JOAN VAN ARK | 79

Joan Van Ark used to conquer the entertainment scene back in the ‘70s. She started in the business in the late ‘60s, making her Broadway debut in the play Barefoot in the Park in 1966. She is a life member of The Actors Studio and received her Theater World Award in 1971. However, it was in the classic soap opera Knots Landing that the now-78-year-old star was best known for, credits to her role as Valene Ewing.

It also started on the CBS series Dallas until she became a part of its spinoff. For this role alone, Ark received the Soap Opera Digest Award for Best Actress two times—in 1986 and 1989. Though she left the show in 1992 after 13 seasons, she returned for its final two episodes in 1993. Ark received the same warm welcome, making her reprise her role in the 2013 Dallas.