Joan Prather

Joan Prather is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for her role as Janet McArthur Bradford (wife of David) in Eight Is Enough.^[1]

Early years

Prather's hometown is Dallas.^[2] Her father worked in real estate, and she said that her grandfather was the builder of the first shopping center in the world. Her parents divorced when she was 3 years old, and by 1979 her father had had four wives and her mother had had three husbands. She lived with her mother until she entered high school, when she began living with her father and his wife.^[3]

Career

Prather debuted in a Dallas production of Under Milk Wood and made commercials for products, including Adidas, Coca-Cola, Folgers, and Ivory Soap She rejected the role of the title character's wife on Welcome Back, Kotter because she considered it too dull and turned down portraying Allison MacKenzie on Return to Peyton Place because she "would go crazy" in that part.^[2] Overall, she felt that television had "no creative license" and an actor "can get stuck into one cliched role".^[2]

Film and television credits

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.^{[citation needed]}

Scientology

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.^[4][5]

Personal life

Prather married James Fiducia, a Scientology minister.^[3]

Filmography

Film

Television

References

1. ^ "Actress Joan Prather Arrested For Dragging Cop (Photos)". The Hollywood Gossip. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
2. ^ "Joan Prather Says She Doesn't Want To Get Stuck In One Position". The Tampa Tribune-Times. June 6, 1976. p. 29. Retrieved June 29, 2025. – via Newspapers.com
3. ^ Kleiner, Dick (November 4, 1979). "Joan Prather Hesitated Before Joining 'Eight'". The Herald-Sun. p. 98. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
4. ^ Wright, Lawrence (January 9, 2013). "Scientology Book Excerpt: 'The Church Had John Travolta Trapped'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
5. ^ John Travolta, Bob McCabe, Parragon, 1996, page 19

External links

• Joan Prather at IMDb