Joan Severance
Overview
Born December 23, 1958 in Houston, Texas, USA
Birth Name Joan Marie Severance
Height 5′ 9″ (1.75 m)
Mini Bio
Joan Severance was born and raised in Houston, Texas. At the age of 18 and at the sole urging of John Casablancas of Elite models, she went to Paris, France to begin a modeling career that would turn out to be well worth the price of the ticket Casablancas sent her. Within months she graced the covers of all the international magazines and was doing shows for all the top designers. She landed campaigns for Chanel and Versace. After eight months she moved to NYC to pursue the US market and was quick to land several national commercials for Windsong perfume, Breck shampoo, Clairol, English Leather, L’oreal, Revlon and Maybeline.
After several dozen commercials and a very high profile editorial career, she quit the modeling industry to head to Hollywood. Within weeks, she had a manager, an agent and was studying with several different acting coaches. It was six months later that she landed her first role on a major television series for CBS called Wiseguy (1987),starring Ken Wahl and Kevin Spacey. It was only a matter of time that director Arthur Hiller cast her in See No Evil, Hear No Evil (1989) with Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor and her costar from Wiseguy, Kevin Spacey. That same year she did Bird on a Wire (1990) with Mel Gibson and Goldie Hawn and No Holds Barred (1989) with Hulk Hogan. Later starring in several films, including Zalman King’s Lake Consequence (1993) with Billy Zane,
She has appeared in over fifteen films. She has worked with Robert Urich on Aaron Spelling’s Love Boat: The Next Wave (1998) and with Ann-Margret on Life of the Party: The Pamela Harriman Story (1998) for Lifetime. SMs. Severance has been in many popular TV shows like Masters of Sex (2013) and One Tree Hill (2003) and CSI: Miami (2002)
Her hobbies include interior, landscape and fashion design, cooking,reading, entertaining, writing and anything to do with horses. Severance has finished her first book, Manifest Your Mate: a Journal for Attraction. Science, health and the unknown spark her interests. She has a gourmet cooking degree from Roger Verge from The Moulin du Mougin in the South of France, owned and was the chef of a restaurant in upstate New York, owned a catering company in New York, and has taught commercial acting classes.
Ms. Severance has a Bachelors Degree in Natural Health. She desires to develop a television talk show aimed at a younger audience about alternative and holistic lifestyles choices. Ms. Severance created, txTylz®, a communication game and is developing it for a mobile app.
Spouse
Eric Milon (1977 – 1984) ( divorced)
Trivia
Also known to Virtual World patrons as Samantha “Sam” Dooley, the Martian Belle.
Graduated from Westbury High School in Houston, Texas with the class of 1977.
In addition to her modeling and acting credits, she has also been the owner/ chef of a restaurant in upstate New York and a catering company in New York City. She is also studying to be a doctor of natural medicine.
Supermodel Linda Evangelista has often cited Joan as her modeling influence.
At the age of 16 entered the Clairol Long and Silky contest in hopes of winning a stereo. Lost first prize to Rene Russo, but received a scholarship to a local modeling school as the second place prize.
Is passionate about lending support and information on Non-USA based treatments for Vitiligo as well as financial assistance to qualifying applicants for these treatments and/or assistance in obtaining the proper cover make-up.
Supports the I am Waters Foundation, non-profit organization based in Houston, Texas dedicated to providing fresh, clean water to the homeless.
Created the educational game Txtylz.
Has been an interior designer with B-Specific, Inc. since 1985.
Speaks fluent French and conversational Spanish.
Became a DNA ThetaHealing healer in 2013.
Was a straight A student in high school.
Her Chinese Astrological sign is the Dog.
Was suppose to appear on Cheers as the sister of Kirstie Alley’s character Rebecca but a disagreement with the producers led to her being replaced with Marcia Cross.
Credits Gene Wilder as her favorite acting mentor/best friend.
Had praised her mentor Gene Wilder for her humble beginnings as a young actress.
Her acting mentor was the late Gene Wilder.
Supports Habitat for Humanity.
Supports Meals on Wheels.
Personal Quotes
I definitely feel, when I’m wearing the costume, that I could scare people and hurt them.
You can take charge, kick ass, do whatever you have to do and it’s okay. You can blow people up. These are things that are okay for cartoon characters to do.
I now have a plan – I haven’t had a plan up until this year.
When you’re dead weight, in the right position, you win. And in reality, you wouldn’t see someone my size kicking seven martial arts experts and winning.
I really think the mind of someone who hasn’t been welded into place by their work or studios or actors or this whole society is a wonderful mind to work with, so I’d like to do a big picture with an unknown director.
I hope they make a show like M*A*S*H, which dealt with a lot of difficult subject matter but was very funny.
I want good and different parts, different from what I’ve done.
I did commercials since I was 16, and that’s kind of acting, depending on what you’re selling.
I don’t think I’d want to sit down and listen to people’s stories all day long.
Every part I’ve done has been for one reason or another-money, or the part, or the director, or the location. I’d like to get one thing that’s all of those combined.
I was watching something the other day which started out with five guys walking towards you and one woman, and there you go-it’s still being dominated by the male society.
Wearing this kind of costume is not something I fantasize about. It’s not natural, it’s not comfortable. I don’t see myself as this. But it gives you dramatic license to do almost anything when you’re dressed as a bug.
