Marla Pennington

Marla Lynn Pennington (born March 5, 1954) is an American former actress. She is best known for her role as Joan Anderson Lawson on Small Wonder, her last acting role to date.

Her other television credits include Soap, Diff'rent Strokes, Magnum, P.I., Charlie's Angels, Happy Days, The Incredible Hulk, and General Hospital. Pennington's film credits include National Lampoon's Class Reunion, and The Day of the Locust.

While Small Wonder was her last acting role, she appeared in a brief reunion with her co-stars on The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet on January 14, 2009. She provided commentary to the Small Wonder season 1 DVD set, released in February 2010.

In 1988, Pennington married entertainment lawyer Tom Rowan, son of comedian Dan Rowan (of Rowan and Martin fame) with whom she had a son, Dan, and a daughter, Kat. Upon Small Wonder ending in 1989, she retired from acting to devote time to her family. Rowan died in 2021, leaving Pennington a widow.

Filmography Film Year Film Role Notes 1976 Jim the World's Greatest Jan Alternative title: Story of a Teenager 1982 National Lampoon's Class Reunion Mary Beth Alternative title: Class Reunion Television Year Title Role Notes 1974 Lucas Tanner Jane Benson 1 episode 1976 Charlie's Angels Jenny Warren Episode: "Bullseye" 1976–1979 General Hospital Samantha Livingston Chandler #2 Unknown episodes1979 How the West Was Won Blossom Episode: "Luke" Buffalo Soldiers Girl Television movie 1979–1981 Soap Leslie Walker 17 episodes 1980 The Incredible Hulk Miriam Charles Episode: "Deathmask" 1981 Magnum, P.I. Carol Ann Little Episode: "Billy Joe Bob" 1982 Happy Days Cynthia Brannigan Episodes: "A Touch of Classical""Hi Yo, Fonzie Away" 1983 Herndon Laura Television movie 1984 Diff'rent Strokes Nurse Joan Fleming 1 episode 1985–1989 Small Wonder Joan Lawson 96 episodes