‘Knots Landing’ Star Shares Health Update as Castmates Celebrate Her Birthday

Nearly 50 years after the debut of the iconic primetime soap Knots Landing, Joan Van Ark is celebrating her 83rd birthday. The beloved actress shared a special message with fans on her big day, and her Knots Landing family had some special messages for her, as well.

For the past year or so, Van Ark has been doing a podcast with Donna Mills (Abby Fairgate) and Michelle Lee (Karen Fairgate MacKenzie), her close friends and co-stars from Knots Landing.

However, for the past few months, Van Ark has been absent. During the June 16 episode of We’re Not Done Yet, Mills and Lee dedicated it to all things Van Ark. Early in the episode, they played an audio message from Van Ark herself.

Van Ark said she missed being with Lee, Mills, and the fans regularly. She explained, “As you might have heard, I’m battling some health issues right now.”

She continued, “I hope that I’ll be back with you very, very soon because I do deeply, deeply miss you.”

“In the meantime, keep the faith, and we’ll be together again,” Van Ark added. She promised she would return as soon as she’s well again.

Following Van Ark’s audio message, several former co-stars popped up with video birthday wishes.

Ted Shackelford (Gary Ewing) and Charlene Tilton (Lucy Ewing) recorded sweet messages for Van Ark, as did a couple of others from the original series.

Knots Landing fans loved the podcast episode and shared their own birthday messages for Van Ark on social media.

On Instagram, one fan admitted, “When 1 particular birthday greeting popped up on screen, I burst into tears.”

Another fan commented, “I hope Joan is feeling better and I wish her a very Happy Birthday! Sending her much love!”

Someone else added, “Happy birthday lovely, amazingly talented, beautiful Joan. I hope she’s ok and send lots of good health and best wishes. Can’t wait to have her back on the podcast.”

As Knots Landing fans remember, Van Ark played Valene Ewing on the show that aired from 1979 to 1993. Fans were introduced to the character via a few appearances on the show Dallas, where she played the wife of one of the Ewing heirs, Gary.

Gary and Val had one daughter, Lucy, although Lucy grew up primarily with her grandparents on Southfork Ranch. Knots Landing featured Gary and Val moving to California.

During the podcast episode, Mills noted that the audience has been “so concerned about [Van Ark] and so loving to her” over the past few months. Van Ark didn’t go into detail regarding her ongoing health issues, but Knots Landing fans are rooting for her to feel better and return to the podcast soon.