Jean Smart

Jean Smart is an Emmy-winning screen and voice actress. She first cultivated an interest in acting in high school and went on to obtain a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington’s professional actor training program.

Smart began her professional career in the ‘70s by acting in regional theater productions along the west coast before moving to New York city to join Off-Broadway productions such as Last Summer at Bluefish Cove and Piaf. She also began to book minor TV roles and in 1983 was invited to star in the sitcom Teachers Only, spurring her decision to move to California.

Three years later, Smart landed her first starring role as Charlene Frazier Stillfield on the sitcom Designing Women. She found her niche with TV movies and acted in projects such as The Yearling (1994) and Sweet Home Alabama (2002). The actress went on to secure a guest role on Frasier, which earned her two Primetime Emmys for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. A few of her other highly acclaimed roles include her recurring appearance on Samantha Who?, Legion and Watchmen.

The actress returned to Broadway in 2000, earning a Tony nomination for her performance in The Man Who Came to Dinner.

Smart has also ventured into voice acting and has lent her voice to shows such as Kim Possible and The Pink Panther. In 2021, she signed on to the HBO dramedy Hacks as comedian Deborah Vance, for which she has earned multiple Emmys.

In 1987, the actress married Designing Women costar Richard Gilliland. They welcomed son Connor in 1989 and adopted son Forrest in 2009. Gilliland passed away in 2021 from heart complications.