Joanna Kerns
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
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
132
Gender
Female
Birthday
1953-02-12 (72 years old)
Place of Birth
San Francisco, California, USA
Acting

2009

Eastwick as Not available

2007

Knocked Up as Alison's Mom

2004

The Tony Danza Show as Self

2002

Less than Perfect as Judy, Owen's Other Mom

2001

All Over the Guy as Lydia

2000

The Growing Pains Movie as Maggie Seaver

1999

Girl, Interrupted as Annette

1999

At the Mercy of a Stranger as Elizabeth Cooper

1998

Emma's Wish as Emma Bridges-Mame

1997

The Wonderful World of Disney as Not available

1997

Mother Knows Best as Celeste Cooper

1997

Sisters and Other Strangers as Gail Connelly Metzger

1996

E! True Hollywood Story as Not available

1996

Aliens in the Family as Self (voice)

1996

Terror in the Family as Cynthia Marten

1996

No One Could Protect Her as Jessica Rayner

1995

Hope and Gloria as Joanna Kerns

1995

See Jane Run as Jane Ravenson

1995

Whose Daughter is She? as Laura Eagerton

1994

Chicago Hope as Not available

1994

Mortal Fear as Dr. Jennifer Kessler

1993

Intimate Portrait as Self

1993

Not in My Family as Veronica Ricci

1993

Shameful Secrets as Maryanne Walker-Tate

1992

The Nightman as Eve

1991

Captive as Kathy Plunk

1991

Voices That Care as Self - Choir Member

1990

The Great Los Angeles Earthquake as Dr. Clare Winslow

1990

Blind Faith as Maria Marshall

1989

The Preppie Murder as Linda Fairstein

1989

Those She Left Behind as Diane Pappas

1988

She's Having a Baby as Joanna Kerns (uncredited)

1987

Street Justice as Catherine Watson

1987

Cross My Heart as Nancy

1986

Love Struck as Not available

1985

Growing Pains as Maggie Seaver

1985

Street Hawk as Mona Wiliams

1985

Stormin' Home as Lana Singer

1985

A Bunny's Tale as Andrea

1985

The Rape of Richard Beck as Anita Parrish

1984

Hunter as Dr. Kettering

1984

The Four Seasons as Not available

1984

The Return of Marcus Welby, M.D. as Pamela Saletta

1983

The A-Team as Trish Brenner

1983

V as Marjorie Donovan

1982

A Wedding on Waltons Mountain as Doris Marshall

1982

Mother's Day on Waltons Mountain as Doris Marshall

1981

Hill Street Blues as Not available

1980

Magnum, P.I. as Mary Kanfer

1980

Magnum, P.I. as Jenny Hunter

1978

Coma as Diane

1977

The Love Boat as Beth Luckner

1977

Three's Company as Bobby Trilling

1977

CHiPs as Colleen

1976

Quincy, M.E. as Not available

1976

Charlie's Angels as Natalie

1976

Laverne & Shirley as Not available

1976

A*P*E as Marilyn Baker

1975

Starsky & Hutch as Not available

1975

Switch as Mae Brenner

1975

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman! as Citizen (uncredited)

1974

Rhoda as Not available

1972

Emergency! as Not available
Crew

2024

Love, Danielle Executive Producer

2024

Happy's Place Director

2019

WHAT / IF Director

2018

Light as a Feather Director

2018

FBI Director

2017

Unrest Associate Producer

2017

The Good Doctor Director

2016

Recovery Road Director

2016

This Is Us Director

2016

Man with a Plan Director

2015

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Director

2015

Chicago Med Director

2014

Jane the Virgin Director

2014

Chasing Life Director

2013

The Goldbergs Director

2012

Nashville Director

2011

Switched at Birth Director

2011

Awkward. Director

2011

Friends with Benefits Director

2010

Pretty Little Liars Director

2008

Privileged Director

2007

Private Practice Director

2007

Army Wives Director

2007

Samantha Who? Director

2006

Men in Trees Director

2006

Psych Director

2005

Medium Director

2005

Related Director

2005

Grey's Anatomy Director

2005

Ghost Whisperer Director

2004

Clubhouse Director

2004

Phil of the Future Director

2003

One Tree Hill Director

2003

The O'Keefes Director

2003

Joan of Arcadia Director

2002

Leap of Faith Director

2001

The Division Director

2001

Scrubs Director

2000

Titans Director

2000

Boston Public Director

2000

Strong Medicine Director

2000

That's Life Director

1999

Judging Amy Director

1999

Beggars and Choosers Director

1998

Any Day Now Director

1998

Dawson's Creek Director

1998

Felicity Director

1997

Ally McBeal Director

1996

Clueless Director

1996

Suddenly Susan Director

1996

Remember WENN Director

1995

Hope and Gloria Director

1994

ER Director

1992

The Nightman Co-Executive Producer

1985

Growing Pains Director