Joanne Nail

Joanne Nail
Nail in 1977
Born (1947-06-03) June 3, 1947
Spokane, Washington, U.S.
Alma mater
OccupationActress
Years active1971–1988

Joanne Elizabeth Nail[1] (born June 3, 1947)[2] is an American former film, stage, and television actress. She is best known for her roles in the exploitation film Switchblade Sisters (1975),[3] the science fiction horror film The Visitor (1979), and Larry Cohen's werewolf horror comedy Full Moon High (1981).

Nail also appeared on Broadway in the productions Scratch (1971) and Lysistrata (1972). On television, she guest-starred on numerous series throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including Harry O, The Rockford Files, Young Maverick, and Hawaii Five-O.

Early life

Nail was born and raised in Spokane, Washington.[3] She has a fraternal twin brother, Gregory, a physician, and another brother, David, a businessman.[4] She began acting in her youth at the Spokane Civic Theatre[4] and graduated from Lewis and Clark High School.[5] She attended the University of Washington as an art major for three years[5] before graduating with a bachelor's degree in education from Eastern Washington University in 1970.[1][4]

Career

Nail appeared on Broadway in the productions Scratch (1971) and Lysistrata (1972)[4] before making her feature film debut in the exploitation film Switchblade Sisters (1975),[3] opposite Michael Sarrazin.[6] She subsequently starred in the Italian-American science fiction horror film The Visitor (1979), portraying the mother of a young daughter with telekinesis opposite Mel Ferrer, Shelley Winters, and John Huston.[4] She subsequently had a lead role in Larry Cohen's horror comedy Full Moon High (1981), opposite Adam Arkin.[7]

On television, Nail had guest-starring roles on Marcus Welby, M.D. (1974), The Rockford Files (1977), Hawaii Five-O (1978), and Cagney & Lacey (1988).[8]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role(s) Notes Ref.
1975 Switchblade Sisters Maggie [3]
1976 The Gumball Rally Jane – Porsche Team [9]
1978 Mother, Juggs & Speed Jennifer Juggston Television film [10]
1979 The Visitor Barbara Collins [11]
1981 Midnight Lace Luana Smiley Television film [8]
1981 The Choice Tina Television film [8]
1981 Full Moon High Ricky [8]
1981 Warp Speed Lt. Tanya Fleischer Television film [8]
1981 The Perfect Woman Julie Television film [8]
1983 I'm Going to Be Famous [8]

Television

Year Title Role(s) Notes Ref.
1974 Marcus Welby, M.D. June Allen 1 episode [8]
1975 S.W.A.T. Pam McCabe 1 episode [8]
1976 Harry O Jamie Episode: "Book of Changes" [12]
1977 Code R Cindy 1 episode [8]
1977 The Streets of San Francisco Tina Harrington 1 episode [8]
1977 The Rockford Files Mary Jo Flynn Episode: "The Dog and Pony Show" [13]
1977 James at 15 Mrs. Carson 1 episode [14]
1978 Hawaii Five-O Luana Watkins 1 episode [8]
1979 Young Maverick Rose 1 episode [8]
1981 Enos Dina 1 episode [8]
1988 Cagney & Lacey Mrs. Prentiss 1 episode [8]
1988 Designing Women Girl #1 1 episode [8]

Stage credits

Year Title Role(s) Notes Ref.
1968 Up the Down Staircase University of Washington Student Auditorium [5]
1971 Scratch Susan St. James Theatre [2]
1972 Lysistrata Woman B Brooks Atkinson Theatre [2]

References

  1. ^ a b "Junior League Names 32 Provisionals". Spokane Daily Chronicle. May 21, 1970. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c "Joanne Nail". Internet Broadway Database. Archived from the original on November 17, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d Webster, Dan (February 14, 1997). "Spokane Native Nail Stars In Forgettable 'Switchblade Sisters'". The Spokesman-Review. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e Parsons, OJ (January 12, 1979). "Joanne Nail: A Spokane actress is climbing the star-studded ladder of Hollywood". The Spokesman-Review. p. 48 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c "Joanne Nail in Play". The Spokesman-Review. April 30, 1968. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Joanne Nail-Ed". Bridgeport Telegram. February 4, 1976. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Senn 2017, p. 96.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Joanne Nail Credits". TV Guide. Archived from the original on August 17, 2022.
  9. ^ "The Gumball Rally". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on July 8, 2024.
  10. ^ "Hard-Driving Nail". New York Daily News. June 25, 1978. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "The Visitor". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. American Film Institute. Archived from the original on 23 November 2025.
  12. ^ Aldous & Gillies 2025, p. 176.
  13. ^ Murphy, Francis (October 21, 1977). "Television: NBC-TV to air 50-year special Sunday evening". The Oregonian. p. F11 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "7:00 PM – (Ch. 7): James at 15". The Observer. December 23, 1977. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.

Sources

  • Aldous, Steve; Gillies, Gary (2025). The Harry O Viewing Companion: History and Episodes of the Classic Detective Series. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-1-476-65410-2.
  • Senn, Bryan (2017). The Werewolf Filmography: 300+ Movies. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-1-476-62691-8.
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