Thursday, March 28, 2024

Cosby Accuser Joan Tarshis Was Network TV star Long Before She Met the Star

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As the Bill Cosby story continues to gather momentum, here’s an exclusive fascinating look at the person whose first-person recollection last Sunday and subsequent TV interviews on CNN, ET and Inside Edition put the story into overdrive – and inspired several other victims to come forward – Joan Tarshis.

Most media reports have described Tarshis as having been “an aspiring actress” at the time in 1969 that Cosby allegedly drugged and raped her.

But in 1969 she had already had a few years as a successful child TV star under her belt – including appearances in TV movies and a co-starring role for two seasons on the CBS Public Affairs TV series “Let’s Take A Trip” .

In her childhood years she went by her stage name – Joan Terrace.

By 1969, in addition to her acting carer she was also a budding comedy writer (for Godfrey Cambridge).

Here is a publicity photo of the 10-year-old Joan Tarshis in CBS’ acclaimed 1959 version of “Mrs Miniver” in which she starred alongside Maureen O’Hara.

joan tarshis joan_tarshis-1

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.
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