Joan Prather is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for her role as Janet McArthur Bradford (wife of David) in Eight Is Enough.
Early years Prather's hometown is Dallas. Her father worked in real estate, and she said that her grandfather was the builder of the first shopping center in the world. Her parents divorced when she was 3 years old, and by 1979 her father had had four wives and her mother had had three husbands. She lived with her mother until she entered high school, when she began living with her father and his wife.
Career Prather debuted in a Dallas production of Under Milk Wood and made commercials for products, including Adidas, Coca-Cola, Folgers, and Ivory Soap She rejected the role of the title character's wife on Welcome Back, Kotter because she considered it too dull and turned down portraying Allison MacKenzie on Return to Peyton Place because she "would go crazy" in that part. Overall, she felt that television had "no creative license" and an actor "can get stuck into one cliched role".
Film and television credits
Her film credits include The Single Girls (1974), Big Bad Mama (1974), The Devil's Rain (1975), Smile (1975), Rabbit Test (1978) and Take This Job and Shove It (1981).
She appeared in TV series such as Executive Suite, Eight Is Enough, CHiPs, Fantasy Island, and the 1980 edition of Battle of the Network Stars.
During her teen years, Joan was a featured "go-go" dancer on a local Dallas teen dance TV show Sump'n Else. The show ran from 1965 to 1968 and it was roughly modeled after "American Bandstand" and often featured national and local bands.
Scientology
While on the set of The Devil's Rain, Prather told an "extremely unhappy" John Travolta that Scientology had helped her, inspiring him to get involved with the religion upon his later return to Los Angeles.John Travolta, Bob McCabe, Parragon, 1996, page 19
Personal life Prather married James Fiducia, a Scientology minister.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1972 The Thing with Two Heads Nurse (uncredited) 1973 The Single Girls Lola 1974 Big Bad Mama Jane Kingston 1975 Smile Robin - Young American Miss Comedy film The Devil's Rain Julie Preston Horror film 1978 Rabbit Test Segoynia Savaka Comedy film 1981 Take This Job and Shove It Madelyn
Television Year Title Role Notes 1973 Sanford and Son Tour Guide Episode: "A Visit from Lena Horne" 1973 Chase Diane Episode: "Six for Five" 1975 Happy Days Ruth Episode: "Open House" Lucas Tanner Connie Tracy Episode: "One to One" 1973-1975 Insight JeanTina Forest Episode: "Celebrate in Fresh Powder"Episode: "Hunger Knows My Name" 1976 Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway Susie TV film The Quest Jenny Caldwell Episode: "Dynasty of Evil" 1976-1977 Executive Suite Glory Dalessio 17 episodes 1977 The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries Adriane Episode: "The Mystery of the Ghostwriters' Cruise" 1978 The Deerslayer Judith Hunter TV film 1979 Hollywood Squares Herself - Panelist 5 episodes Make Me Laugh Herself Episode: "Biff Maynard, Murray Langston and Bill Kirchenbauer" 1980 Battle of the Network Stars VIII Herself - ABC Team Whew! Herself - Celebrity Partner 10 episodes 1979-1980 Eight Is Enough Janet McArthur / Janet McArthur Bradford 19 episodes 1981 The Love Boat Jill Episode: "Sally's Paradise / I Love You, Too, Smith / Mama and Me" CHiPs Felicia Chadway Episode: "Concours d'Elegance" 1979-1983 Fantasy Island Julie BrettDelia LathamLauren FandellMelanie Jones Episode: "The Mermaid / The Victim"Episode: "Also Rans / Portrait of Solange"Episode: "Druids / A Night in a Harem"Episode: "Edward / Extraordinary Miss Jones" 1984 His Mistress Lauren TV film 1985 Sins of the Father Megan TV film Finder of Lost Loves Robin Sloan Episode: "Broken Promises" 1987 LBJ: The Early Years TV film Eight Is Enough: A Family Reunion Janet TV film 1989 Protect and Surf Mary Jo Ballerini TV film Eight Is Enough Wedding Janet TV film 2000 E! True Hollywood Story Herself Episode: "Eight Is Enough"
References
External links