Joan Severance was born and raised in 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. Her success was immediate and she graced the covers of magazines , walked the cat walks for all the top designers and landed campaigns for CHANEL, VERSACE and ARMANI to name a few. Success followed her in NYC with endorsements of famous brands like CLAIROL, L’OREAL, REVLON and MAYBELLINE and high profile editorials in VOGUE and BAZAAR.
At the same time, Ms. Severance studied with Chef Roger Verge from the Moulin Du Mougin in the South of France. She was the Chef/Owner of a restaurant in upstate NY of which she also designed and renovated, part owner of the GOOD FOOD catering company which catered the closing party of the Statue of Liberty when it underwent renovations in the early 80”s and taught commercial acting classes.
Ms. Severance headed to Hollywood in 1986 and within 6 months she landed her first role on a major television series for CBS called WISEGUY, starring Ken Wahl and Kevin Spacey.
Hollywood took notice and director Arthur Hiller cast her in SEE NO EVIL HEAR NO EVIL with Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor and her costar from Wiseguy, Kevin Spacey. That same year she did BIRD ON A WIRE with Mel Gibson and Goldie Hawn. Since then she has starred in over 30 films with the likes of Mark Harmon, Ann Margret, Willie Nelson to mention a few.
Appearing in over 20 TV series; co-staring aside names like Robert Urich on UPN’s LOVE BOAT: THE NEXT WAVE , Tatum O’Neal on WICKED WICKED GAMES and guest appearances on many hit shows such as LA LAW, CSI:MIAMI, ONE TREE HILL, AMERICAN HORROR STORY and Showtime’s “MASTERS OF SEX”. As well as the opportunity to design a gown for the PlayChic fashion show in Chicago.
Always active, Ms. Severance holds a Bachelors of Natural Health from CCNH, is a certified DNA Theta Healer and a Psyche-K® Facilitator. She has also created a workshop called Severance Play which uses acting as a fun way to transition during, through and/or after divorce…open to both men and women.
Her game, txTylz, is available at www.txtylz.com. This patent pending game has players forming anything that makes sense within a time limit. Proper spelling and grammar are not necessary and phonetic use is encouraged. The game is multi-lingual and lends to language learning. This quick fast past game enhances creative, critical & logical thinking. txTylz™ is 100% hand crafted and made in the USA from biodegradable sustainable natural sources.
Ms. Severance is passionate about lending support and information for Vitiligo, a condition she has had since a young girl.. More information is available at VITILIGO.
Ms. Severance first book : Manifest Your Mate, a fun workbook/journal style book about using the Laws of Attraction to bring Mr. Right into your life, was published in 2017. She currently is working on her second book about her life with the curious condition called Vitiligo.
Her profession when she is not acting is Interior Design, which encompasses everything from complete remodels, designing and fabricating custom fixtures and furniture to exterior garden landscape design and living spaces.