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.
Eastwick
(1 episode)
2009
Knocked Up
Alison's Mom
2007
Growing Pains: Return of the Seavers
Maggie Seaver
2004
The Tony Danza Show
Self · (1 episode)
2004
Less than Perfect
Judy, Owen's Other Mom · (2 episodes)
2002
All Over the Guy
Lydia
2001
The Growing Pains Movie
Maggie Seaver
2000
Girl, Interrupted
Annette
1999
At the Mercy of a Stranger
Elizabeth Cooper
1999
Emma's Wish
Emma Bridges-Mame
1998
The Wonderful World of Disney
(1 episode)
1997
Sisters and Other Strangers
Gail Connelly Metzger
1997
Mother Knows Best
Celeste Cooper
1997
E! True Hollywood Story
(1 episode)
1996
Terror in the Family
Cynthia Marten
1996
Aliens in the Family
Self (voice) · (1 episode)
1996
No One Could Protect Her
Jessica Rayner
1996
Whose Daughter is She?
Laura Eagerton
1995
Hope and Gloria
Joanna Kerns · (1 episode)
1995
See Jane Run
Jane Ravenson
1995
Mortal Fear
Dr. Jennifer Kessler
1994
Chicago Hope
(2 episodes)
1994
No Dessert, Dad, 'Til You Mow the Lawn
Carol Cochran
1994
Intimate Portrait
Self · (1 episode)
1993
Shameful Secrets
Maryanne Walker-Tate
1993
The Man with Three Wives
Katy
1993
Not in My Family
Veronica Ricci
1993
Desperate Choices: To Save My Child
Mel Robbins
1992
The Nightman
Eve
1992
Captive
Kathy Plunk
1991
Voices That Care
Self - Choir Member
1991
Deadly Intentions... Again?
Sally
1991
The Great Los Angeles Earthquake
Dr. Clare Winslow
1990
Blind Faith
Maria Marshall · (2 episodes)
1990
The Preppie Murder
Linda Fairstein
1989
Those She Left Behind
Diane Pappas
1989
She's Having a Baby
Joanna Kerns (uncredited)
1988
Cross My Heart
Nancy
1987
Street Justice
Catherine Watson
1987
Love Struck
1986
Growing Pains
Maggie Seaver · (162 episodes)
1985
The Rape of Richard Beck
Anita Parrish
1985
Stormin' Home
Lana Singer
1985
A Bunny's Tale
Andrea
1985
Street Hawk
Mona Wiliams · (1 episode)
1985
Hunter
Dr. Kettering · (1 episode)
1984
The Return of Marcus Welby, M.D.
Pamela Saletta
1984
The Four Seasons
(13 episodes)
1984
V
Marjorie Donovan · (2 episodes)
1983
The A-Team
Trish Brenner · (1 episode)
1983
Mother's Day on Waltons Mountain
Doris Marshall
1982
A Wedding on Waltons Mountain
Doris Marshall
1982
Hill Street Blues
(1 episode)
1981
Magnum, P.I.
Mary Kanfer · (1 episode)
1980
Magnum, P.I.
Jenny Hunter · (1 episode)
1980
Marriage Is Alive and Well
Meg
1980
Coma
Diane
1978
The Love Boat
Beth Luckner · (1 episode)
1977
CHiPs
Colleen · (1 episode)
1977
Three's Company
Bobby Trilling · (2 episodes)
1977
Quincy, M.E.
(1 episode)
1976
The Million Dollar Rip-Off
Jessie
1976
Charlie's Angels
Natalie · (1 episode)
1976
A*P*E
Marilyn Baker
1976
Laverne & Shirley
(1 episode)
1976
Starsky & Hutch
(1 episode)
1975
Switch
Mae Brenner · (1 episode)
1975
It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman!
Citizen (uncredited)
1975
Rhoda
(1 episode)
1974
Emergency!
(1 episode)
1972
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · (1 episode)
1962