When I married a surgeon, I didn’t expect our family life to suffer, but my husband’s demanding job took precedence over our daughters. My father stepped in as the support we needed, revealing cracks in our marriage and leading to unexpected changes.
My husband, David, neglected family responsibilities, thinking his job was enough to be a good father and husband. He became irritable at home, and my father took on the parenting role, forming a close bond with our daughters. David resented this and refused to support my dad, wanting him out of our lives.
One day, David came home early and saw our daughters playing with my father. They ignored him and later showed him drawings that excluded him, which angered him. He blamed my father for their lack of affection and demanded he leave, threatening to cut him out of their lives.
This confrontation made me realize our marriage couldn’t continue. I moved out with our daughters and my father. Despite the heartbreak, I am grateful my children have a loving grandfather. Now, I’m considering divorce to give them a peaceful home.
Separately, I discovered my husband was cheating with our son’s girlfriend, Amy. I found inappropriate messages and pictures on his phone, revealing his betrayal. This discovery shattered me, making me regret our marriage.
Now, I’m navigating the fallout, trying to protect my children and rebuild our lives.
Think you know her? You might want to take a seat before discovering who she really is
Joan van Ark was born on June 16, 1943, in New York City, far from the world of entertainment. Her life took a significant turn during her teenage years while acting in Denver, where she met actress Julie Harris, who would greatly influence her career. Julie encouraged Joan to apply to the prestigious Yale Drama School and even helped her secure a scholarship, making Joan the second woman ever to enroll there.
Joan recalled: “Harris wrote to the dean and asked him to meet me. Long story short, my parents drove me to New Haven, Connecticut, where the dean awarded me a scholarship. It felt destined”. After honing her skills in theater, Joan shifted her focus to television, where she starred in shows like Temperature’s Rising, Spider-Woman, Days of Our Lives, and even made a guest appearance on Bonanza. However, it was her role as Valene Ewing on Dallas in 1978 that propelled her to stardom.
Her success on Dallas led to her starring in its spin-off, Knots Landing, which was actually developed before Dallas. Initially, Joan was set to join the Knots Landing cast, but she ended up reprising her role on Dallas first. It was her husband, newscaster John Marshall, who encouraged her to accept the role despite her busy schedule. When it was announced that Julie Harris would play Val’s mother, Joan was thrilled. “I couldn’t believe they had picked her to be my mother”, she recalled in a 1984 interview.
After 13 seasons and 327 episodes on Knots Landing, Joan left the show just before its final season. While many speculated that her departure contributed to the show’s cancellation, she was ready for new challenges. “I loved my time on that show”, she stated, expressing gratitude to the show’s creator, David Jacobs, and her co-star, Ted Shackelford, who she considered family.
Joan and John, who met in high school, have been happily married for over 58 years and share a daughter, Vanessa Marshall, who works in the entertainment industry. Now at 81, Joan has a net worth of $10 million and remains stunning. She was last spotted five years ago, casually paying for parking in workout attire.
Her most recent appearance was in the 2017 television film Psycho Wedding Crasher. After a remarkable 50-year career in entertainment, Joan van Ark is now a life member of The Actor’s Studio, solidifying her legacy as an icon.
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