Joanna Kerns

Biography

Joanna Crussie DeVarona Kerns is an American actress and director best known for her role as Maggie Seaver on the family situation comedy Growing Pains from 1985 to 1992. After Growing Pains ended, she turned to directing. She directed one episode of Growing Pains while starring on the show and got hooked. 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. She has also made notable appearances in feature films, including A*P*E, Girl, Interrupted, and the 2007 comedy Knocked Up. She has also starred in a number of TV movies. 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, she married Marc Appleton, a prominent Los Angeles architect. In August 2019, she filed for divorce from Appleton. She previously dated comedian and actor Freddie Prinze a short time before he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The two had worked together on the 1976 TV movie, The Million Dollar Rip-Off.

Known For

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The A-Team

The Love Boat

Hill Street Blues

Chicago Hope

Magnum, P.I.

Magnum, P.I.

Charlie's Angels

All Movies (44)

• Ain't It Funny2017 · as Mom
• Knocked Up2007 · as Alison's Mom
• Growing Pains: Return of the Seavers2004 · as Maggie Seaver
• All Over the Guy2001 · as Lydia
• The Growing Pains Movie2000 · as Maggie Seaver
• Girl, Interrupted1999 · as Annette
• At the Mercy of a Stranger1999 · as Elizabeth Cooper
• Emma's Wish1998 · as Emma Bridges-Mame
• Sisters and Other Strangers1997 · as Gail Connelly Metzger
• Mother Knows Best1997 · as Celeste Cooper
• Terror in the Family1996 · as Cynthia Marten
• No One Could Protect Her1996 · as Jessica Rayner
• Whose Daughter is She?1995 · as Laura Eagerton
• See Jane Run1995 · as Jane Ravenson
• Mortal Fear1994 · as Dr. Jennifer Kessler
• No Dessert, Dad, 'Til You Mow the Lawn1994 · as Carol Cochran
• Shameful Secrets1993 · as Maryanne Walker-Tate
• The Man with Three Wives1993 · as Katy
• Not in My Family1993 · as Veronica Ricci
• Desperate Choices: To Save My Child1992 · as Mel Robbins
• The Nightman1992 · as Eve
• Captive1991 · as Kathy Plunk
• Voices That Care1991 · as Self - Choir Member
• Deadly Intentions... Again?1991 · as Sally
• The Great Los Angeles Earthquake1990 · as Dr. Clare Winslow
• Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade1989 · as Self
• The Preppie Murder1989 · as Linda Fairstein
• Those She Left Behind1989 · as Diane Pappas
• She's Having a Baby1988 · as Joanna Kerns (uncredited)
• Cross My Heart1987 · as Nancy
• Mistress1987 · as Stephanie
• Street Justice1987 · as Catherine Watson
• Love Struck1986
• The Rape of Richard Beck1985 · as Anita Parrish
• Stormin' Home1985 · as Lana Singer
• A Bunny's Tale1985 · as Andrea
• The Return of Marcus Welby, M.D.1984 · as Pamela Saletta
• Mother's Day on Waltons Mountain1982 · as Doris Marshall
• A Wedding on Waltons Mountain1982 · as Doris Marshall
• Marriage Is Alive and Well1980 · as Meg
• Coma1978 · as Diane
• The Million Dollar Rip-Off1976 · as Jessie
• A*P*E1976 · as Marilyn Baker
• It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman!1975 · as Citizen (uncredited)

All TV Shows (30)

• Eastwick2009 · as Edie
• The Tony Danza Show2004 · as Self
• Less than Perfect2002 · as Judy, Owen's Other Mom
• The Wonderful World of Disney1997
• E! True Hollywood Story1996
• Aliens in the Family1996 · as Self (voice)
• Hope and Gloria1995 · as Joanna Kerns
• Chicago Hope1994 · as Stephanie Serone
• Intimate Portrait1993 · as Self
• Blind Faith1990 · as Maria Marshall
• Growing Pains1985 · as Maggie Seaver
• Street Hawk1985 · as Mona Wiliams
• Hunter1984 · as Dr. Kettering
• The Four Seasons1984 · as Pat Devon
• V1983 · as Marjorie Donovan
• The A-Team1983 · as Trish Brenner
• Hill Street Blues1981
• Magnum, P.I.1980 · as Mary Kanfer
• Magnum, P.I.1980 · as Jenny Hunter
• The Love Boat1977 · as Beth Luckner
• CHiPs1977 · as Colleen
• Three's Company1977 · as Bobby Trilling
• Quincy, M.E.1976
• Charlie's Angels1976 · as Natalie
• Laverne & Shirley1976
• Starsky & Hutch1975
• Switch1975 · as Mae Brenner
• Rhoda1974
• Emergency!1972
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self