004 to 2005.

In addition to her main roles, Van Ark has appeared as a guest star in numerous shows such as Bonanza, Night Gallery, M*A*S*H, The Six Million Dollar Man, Petrocelli, Quincy, Kojak, Barnaby Jones, and Rhoda. Notably, she portrayed the ex-wife of Rhoda’s husband in Rhoda.

She appeared in three separate episodes of Medical Center, Cannon and The Rockford Files, and four separate episodes of The Love Boat. 

Joan Van Ark, 81, was the blonde beauty from Dallas and Knot's Landing - see her now
Joan Van Ark, 81, was the blonde beauty from Dallas and Knot's Landing - see her now
Joan Van Ark, 81, was the blonde beauty from Dallas and Knot's Landing - see her now

1978 saw her acting alongside Shackelford in an episode of Wonder Woman. Later on, Shackelford played Gary Ewing, her screen husband, not only in Dallas but also in the series Knots Landing.

After Knot’s she did The Nanny and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

In 2001, she was on the Howard Stern-produced show Son of the Beach.

In 2008, she was reunited with her Knots Landing co-star Donna Mills in an episode of Nip/Tuck. 

2013 saw her appearing as a guest star in an episode of the revamped Dallas show, where she once again took on the character of Valene Ewing.

In  1966, Van Ark married news reporter John Marshall who was her high school sweetheart.

The couple’s only child is singer Vanessa Marshall. 

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2024-10-31 18:19

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