# Joanna Kerns

Joanna Kerns is an American actress and director best known for her role as Maggie Seaver on the ABC sitcom Growing Pains from 1985 to 1992.

## Early life

Kerns was born Joanna Crussie DeVarona in San Francisco, California. Her older sister is Olympic swimmer Donna de Varona and her aunt was silent film actress Miriam Cooper.
Kerns competed in the Olympic trials in 1968 and ranked 14th out of 28.

## Career
### Early roles

Kerns got her start in show business as a dancer before turning to acting. She attended UCLA and majored in dance. There, she saw an advertisement for a Gene Kelly production called Clown Around and applied for an audition. To take the part, however, she would have to drop out of college and move to New York, which she did. After Clown Around, Joanna also got parts in the New York Shakespeare Festival's production of Two Gentlemen of Verona and Ulysses in Nighttown, where she was directed by Burgess Meredith.
Meredith also introduced Kerns to Peggy Feury, under whom Kerns studied acting. In 1972, she moved back to California and landed a job as a backup dancer at Disneyland, and started auditioning for TV commercials and steady acting jobs.
On May 4, 1977, she made an appearance on Charlie's Angels as Natalie, a worker at a massage parlor in the episode "The Blue Angels".
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Kerns started making a name for herself in guest spots on many televisions shows that included: Emergency!, CHiPs, The A-Team, Starsky & Hutch, Street Hawk, Laverne and Shirley, Three's Company, Hill Street Blues, The Love Boat, Hunter, Quincy, M.E., Magnum, P.I., and V, as well as many commercials. During an interview, Kerns said, "I kind of was always looking for the next thing; I auditioned for anything, hoping to get a big break" (Lifetime's Intimate Portrait). Then, Kerns got her first steady acting job in 1983, starring as Pat Devon in a new CBS series called The Four Seasons, which lasted only one season. The sitcom, which was based on a 1981 movie of the same name, was about three couples who all lived under the same roof in California. Although the show was not well received by television critics, her part proved to producers that she was capable of acting as a leading lady.

### Growing Pains

Soon after the cancellation of The Four Seasons, Kerns auditioned with Alan Thicke for a new family sitcom called Growing Pains. Kerns joked in interviews that Alan and she had immediate chemistry, especially when she kissed him on his nose by accident during their audition together. Kerns and Thicke's chemistry won them both the parts, and the two became great friends off the show. The successful show, which dealt with two working parents raising their kids, ran on ABC from 1985-1992. Kerns reprised her role in two reunion TV movies, The Growing Pains Movie (2000) and Growing Pains: Return of the Seavers (2004).
During the success of Growing Pains, Kerns began to star in television movies, where she played controversial parts very different from the beloved all-American mom, Maggie Seaver. One such performance that shocked audiences was her 1992 movie, The Nightman, in which Kerns played a highly sexual business woman who was a motel owner. Her many TV movies include: Those She Left Behind, Blind Faith, The Big One: The Great Los Angeles Earthquake, Shameful Secrets, and No One Could Protect Her.

### After Growing Pains roles and directing career

After Growing Pains ended, Kerns turned to directing. She directed one episode of Growing Pains while starring on the show and got hooked. In an interview, Kerns stated, "Directing is where I've always wanted to go". She loved directing and decided to change the focus of her career from acting to directing, while continuing to make rare appearances in front of the camera when the right parts came along. She has also directed episodes of television shows including Dawson's Creek, Titans, Scrubs, Private Practice, Psych, Felicity, Grey's Anatomy, Privileged, ER, Ghost Whisperer, Army Wives, Pretty Little Liars, Switched at Birth, The Goldbergs, This Is Us, and Fuller House. Kerns also directed Annie Potts in an original made-for-television movie for Lifetime TV entitled: Defending Our Kids: The Julie Posey Story. She has since made a number of shorts, and directed the sixth episode of Pitch, a sports drama on Fox.
Kerns has also made notable appearances in feature films, including A*P*E (1976), Girl, Interrupted (1999), and the comedy Knocked Up (2007).
She has also co-founded the Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards given to women in acting.
Kerns was a member of the Motion Picture and Television Fund Board of Trustees from 2004 through 2008.

