If you walked past Joan Van Ark on a Los Angeles sidewalk today, you might not immediately recognize the woman who once defined primetime glamour. The big hair is gone. The shoulder pads are history. Lately, she’s been spotted in Burbank wearing star-patterned pajama pants and yellow flip-flops, looking more like a relaxed grandmother than a soap opera titan.
But don’t let the casual attire fool you. Joan Van Ark now is busier than she has been in years, and honestly, she’s having a total blast.
At 82, Van Ark isn't just "still around"—she's actively reclaiming the narrative of her career. For a long time, the conversation around her was focused on two things: the legendary twins-kidnapping storyline on Knots Landing and some pretty harsh tabloid speculation about her appearance. She’s over it. Instead of hiding away, she’s leaned into a massive career resurgence that involves a new podcast, stage work, and some surprisingly candid reflections on what it means to age in the spotlight.
The "We're Knot Done Yet" Era
The biggest news for fans is that the "Diva Posse" is back together. Joan Van Ark, Michele Lee, and Donna Mills—the three women who anchored the Seaview Circle cul-de-sac for over a decade—launched their own podcast titled We’re Knot Done Yet.
It’s not just a dry trip down memory lane. The video version, which hit YouTube in late 2025, shows a trio that is genuinely close. They talk about the stuff you’d expect, like behind-the-scenes drama, but they also get into the "real" stuff.
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For instance, in a recent episode, they tackled the elephant in the room: plastic surgery. Joan was surprisingly open, admitting she had a lift back in her 40s during the height of Knots but hasn't touched a thing since. It’s a refreshing change from the "did she or didn't she" headlines that have followed her for decades. She’s basically telling the world that she’s fine with who she is today, scrunchies and all.
Back to the "Church" of Theatre
While most people know her as Valene Ewing, Joan always says the stage is her "church." She wasn't some model who stumbled into acting; she was the second youngest person ever admitted to the Yale School of Drama.
In late 2025, she wrapped a run in Tennessee Williams’ A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur at the Hartford Stage. Critics were actually kind of shocked. They called her "deliciously delicate" and "incisive." It turns out, when you strip away the 80s eyeliner and the soapy tropes, the woman can still command a room like nobody else.
She also recently appeared at the Perelman Performing Arts Center for The Visitors, proving that her energy levels haven't dipped much. You’ve gotta remember, this is a woman who used to run the Boston Marathon with a qualifying time of 3:20. She’s always had a massive engine.
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The Real Deal on Her Health and Lifestyle
There’s always a lot of chatter about "concerns" for her health whenever a grainy paparazzi photo surfaces. People see her looking thin or wearing heavy sun protection and assume the worst.
The reality? She’s just a lifelong runner who takes sun safety seriously.
- Residence: She still lives in Los Angeles with her husband of over 50 years, John Marshall.
- Charity: She’s heavily involved with Project Angel Food and Broadway Cares.
- Legacy: She recently helped establish the Julie Harris Scholarship at Yale, named after her late mentor and on-screen mother.
Her life now is a mix of high-end industry events—like the massive Dallas reunion at the Southfork Ranch Experience—and the very mundane. She’s often seen at local markets in the Valley, just living a normal life. It’s a weird contrast, but it seems to be exactly how she likes it.
Why We Are Still Obsessed with Valene
It’s hard to overstate how much Knots Landing matters to people. Now that all 14 seasons are streaming on Amazon Prime, a whole new generation is discovering Valene Ewing.
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Joan recently reflected on her "proudest" moment: the five-minute face-washing scene. No dialogue. Just Valene scrubbing away the makeup and the "glam" to find herself again. Joan fought for that scene. She knew that behind the soap opera fluff, there was a real human story about resilience.
That’s why Joan Van Ark now resonates. She isn't trying to be the 1985 version of herself. She’s not wearing the masks anymore. Whether she’s recording a podcast with Michele and Donna or walking a red carpet for heart health, she seems to have finally found the "authentic self" she was looking for in that bathroom mirror thirty years ago.
What to Do Next
If you want to keep up with Joan’s current projects, here is the best way to do it:
- Subscribe to "We're Knot Done Yet": Check it out on YouTube or Spotify. It’s the most "unfiltered" Joan you’ll ever see, and the chemistry with Donna Mills is actually hilarious.
- Stream the Original: If you haven't seen Knots Landing in years, start with the "Twins" arc in Season 6. It’s still some of the best acting in television history.
- Support Her Causes: Joan is a major advocate for the Julie Harris Scholarship at the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale. Supporting arts education is the best way to honor her legacy.