Joanne Elizabeth Nail (born June 3, 1947) is an American former film, stage, and television actress. She is best known for her roles in the exploitation film Switchblade Sisters (1975), the science fiction horror film The Visitor (1979), and Larry Cohen's werewolf horror comedy Full Moon High (1981).
Nail also appeared on Broadway in the productions Scratch (1971) and Lysistrata (1972). On television, she guest-starred on numerous series throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including Harry O, The Rockford Files, Young Maverick, and Hawaii Five-O.
Early life Nail was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. She has a fraternal twin brother, Gregory, a physician, and another brother, David, a businessman. She began acting in her youth at the Spokane Civic Theatre and graduated from Lewis and Clark High School. She attended the University of Washington as an art major for three years before graduating with a bachelor's degree in education from Eastern Washington University in 1970.
Career Nail appeared on Broadway in the productions Scratch (1971) and Lysistrata (1972) before making her feature film debut in the exploitation film Switchblade Sisters (1975), opposite Michael Sarrazin. She subsequently starred in the Italian-American science fiction horror film The Visitor (1979), portraying the mother of a young daughter with telekinesis opposite Mel Ferrer, Shelley Winters, and John Huston. She subsequently had a lead role in Larry Cohen's horror comedy Full Moon High (1981), opposite Adam Arkin.
On television, Nail had guest-starring roles on Marcus Welby, M.D. (1974), The Rockford Files (1977), Hawaii Five-O (1978), and Cagney & Lacey (1988).
Filmography Film Year Title Role(s) Notes 1975 Switchblade Sisters Maggie 1976 Jane – Porsche Team 1978 Mother, Juggs & Speed Jennifer Juggston Television film 1979 Barbara Collins 1981 Midnight Lace Luana Smiley Television film 1981 Tina Television film 1981 Full Moon High Ricky 1981 Warp Speed Lt. Tanya Fleischer Television film 1981 Julie Television film 1983 I'm Going to Be Famous
Television Year Title Role(s) Notes 1974 Marcus Welby, M.D. June Allen 1 episode 1975 S.W.A.T. Pam McCabe 1 episode 1976 Harry O Jamie Episode: "Book of Changes" 1977 Code R Cindy 1 episode 1977 Tina Harrington 1 episode 1977 Mary Jo Flynn Episode: "The Dog and Pony Show" 1977 James at 15 Mrs. Carson 1 episode 1978 Hawaii Five-O Luana Watkins 1 episode 1979 Young Maverick Rose 1 episode 1981 Enos Dina 1 episode 1988 Cagney & Lacey Mrs. Prentiss 1 episode 1988 Designing Women Girl #1 1 episode
Stage credits Year Title Role(s) Notes 1968 Up the Down Staircase University of Washington Student Auditorium 1971 Scratch Susan St. James Theatre 1972 Lysistrata Woman B Brooks Atkinson Theatre
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