Joanna Kerns Biography (1953-)

Original name, Joanna Crussie DeVarona; born February 12, 1953, in San Francisco, CA; daughter of David Thomas (an insurance agent) and Martha Louise (a clothing store manager; maiden name, Smith) DeVarona; sister of Donna DeVarona(an Olympic athlete and sportscaster); married Richard Martin Kerns (a director and producer), December 11, 1976 (divorced, December, 1986); married MarcFrancis Appleton (an architect), 1995; children: (first marriage) Ashley Cooper. Addresses: Agent: Sean Freidin, Broder, Webb, Chervin, SilbermannAgency, 9242 Beverly Blvd., Suite 200, Beverly Hills, CA 90210.; Manager: Susan B. Landau, Thompson Street Entertainment, 754 North Kilkea Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90046.; Publicist: Jim Broutman, Broutman Public Relations, 8225 SantaMonica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046.

Nationality: American
Gender: Female
Occupation: Actress, producer, director, writer
Birth Details: February 12, 1953; San Francisco, California, United States

Famous Works

CREDITS
Television Appearances
Series
Pat Devon, The Four Seasons, CBS, 1984
Margaret Katherine "Maggie" Malone Seaver, Growing Pains, ABC, 1985-92
Miniseries
Marjorie Donovan, V (also known as V: The Original Mini Series), NBC, 1983
Dr. Clare Winslow, The Big One: The Great Los Angeles Earthquake (also known as The Great Los Angeles Earthquake), NBC, 1990
Maria Marshall, Blind Faith (also known as The Toms River Case), NBC, 1990
Movies
(As Joanna DeVarona) Jessie, The Million Dollar Rip-Off, 1976
Meg, Marriage Is Alive and Well, NBC, 1980
Doris Marshall, A Day of Thanks on Walton's Mountain, NBC, 1982
Doris Marshall, Mother's Day on Walton's Mountain, NBC, 1982
Doris Marshall, A Wedding on Walton's Mountain, NBC, 1982
Pamela Saletta, The Return of Marcus Welby, M.D., ABC, 1984
Andrea, A Bunny's Tale, ABC, 1985
Anita Parrish, The Rape of Richard Beck (also known as The Broken Badge and Violated), ABC, 1985
Lana Singer, Stormin' Home, CBS, 1985
Stephanie Blume, Mistress, CBS, 1987
Diane Pappas, Those She Left Behind, NBC, 1989
Linda Fairstein, The Preppie Murder, ABC, 1989
Kathy Plunk, Captive (also known Season of Fear), ABC, 1991
Sally Raynor, Deadly Intentions ... Again?, ABC, 1991
Eve Rhodes, The Nightman (also known as The Watchman), NBC,1992
Mary Ellen "Mel" Robbins, Desperate Choices: To Save My Child (also known as The Final Choice and Solomon's Choice), NBC, 1992
Katy, The Man with Three Wives, CBS, 1993
Maryanne Walker-Tate, Shameful Secrets (also known as Going Underground), ABC, 1993
Veronica Ricci, Not in My Family (also known as Breaking the Silence and Shattering the Silence), ABC, 1993
Dr. Jennifer Kessler, Robin Cook's "Mortal Fear" (also known as Mortal Fear), NBC, 1994
Jane Ravenson, See Jane Run, ABC, 1995
Laura Eagerton, Whose Daughter Is She? (also known as For the Love of My Daughter, Moms, and Semi-Precious), CBS, 1995
Cynthia Martin, Terror in the Family, Fox, 1996
Jessica Rayner, No One Could Protect Her, ABC, 1996
Celeste Cooper, Mother Knows Best, ABC, 1997
Gail Connelly Metzger, Sisters and Other Strangers (also known asSuspicion of Innocence), CBS, 1997
Emma Bridges, Emma's Wish, CBS, 1998
Elizabeth Cooper, At the Mercy of a Stranger, CBS, 1999
Margaret "Maggie" Katherine Malone Seaver, "The Growing Pains Movie," The Wonderful World of Disney, ABC, 2000
Matt's mother, Someone to Love, 2001
Margaret "Maggie" Seaver, "Growing Pains: Return of the Seavers" (also known as "Growing Pains II: Home Equity"), The Wonderful World of Disney, ABC, 2004
Specials
Are You a Missing Heir?, ABC, 1978
Lifetime Salutes Mom, Lifetime, 1987
Host, The National Love and Sex Test, ABC, 1988
Host, Second Annual Star-Spangled Celebration, ABC, 1988
Like Mother, Like Daughter, Lifetime, 1988
Host, Sea World's Miracle Babies and Friends (also known as TheMiracle Babies of Sea World), ABC, 1989
The Hollywood Christmas Parade, syndicated, 1989
Walt Disney World's Very Merry Christmas Parade 1989, 1989
Starathon '90, syndicated, 1990
The Tube Test, ABC, 1990
Host, Fantasies, ABC, 1991
Host, Starathon '91, syndicated, 1991
Herself, Welcome Home, America!--A USO Salute to America's Sons and Daughters, ABC, 1991
Voices That Care, Fox, 1991
Awards Presentations
The 15th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1989
The 16th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1990
The Television Academy Hall of Fame (also known as The Sixth Annual Television Academy Hall of Fame), Fox, 1990
Presenter, The 53rd Annual Golden Globe Awards, NBC, 1996
Episodic
(As Joanna DeVarona) Joy, "Gillian," Starsky and Hutch, ABC, 1976
"Officer Luca, You're Dead," S.W.A.T., ABC, 1976
Beth, "Romance Roulette," The Love Boat, ABC, 1977
Customer, "Love for Sale," Rhoda, CBS, 1977
Lily, "Touch of Death," Quincy (also known as Quincy, M.E.), NBC, 1977
Natalie Sands, "The Blue Angels," Charlie's Angels, ABC, 1977
(As Joanne DeVarona) "Firehouse Quintet," Emergency!, NBC, 1977
"Playoff," Switch, CBS, 1978
Bobby Trilling, "The Love Lesson," Three's Company, ABC, 1980
Colleen, "Dead Man's Riddle," CHiPs, NBC, 1981
"Difficult Lesson," Fitz and Bones, NBC, 1981
Mary Kanfer, "The Last Page," Magnum, P.I., CBS, 1982
Woman, "The Fashion Show," Laverne & Shirley, ABC, 1982

