Slim, pretty, and appealing brunette Laurie Walters was born on January 8, 1947 in San Francisco, California. Walters switched to theater and briefly attended UC Santa Barbara. Walters achieved her greatest enduring popularity as endearing screwball Joannie Bradford on the hit sitcom "Eight Is Enough." Last acting job was "An Eight is Enough Wedding" in 1989. She's 55 years old and has one daughter. Laurie Walters, Actress: Columbo. 4 External links. Laurie Jean Walters Slade (born January 8, 1947 in San Francisco, California, United States) is a retired American actress, best known for playing Joanie Bradford on Eight Is Enough, which aired from 1977 until 1981 on ABC . She's has some mental issues since the show went off the air, but seems to be doing better now, according to an interview I saw with her about 5-6 years ago. As of 2000, she's been working as a caretaker in a nursing home in Pennsylvania. Laurie enrolled in Humboldt State College and originally planned on majoring in wildlife conservation. Following the cancellation of "Eight Is Enough" Laurie continued to act on episodic television and in a couple of "Eight Is Enough" reunion TV specials.