Joanna Kerns
Acting
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
Acting73
tvEastwick
2009
Edie
movieKnocked Up
2007
Alison's Mom
movieGrowing Pains: Return of the Seavers
2004
Maggie Seaver
tvLess than Perfect
2002
Judy, Owen's Other Mom
movieThe Growing Pains Movie
2000
Maggie Seaver
movieGirl, Interrupted
1999
Annette
movieAt the Mercy of a Stranger
1999
Elizabeth Cooper
movieEmma's Wish
1998
Emma Bridges-Mame
movieSisters and Other Strangers
1997
Gail Connelly Metzger
movieMother Knows Best
1997
Celeste Cooper
movieTerror in the Family
1996
Cynthia Marten
tvAliens in the Family
1996
Self (voice)
movieNo One Could Protect Her
1996
Jessica Rayner
movieWhose Daughter is She?
1995
Laura Eagerton
tvHope and Gloria
1995
Joanna Kerns
movieSee Jane Run
1995
Jane Ravenson
movieMortal Fear
1994
Dr. Jennifer Kessler
tvChicago Hope
1994
Stephanie Serone
movieNo Dessert, Dad, 'Til You Mow the Lawn
1994
Carol Cochran
movieShameful Secrets
1993
Maryanne Walker-Tate
movieNot in My Family
1993
Veronica Ricci
movieDesperate Choices: To Save My Child
1992
Mel Robbins
movieCaptive
1991
Kathy Plunk
movieVoices That Care
1991
Self - Choir Member
movieThe Great Los Angeles Earthquake
1990
Dr. Clare Winslow
tvBlind Faith
1990
Maria Marshall
movieThe Preppie Murder
1989
Linda Fairstein
movieThose She Left Behind
1989
Diane Pappas
movieShe's Having a Baby
1988
Joanna Kerns (uncredited)
movieMistress
1987
Stephanie
movieStreet Justice
1987
Catherine Watson
tvGrowing Pains
1985
Maggie Seaver
movieThe Rape of Richard Beck
1985
Anita Parrish
movieStormin' Home
1985
Lana Singer
movieA Bunny's Tale
1985
Andrea
tvStreet Hawk
1985
Mona Wiliams
tvHunter
1984
Dr. Kettering
movieThe Return of Marcus Welby, M.D.
1984
Pamela Saletta
tvThe Four Seasons
1984
Pat Devon
tvV
1983
Marjorie Donovan
tvThe A-Team
1983
Trish Brenner
movieMother's Day on Waltons Mountain
1982
Doris Marshall
movieA Wedding on Waltons Mountain
1982
Doris Marshall
tvMagnum, P.I.
1980
Mary Kanfer / Jenny Hunter
movieComa
1978
Diane
tvThe Love Boat
1977
Beth Luckner
tvCHiPs
1977
Colleen
tvThree's Company
1977
Bobby Trilling
tvCharlie's Angels
1976
Natalie
movieA*P*E
1976
Marilyn Baker
tvSwitch
1975
Mae Brenner
movieIt's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman!
1975
Citizen (uncredited)
Directing60
tvHappy's Place
2024
Director
tvThe Baker and the Beauty
2020
Director
tvWHAT / IF
2019
Director
tvLight as a Feather
2018
Director
tvFBI
2018
Director
tvThe Good Doctor
2017
Director
tvMan with a Plan
2016
Director
tvThis Is Us
2016
Director
tvFuller House
2016
Director
tvRecovery Road
2016
Director
tvChicago Med
2015
Director
tvCrazy Ex-Girlfriend
2015
Director
tvJane the Virgin
2014
Director
tvChasing Life
2014
Director
tvThe Goldbergs
2013
Director
tvNashville
2012
Director
tvFriends with Benefits
2011
Director
tvAwkward.
2011
Director
tvSwitched at Birth
2011
Director
tvPretty Little Liars
2010
Director
tvPrivileged
2008
Director
tvSamantha Who?
2007
Director
tvPrivate Practice
2007
Director
tvArmy Wives
2007
Director
tvNotes from the Underbelly
2007
Director
tvMen in Trees
2006
Director
tvPsych
2006
Director
tvRelated
2005
Director
tvGhost Whisperer
2005
Director
tvGrey's Anatomy
2005
Director
tvMedium
2005
Director
tvClubhouse
2004
Director
tvPhil of the Future
2004
Director
tvJoan of Arcadia
2003
Director
tvOne Tree Hill
2003
Director
The O'Keefes
2003
Director
tvLeap of Faith
2002
Director
tvScrubs
2001
Director
tvThe Division
2001
Director
tvBoston Public
2000
Director
tvTitans
2000
Director
tvThat's Life
2000
Director
tvStrong Medicine
2000
Director
tvJudging Amy
1999
Director
tvBeggars and Choosers
1999
Director
tvFelicity
1998
Director
tvAny Day Now
1998
Director
tvLove Boat: The Next Wave
1998
Director
tvDawson's Creek
1998
Director
tvAlly McBeal
1997
Director
tvClueless
1996
Director
tvSuddenly Susan
1996
Director
tvRemember WENN
1996
Director
tvHope and Gloria
1995
Director
tvER
1994
Director
tvGrowing Pains
1985
Director
Production3
movieLove, Danielle
2024
Executive Producer
movieUnrest
2017
Associate Producer
movieThe Nightman
1992
Co-Executive Producer