"Spring Is in the Air," Star of the Family, ABC, 1982
Cassie, "Fatal Error," Whiz Kids, CBS, 1983
Cheryl, "Jack Be Quick," Three's Company, ABC, 1983
Jenny "Jen" Hunter, "Two Birds of a Feather," Magnum, P.I., CBS, 1983
Trish Brenner, "A Nice Place to Visit," The A Team, NBC, 1983
Ryan's 4, ABC, 1983
State liquor agent, "Hair Apparent," Hill Street Blues, NBC, 1984
Mona Williams, "Hot Target," Street Hawk, ABC, 1985
Regis Philbin's "Lifestyles" (also known as The Regis Philbin Show), Lifetime, 1987
Cheryl Blaste, "Blaste from the Past," Hooperman, ABC, 1988
"Love Struck," Short Stories, Arts and Entertainment, 1988
Animal Crack-Ups, ABC, 1988
Guest, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, NBC, 1990
Christine, "Enter Christine," The Mommies, NBC, 1995
Herself, "The Face with Two Men," Hope and Gloria, NBC, 1995
Voice, "Bobut Conquers All," Aliens in the Family, ABC, 1996
Claire McLaren, "The Closure," The Closer, CBS, 1998
Stephanie Serone, "Broken Hearts," Chicago Hope, CBS, 1998
Stephanie Serone, "Physician, Heal Thyself," Chicago Hope, CBS, 1998
Herself, Intimate Portrait: Victoria Principal, Lifetime, 1998
"Touched by an Angel," Beggars and Choosers, Showtime, 1999
Herself, Intimate Portrait: Joanna Kerns, Lifetime, 2000
Herself, Intimate Portrait: Katey Sagal, Lifetime, 2000
Herself, Larry King Live, Cable News Network, 2000
Herself, "Tracey Gold," Biography (also known as A&E Biography: Tracey Gold), Arts and Entertainment, 2001
Herself, Growing Pains: The E! True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television, 2001
Herself, I Am My Mother's Daughter, Lifetime, 2001
Kathryn Cahill, "Money Changes Everything," The Education of Max Bickford, CBS, 2002
Judy, "Claude's Alternative Thanksgiving," Less Than Perfect, ABC,2003
Guest, The Wayne Brady Show, syndicated, 2003
Herself, Intimate Portrait: Tracey Gold, Lifetime, 2003
Judy, "Mom's the Word," Less Than Perfect, ABC, 2004
Guest, The Tony Danza Show, syndicated, 2004
Appeared in episodes of Dr. Vegas, CBS; and One Tree Hill,The WB.
Pilots
Dr. Kettering, Hunter, NBC, 1984
Carrie, Morning Glory, S.C., CBS, 1996
Claire McLaren, The Closer, CBS, 1998
I Love You--The Three Worst Words You'll Ever Hear, 1999
Television Work
Movies
Co-executive producer, The Nightman (also known as The Watchman), NBC, 1992
Director, Defending Our Kids: The Julie Posey Story, Lifetime, 2003
Director, "Growing Pains: Return of the Seavers" (also known as "GrowingPains II: Home Equity"), The Wonderful World of Disney, ABC, 2004
Television Director
Episodic
"The Truck Stops Here," Growing Pains, ABC, 1992
"The Dupree Family Christmas," Hope and Gloria, NBC, 1995
"The New Actor," Remember WENN, American Movie Classics, 1997
"Trick or Treat," Clueless, UPN, 1997
"Affairs to Remember," The Love Boat: The Next Wave, UPN, 1998
"Life Is a Beach," Clueless, UPN, 1998
"Poetry in Notion," Suddenly Susan, NBC, 1998
"Pratfall," Remember WENN, American Movie Classics, 1998
"Such Sweet Dreams," The Love Boat: The Next Wave, UPN, 1999
