Joan Van Ark was everywhere in the 1980s. The actress, who is best known for portraying Valene Ewing on the hit soap opera Knots Landing, just celebrated her 83rd birthday.
Aside from her iconic turn on Knots Landing, Joan also starred in The Love Boat, Always Remember I Love You, and Spider-Woman. These days, she is a present mother and a dedicated runner. Keep reading to see photos of Joan Van Ark as she celebrates her 83rd year!
© Getty ImagesJoan originated an important role
In 1966, Joan made her Broadway debut in Barefoot in the Park, originating the role of Corie Bratter. Later, the story was adapted into a film starring Jane Fonda as Corie and Robert Redford as Paul Bratter.
© Getty ImagesJoan's start in Dallas
In 1978, the actress starred as a guest on Dallas as Valene Ewing. What was originally supposed to be just a one-time appearance turned into a legacy. Joan went on to appear in eight episodes of Dallas as Valene and was beloved so much that she led another show as the same character.
© Getty ImagesHer turn in Knots Landing
Joan went on to reprise her role of Valene Ewing in Knots Landing. The Dallas spin-off also starred Michele Lee, Donna Mills, and Ted Shackelford, among many others. For Joan's performance in the soap, she won the Soap Opera Digest Award for Best Actress in 1986 and 1989.
Joan left the shot in 1992, but returned for the series' finale in 1993 and the 1997 miniseries Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac.
© Getty ImagesLife after Knots
The soap actress continued her storied career after leaving Knots Landing. She went on to star as Gloria Fisher on The Young and the Restless and even co-hosted the podcast We're Knot Done Yet alongside her co-stars Michele and Donna that dives into her beloved soap.
Joan appeared in several theater productions, like The Vagina Monologues, Love Letters, and a Los Angeles run of Macbeth.
© Getty ImagesJoan's family continue to support her
In 1966, before she was known to the world as Valene, Joan married the journalist John Marshall in Trier, Germany where John was stationed while in the Armed Forces Television Service. The couple first met in Boulder, Colorado in high school and have been together ever since.
Three years after they tied the knot, Joan and John welcomed their daughter Vanessa in 1969, who went on to follow in her mom's footsteps. Vanessa appeared in the play Star Dust with Joan in 1997 and is now a voice actor.
© Getty ImagesJoan and marathons
Outside of her acting career, Joan is an avid runner. She has participated in 14 marathons and appeared on the 1981 cover of Runner's World.
"Running is my survival kit," she told TV Guide. "You can't cop out, you can't fake it. If you run well, you forget that your lungs are bursting, your legs are killing you and you can't go another step. All you know if you made it. You get a gold star no matter what."
