Van Ark first became a household name in the late 1970s thanks to her role as Valene Ewing in several television series. Her path to acting began after she was overlooked for prom in high school, a moment that pushed her toward the stage. While interviewing actress Julie Harris for her school newspaper, Van Ark was encouraged to apply to the Yale School of Drama. She did, earning a scholarship and becoming only the second woman ever admitted, following Harris herself.
She made her stage debut in a Molière production at the Guthrie Theater, later joining the national touring cast of Barefoot in the Park in 1966. Television soon followed, with appearances in Spider-Woman, Days of Our Lives, and a Tony nomination for her role in The School for Wives. Her major breakthrough came in 1978 when she was cast as Valene Ewing on Dallas, a role she carried into Knots Landing for 13 seasons and more than 300 episodes.
In recent years, Van Ark has chosen a quieter life with her husband, John Marshall, whom she met in high school in Boulder, Colorado. Married in 1966, they defied Hollywood’s reputation for short-lived romances. After their daughter Vanessa was born in 1969, John left his job as a TV anchor to raise her, later winning an Emmy for his journalism work. Van Ark often praised him for holding their family together during her demanding career.
In May 2023, just before her 80th birthday, Van Ark made a rare public appearance in Los Angeles — her first in three years. Though she has faced harsh criticism online for past cosmetic procedures, she remains focused on her family, her long marriage, and the joy of watching her daughter thrive as a respected voice actress.