## Personal life

In 1974, Kerns met a commercial producer, Richard Kerns, on the set of a commercial, and they married two years later. Their marriage lasted nine years and the couple had a daughter, Ashley Cooper. In 1994, Kerns married Marc Appleton, a prominent Los Angeles architect. In August 2019, Kerns filed for divorce from Appleton.
Kerns dated comedian and actor Freddie Prinze a short time before he committed suicide. The two had worked together on the 1976 TV movie, The Million Dollar Rip-Off.
In 2004, Kerns wrote a letter of support for convicted sex offender Brian Peck, who had worked on the set of Growing Pains, before his sentencing in the case. Peck had been found guilty of sexually abusing a minor. Kerns stated in her letter of support for Peck that there must have been "temptation exerted upon him". In March 2024, following the release of the documentary Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV, which discussed Kerns' letter of support for Peck, Kerns stated, "Knowing what I know now, I never would have written [the letter]."
In 2016, Kerns underwent a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer, specifically a ductal carcinoma in situ.
She has raised funds for Planned Parenthood.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1976 | A.P.E. | Marilyn Baker | as Joanna DeVarona |
| 1976 | Starsky & Hutch | Joy | Episode: "Gillian", as Joanna De Varona |
| 1976 | The Million Dollar Rip-Off | Jessie | TV film |
| 1977 | Charlie's Angels | Natalie Sands | Episode: "The Blue Angels" |
| 1977 | Quincy, M.E. | Lily | Episode: "Touch of Death" |
| 1977 | Emergency! | Gymnast | Episode: “Firehouse Quintet” (Listed as Joanna DeVarona) |
| 1978 | Coma | Diane | |
| 1980 | Three's Company | Bobby Trilling | Episode: "The Love Lesson" |
| 1980 | Marriage is Alive and Well | Meg | TV film |
| 1981 | CHiPs | Dr. Colleen Jacobs | Episode: "Dead Man's Riddle" |
| 1982 | A Wedding on Walton's Mountain | Doris Marshall | TV film |
| 1982 | Mother's Day on Waltons Mountain | Doris Marshall | TV film |
| 1982 | Magnum, P.I. | Mary Kanfer | Episode: "The Last Page" |
| 1983 | V | Marjorie Donovan | TV miniseries |
| 1983 | The A-Team | Trish Brenner | Episode: "A Nice Place to Visit" |
| 1983 | Three's Company | Cheryl | Episode: "Jack Be Quick" |
| 1983 | Magnum, P.I. | Jenny 'Jen' Hunter | Episode: "Two Birds of a Feather" |
| 1984 | The Return of Marcus Welby, M.D. | Pamela Saletta | TV film |
| 1985–1992 | Growing Pains | Maggie Seaver | TV series. Main role. |
| 1985 | A Bunny's Tale | Andrea | TV film |
| 1985 | Stormin' Home | Lana Singer | TV film |
| 1985 | The Rape of Richard Beck | Anita Parrish | TV film |
| 1987 | Mistress | Stephanie | TV film |
| 1987 | Cross My Heart | Nancy | |
| 1989 | Street Justice | Catherine Watson | TV film |
| 1989 | Those She Left Behind | Diane Pappas | TV film |
| 1989 | The Preppie Murder | Linda Fairstein | TV film |
| 1990 | Blind Faith | Maria Marshall | TV film |
| 1990 | The Great Los Angeles Earthquake | Dr. Clare Winslow | TV film |
| 1991 | An American Summer | Aunt Sunny | |
| 1991 | Deadly Intentions... Again? | Sally | TV film |
| 1991 | Captive | Kathy Plunk | TV film |
| 1992 | The Nightman | Eve | TV film |
| 1992 | Desperate Choices: To Save My Child | Mel Robbins | TV film |
| 1993 | Not in My Family | Veronica Ricci | TV film |
| 1993 | The Man with Three Wives | Katy | TV film |
| 1993 | Shameful Secrets | Maryanne Walker-Tate | TV film |
| 1994 | No Dessert, Dad, till You Mow the Lawn | Carol Cochran | |
| 1994 | Mortal Fear | Dr. Jennifer Kessler | TV film |
| 1995 | See Jane Run | Jane Ravenson | TV film |
| 1995 | Whose Daughter Is She? | Laura Eagerton | TV film |
| 1996 | No One Could Protect Her | Jessica Rayner | TV film |
| 1996 | Terror in the Family | Cynthia Martin | TV film |
| 1997 | Mother Knows Best | Celeste Cooper | TV film |
| 1997 | Sisters and Other Strangers | Gail Connelly Metzger | TV film |
| 1998 | Emma's Wish | Emma | TV film |
| 1999 | At the Mercy of a Stranger | Elizabeth Cooper | TV film |
| 1999 | Girl, Interrupted | Annette Kaysen | |
| 2000 | The Growing Pains Movie | Maggie Malone Seaver | TV film |
| 2001 | All Over the Guy | Lydia | |
| 2001 | Someone to Love | Matt's mother | TV film |
| 2004 | Growing Pains: Return of the Seavers | Maggie Seaver | TV film |
| 2007 | Knocked Up | Mrs. Scott | |
| 2007 | Manic | Dr. Kerns | Short film |
| 2009 | Eastwick | Edie | Episode: "Tears and Mind Erasers" |
| 2010 | Love & Other Unstable States of Matter | Joan | Short film |
| 2017 | Danny Brown: Ain't It Funny | Mom | |

