Joan van Ark was born on June 16, 1943, in New York City, far from the world of entertainment. Her life took a significant turn during her teenage years while acting in Denver, where she met actress Julie Harris, who would greatly influence her career. Julie encouraged Joan to apply to the prestigious Yale Drama School and even helped her secure a scholarship, making Joan the second woman ever to enroll there.
Joan recalled: “Harris wrote to the dean and asked him to meet me. Long story short, my parents drove me to New Haven, Connecticut, where the dean awarded me a scholarship. It felt destined”. After honing her skills in theater, Joan shifted her focus to television, where she starred in shows like Temperature’s Rising, Spider-Woman, Days of Our Lives, and even made a guest appearance on Bonanza. However, it was her role as Valene Ewing on Dallas in 1978 that propelled her to stardom.
Her success on Dallas led to her starring in its spin-off, Knots Landing, which was actually developed before Dallas. Initially, Joan was set to join the Knots Landing cast, but she ended up reprising her role on Dallas first. It was her husband, newscaster John Marshall, who encouraged her to accept the role despite her busy schedule. When it was announced that Julie Harris would play Val’s mother, Joan was thrilled. “I couldn’t believe they had picked her to be my mother”, she recalled in a 1984 interview.
After 13 seasons and 327 episodes on Knots Landing, Joan left the show just before its final season. While many speculated that her departure contributed to the show’s cancellation, she was ready for new challenges. “I loved my time on that show”, she stated, expressing gratitude to the show’s creator, David Jacobs, and her co-star, Ted Shackelford, who she considered family.
Joan and John, who met in high school, have been happily married for over 58 years and share a daughter, Vanessa Marshall, who works in the entertainment industry. Now at 81, Joan has a net worth of $10 million and remains stunning. She was last spotted five years ago, casually paying for parking in workout attire.
Her most recent appearance was in the 2017 television film Psycho Wedding Crasher. After a remarkable 50-year career in entertainment, Joan van Ark is now a life member of The Actor’s Studio, solidifying her legacy as an icon.
My Blood Froze When I Opened My Husband’s Drawer the Day after Moving in with Him
Freya was excited to start her new life with George at his family’s fairy-tale-like estate. Shortly after moving in, Valerie, the maid, gave Freya a cold stare and later tipped her off about George’s secret life with a message on Freya’s phone: “Check your husband’s drawer. The top left one, specifically. Then RUN!”
Inside the drawer, Freya found love letters and a key. The letters were written by George to a woman named Elena, revealing a deep past love and plans for a future together. The final letter was dated just three days before George proposed to Freya. The key led Freya to a dusty attic filled with photographs of George and Elena, including an ultrasound image of their unborn baby.
“Elena is my sister,” Valerie revealed. She explained that George had abandoned Elena when he learned their baby had Down syndrome, seeing them as a burden. George’s sister confirmed that the attic was his favorite room.
Freya, with Valerie’s support, confronted George’s family. “Is this true?” George’s father demanded. George’s silence was damning. The family fallout was swift; George was disinherited, and his inheritance was redirected to support Elena and her child.
Freya was granted a divorce and received assets meant for George. She used the funds to start a foundation for children with disabilities, managed by Valerie and supported by George’s mother. Freya turned her heartbreak into a mission to help others, ensuring a positive outcome from a devastating revelation.
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