"Troubled Water," Ally McBeal, Fox, 1999
"Disinformed Sources," Beggars and Choosers, Showtime, 2000
"Payback's a Bitch," Titans, NBC, 2000
"Three Lucky Ladies on the Line," Any Day Now, Lifetime, 2000
"Where's the Justice in That?," Any Day Now, Lifetime, 2000
"You Think I Am Lying to You?," Any Day Now, Lifetime, 2000
"Chapter Fourteen," Boston Public, Fox, 2001
"Fire," Felicity, The WB, 2001
"The Obstacle Course," Ally McBeal, Fox, 2001
"The Right Thing to Do," Judging Amy, CBS, 2001
"Something Battered, Something Blue," That's Life, CBS, 2001
"Call Him Macaroni," Any Day Now, Lifetime, 2002
"Carmic Behavior," Leap of Faith, NBC, 2002
"Come Blow Your Whistle," For the People (also known as Para lagente), Lifetime, 2002
"Felicity Interrupted," Felicity, The WB, 2002
"The Importance of Not Being Too Earnest," Dawson's Creek, The WB,2002
"Stages," Strong Medicine, Lifetime, 2002
"Addicted to Love," Strong Medicine, Lifetime, 2003
"Power Play," For the People (also known as Para la gente),Lifetime, 2003
"Skin," Strong Medicine, Lifetime, 2003
"Substitute Teacher," The O'Keefes, The WB, 2003
"My Common Enemy," Scrubs, NBC, 2004
"Rush for the Door," The Division (also known as Heart of the City), Lifetime, 2004
"Tanner," Phil of the Future, The Disney Channel, 2004
"Trade Talks," Clubhouse, CBS, 2004
"Romancing the Joan," Joan of Arcadia, CBS, 2005
Directed episodes of The Mommies, NBC.
Film Appearances
(As Joanna DeVarona) Marilyn Baker, A*P*E (also known as Ape, Attack of the Giant Horny Gorilla, Hideous Mutant, The New King Kong, Super Kong, and King Kongui daeyeokseub), NewWorld, 1976
Diana, Coma, United Artists, 1978
Nancy, Cross My Heart, Universal, 1987
(Uncredited) Herself, She's Having a Baby, Paramount, 1988
Katharine Watson, Street Justice, Lorimar, 1989
Aunt Sunny, An American Summer, Castle Hill Productions, 1991
Carol Cochran, No Dessert Dad, Till You Mow the Lawn, New HorizonsPicture Corporation, 1994
Annette Kaysen, Girl, Interrupted (also known as Durchgeknallt and Durchgeknallt--Girl, Interrupted), Columbia, 1999
Lydia, All over the Guy, Lions Gate Films, 2001
Stage Appearances
(As Joanna DeVarona) Zoe, blushing bride, nymph, pygmy, and Yew, Ulysses in Nighttown, Winter Garden Theatre, New York City, 1974
As Joanna DeVarona, appeared as a dancer in Clown Around.
Stage Work
Director, What Every Woman Knows, West Coast Ensemble Theatre, LosAngeles, 1989
Major Tours
(As Joanna DeVarona) Two Gentlemen of Verona (musical), New York Shakespeare Festival, U.S. and Canadian cities, 1973
Also toured in a production of My Fair Lady (musical).
RECORDINGS
Music Videos
"Voices That Care," 1991
WRITINGS
Teleplays
Episodic
(With Becky Ayers) "Family Ties," Growing Pains, ABC, 1988
"Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," Growing Pains, ABC, 1989
Screenplays
Author of the unproduced screenplay Freestyle.

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals

InStyle, May, 1998, p. 258
People Weekly, June 26, 2000, p. 137

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