They wanted to make her less rural, less of a cartoon. Not that Southern woman are cartoonish - they're the strongest women in this country, but with Val they wanted to take the stereotypical things out.

She attended for only one year. She remained with Knots Landing for thirteen of the show's fourteen seasons leaving in 1992 (although Joan Van Ark did return for the series' final episode in May 1993). She earned a Theatre World Award and received a Tony nomination in 1971 for her performance in The School for Wives.

Joan Van Ark (born June 16 1943) is an American actress most notable for her role as Valene Ewing which Joan Van Ark originated on the CBS series Dallas and continued for thirteen seasons on its spin-off Knots Landing. A life member of The Actors Studio Van Ark has also received a Theatre World Award and been nominated for a Tony Award for her stage work.