| Joan Prather | |
| Birth Place: | Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Education: | Highland Park High School |
| Occupation: | Actress |
| Years Active: | 1972–1989 |
Joan Prather is an American actress, best known for her role as Janet McArthur Bradford (wife of David) in Eight Is Enough.[1]
Prather was born in Dallas, Texas. Prather first began acting in grade-school stage productions, and was a regular on the teen dance show "Sump'n Else" during her high school years. She graduated from Highland Park High School in 1969.
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.
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.[2] [3]
Prather quit acting in the late 1980s. She was married to James J. Fiducia for five years in the late 1970s, and is currently married to lawyer Douglas J. Frye and lives in Malibu, California.
In September 2008, she was arrested for felony hit-and-run in Malibu and was released on $50,000 bail.
| 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 |
| 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 | Jean Tina Forest | Episode: "Celebrate in Fresh Powder" Episode: "Hunger Knows My Name" | |
| 1976 | 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 Brett Delia Latham Lauren Fandell Melanie 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 | 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" |