Acting · San Francisco, California, USA · Born February 12, 1953
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.
MovieAin't It Funny
2017
as Mom
TVEastwick
2009
as Edie
MovieKnocked Up
2007
as Alison's Mom
MovieGrowing Pains: Return of the Seavers
2004
as Maggie Seaver
The Tony Danza Show
2004
as Self
TVLess than Perfect
2002
as Judy, Owen's Other Mom
MovieAll Over the Guy
2001
as Lydia
MovieThe Growing Pains Movie
2000
as Maggie Seaver
MovieGirl, Interrupted
1999
as Annette
MovieAt the Mercy of a Stranger
1999
as Elizabeth Cooper
MovieEmma's Wish
1998
as Emma Bridges-Mame
TVThe Wonderful World of Disney
1997
MovieSisters and Other Strangers
1997
as Gail Connelly Metzger
MovieMother Knows Best
1997
as Celeste Cooper
TVE! True Hollywood Story
1996
MovieTerror in the Family
1996
as Cynthia Marten
TVAliens in the Family
1996
as Self (voice)
MovieNo One Could Protect Her
1996
as Jessica Rayner
MovieWhose Daughter is She?
1995
as Laura Eagerton
TVHope and Gloria
1995
as Joanna Kerns
MovieSee Jane Run
1995
as Jane Ravenson
MovieMortal Fear
1994
as Dr. Jennifer Kessler
TVChicago Hope
1994
as Stephanie Serone
MovieNo Dessert, Dad, 'Til You Mow the Lawn
1994
as Carol Cochran
TVIntimate Portrait
1993
as Self
MovieShameful Secrets
1993
as Maryanne Walker-Tate
MovieThe Man with Three Wives
1993
as Katy
MovieNot in My Family
1993
as Veronica Ricci
MovieDesperate Choices: To Save My Child
1992
as Mel Robbins
MovieThe Nightman
1992
as Eve
MovieCaptive
1991
as Kathy Plunk
MovieVoices That Care
1991
as Self - Choir Member
MovieDeadly Intentions... Again?
1991
as Sally
MovieThe Great Los Angeles Earthquake
1990
as Dr. Clare Winslow
TVBlind Faith
1990
as Maria Marshall
MovieWalt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade
1989
as Self
MovieThe Preppie Murder
1989
as Linda Fairstein
MovieThose She Left Behind
1989
as Diane Pappas
MovieShe's Having a Baby
1988
as Joanna Kerns (uncredited)
MovieCross My Heart
1987
as Nancy
MovieMistress
1987
as Stephanie
MovieStreet Justice
1987
as Catherine Watson
MovieLove Struck
1986
TVGrowing Pains
1985
as Maggie Seaver
MovieThe Rape of Richard Beck
1985
as Anita Parrish
MovieStormin' Home
1985
as Lana Singer
MovieA Bunny's Tale
1985
as Andrea
TVStreet Hawk
1985
as Mona Wiliams
TVHunter
1984
as Dr. Kettering
MovieThe Return of Marcus Welby, M.D.
1984
as Pamela Saletta
TVThe Four Seasons
1984
as Pat Devon
TVV
1983
as Marjorie Donovan
TVThe A-Team
1983
as Trish Brenner
MovieMother's Day on Waltons Mountain
1982
as Doris Marshall
MovieA Wedding on Waltons Mountain
1982
as Doris Marshall
TVHill Street Blues
1981
TVMagnum, P.I.
1980
as Mary Kanfer
MovieMarriage Is Alive and Well
1980
as Meg
MovieComa
1978
as Diane
TVThe Love Boat
1977
as Beth Luckner
TVCHiPs
1977
as Colleen
TVThree's Company
1977
as Bobby Trilling
TVQuincy, M.E.
1976
MovieThe Million Dollar Rip-Off
1976
as Jessie
TVCharlie's Angels
1976
as Natalie
MovieA*P*E
1976
as Marilyn Baker
TVLaverne & Shirley
1976
TVStarsky & Hutch
1975
TVSwitch
1975
as Mae Brenner
MovieIt's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman!
1975
as Citizen (uncredited)
TVRhoda
1974
TVEmergency!
1972
TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
