Van Ark was always sure that she wanted to work as an actor. She said she knew she was destined for show business when the high school football team quarterback declined to invite her to prom. Although they had no experience in the film industry, her parents encouraged her goals and assisted her along the way. Van Ark has had a distinguished career spanning more than 50 years, appearing in film and television.

Joan Van Ark was cast as the flower girl in a play after being rejected for the role she had auditioned for. She thought the experience was fun and decided to take acting more seriously. She discovered that she adored acting, which became a significant aspect of her life.

Van Ark attended the Yale Theatre School after meeting actress Julie Harris while performing in Denver. Harris encouraged Van Ark to study acting and drama. Van Ark was only the second woman to enroll at the prestigious school and the youngest student ever to obtain a scholarship there.

“My parents took me to meet the dean in New Haven, Connecticut, after I wrote to him. He gave me a scholarship offer, which was predestined.”

In 1963, Van Ark made her acting debut in The Miser at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. She relocated to the South to work with the national touring company Barefoot in the Park after spending a year at the Arena Stage in Washington, DC.

Van Ark was working in front of a screen instead of on stage. She made her Broadway debut as a result, and in 1971, after starring in The School for Wives, she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play. She made guest appearances on several television shows, including Temperature’s Rising, Spider-Woman, Days of Our Lives, and even in a Bonanza episode.

Joan Van Ark was still seeking her important breakout role as the 1980s drew near. She made several appearances in 1978′ as Valene Ewing on Dallas, which helped her land the role of a lifetime.

From 1979 to 1993, Knots Landing, a well-liked Dallas spinoff, was broadcast on television. Valene Ewing was portrayed by Joan Van Ark, who was featured in 327 episodes.

She co-starred in the series with Ted Shackleford (Gary) and Michele Lee (Karen), and she rose to fame as one of the cast members. Despite being a Dallas spinoff, Knots Landing debuted on CBS years before the Ewings made their TV program debut.

Dallas was chosen as the vast, affluent family show the network initially desired. However, Knots Landing was a huge hit, and the studio recognized how popular Dallas had grown to be. After just one season, it entered the top 20 TV shows in terms of ratings.