### Director

| Year | Title | Notes |
| 1988-1992 | Growing Pains | 2 episodes |
| 1995 | The Mommies | 2 episodes |
| 1995 | Hope & Gloria | Episode: "A Dupree Family Christmas" |
| 1997-98 | Remember WENN | 2 episodes |
| 1997-99 | Clueless | 3 episodes |
| 1998 | Suddenly Susan | Episode: "Poetry In Notion" |
| 1998-99 | Love Boat: The Next Wave | 2 episodes |
| 1999-2001 | Ally McBeal | 2 episodes |
| 2000-02 | Any Day Now | 4 episodes |
| 2000 | Beggars and Choosers | 2 episodes |
| 2000 | Titans | Episode: "Payback's A Bitch" |
| 2001 | Boston Public | Episode: "Chapter Fourteen" |
| 2001 | That's Life | Episode: "Something Battered, Something Blue" |
| 2001 | Judging Amy | Episode: "The Right Thing To Do" |
| 2001-02 | Felicity | 2 episodes |
| 2002 | Leap of Faith | |
| 2002-03 | Strong Medicine | 3 episodes |
| 2002 | For the People | Episode: "Come Blow Your Whistle" |
| 2002 | Dawson's Creek | Episode: "The Importance Of Not Being Too Earnest" |
| 2003 | The O'Keefes | Episode: "Substitute Teacher" |
| 2003 | Defending Our Kids: The Julie Posey Story | TV movie |
| 2004 | The Division | Episode: "Rush To The Door" |
| 2004 | One Tree Hill | Episode: "You Can't Always Get You Want" |
| 2004-06 | Scrubs | 2 episodes |
| 2004 | Growing Pains: Return of the Seavers | TV movie |
| 2004 | Clubhouse | Episode: "Trade Talks" |
| 2005 | Phil of the Future | Episode: "Double Trouble" |
| 2005 | Dr. Vegas | Episode: "Babe In The Woods" |
| 2005 | Joan of Arcadia | Episode: "Romancing The Joan" |
| 2005 | Related | 2 episodes |
| 2005 | Ghost Whisperer | 2 episodes |
| 2006 | ER | 2 episodes |
| 2006-08 | Men in Trees | 4 episodes |
| 2007-08 | Psych | 2 episodes |
| 2007 | Medium | Episode: "Head Games" |
| 2007-12 | Army Wives | 6 episodes |
| 2008 | Notes from the Underbelly | Episode: "Friends And Neighbors" |
| 2008 | The Gold Lunch | Short |
| 2008 | Privileged | Episode: "All About Friends And Family" |
| 2008 | Grey's Anatomy | Episode: "Rise Up" |
| 2008 | Private Practice | Episode: "Serving Two Masters" |
| 2009 | Samantha Who? | Episode: "The Dream Job" |
| 2011 | Gigantic | Episode: "Back To Normal" |
| 2011 | Friends with Benefits | Episode: "The Benefit Of The Right Track" |
| 2012-13 | The Lying Game | 2 episodes |
| 2012-16 | Pretty Little Liars | 4 episodes |
| 2013-14 | The Fosters | 2 episodes |
| 2013-14 | Switched at Birth | 3 episodes |
| 2014-15 | Chasing Life | 2 episodes |
| 2015-16 | Jane the Virgin | 3 episodes |
| 2015 | Awkward | Episode: "The Big Reveal" |
| 2015 | Nashville | Episode: "The Slender Threads That Bind Us Here" |
| 2015-16 | Crazy Ex-Girlfriend | 2 episodes |
| 2016 | Recovery Road | Episode: "Parties Without Borders" |
| 2016-18 | The Goldbergs | 3 episodes |
| 2016 | Pitch | Episode: "Wear It" |
| 2016 | Fuller House | 3 episodes |
| 2018 | This Is Us | Episode: "Vegas, Baby" |
| 2018 | Man with a Plan | Episode: "Everybody's a Winner" |
| 2018 | American Woman | Episode: "The Cost Of Living" |
| 2018 | The Good Doctor | Episode: "Empathy" |
| 2019 | Dynasty | Episode: "How Two-Faced Can You Get?" |
| 2019 | What/If | Episode: "What History" |
| 2019 | Light as a Feather | 4 episodes |
| 2019 | Mad About You | Episode: "Happy Birthday, Bon Voyage, Goodbye For Now" |
| 2019 | High School Musical: The Musical: The Series | 6 episodes |
| 2020 | The Baker and the Beauty | Episode: "Get Carried Away" |
| 2020 | Roswell, New Mexico | Episode: Crash Into Me" |
| 2020 | Tiny Pretty Things | 2 episodes |
| 2021 | FBI | Episode: "Short Squeeze" |
| 2021 | Why Women Kill | Episode: "The Woman in Question" |
| 2021-23 | A Million Little Things | 6 episodes |
| 2023 | Night Court | 2 episodes |
| 2024 | Chicago Med | Episode: "A Penny for Your Thoughts, Dollar for Your Dreams" |
| 2024 | Happy's Place | Episode: "Don't Sweat It" |