Editing Jean Smart

{{Short description|American actress (born 1951)}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| image                   = Jean Smart by Gage Skidmore.jpg
| caption                 = Smart at the 2018 [[San Diego Comic-Con]]
| birthname               = Jean Elizabeth Smart
| birth_date              = {{Birth date and age|1951|9|13}}
| birth_place             = [[Seattle|Seattle, Washington]], U.S.
| death_date              = 
| death_place             = 
| works                   = [[Jean Smart filmography|Full list]]
| occupation              = Actress
| alma_mater              = [[University of Washington]] ([[Bachelor of Fine Arts|BFA]])
| education               = <!-- education or alma_mater, not both per [[Template:Infobox person]] -->
| years_active            = 1975–present
| spouse                  = {{marriage|[[Richard Gilliland]]|1987|2021|end=died}}
| children                = 2
| awards                  = [[List of awards and nominations received by Jean Smart|Full list]]
}}

'''Jean Elizabeth Smart''' (born September 13, 1951)<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TPdWBAAAQBAJ|title=The Odd Couple on Stage and Screen: A History with Cast and Crew Profiles and an Episode Guide|page=115|first=Bob|last=Leszczak|publisher=McFarland|date=August 6, 2014|isbn=978-0786477906|via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> is an American actress. [[Jean Smart filmography|Her work]] includes both comedy and drama, and [[List of awards and nominations received by Jean Smart|her accolades]] include six [[Primetime Emmy Awards]], three [[Screen Actors Guild Awards]], two [[Golden Globe Awards]], and nominations for a [[Tony Award]] and a [[Grammy Award]].

Smart first gained prominence for her leading role as Charlene Frazier Stillfield on the [[CBS Television Network|CBS]] [[sitcom]] ''[[Designing Women]]'', in which she starred from 1986 to 1991. She went on to win six [[Primetime Emmy Awards]] for her roles as [[Minor characters on Frasier#Lana Gardner|Lana Gardner]] in the [[NBC]] series ''[[Frasier]]'' (2000–01), Regina Newley in the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] sitcom ''[[Samantha Who?]]'' (2007–09), and Deborah Vance in the [[Max (streaming service)|HBO Max]] comedy series ''[[Hacks (TV series)|Hacks]]'' (2021–present). She was Emmy-nominated for her roles in ''[[The District (TV series)|The District]]'' (2000–04), ''[[24 (TV series)|24]]'' (2006–07), ''[[Harry's Law]]'' (2011), ''[[Fargo (TV series)|Fargo]]'' (2015), ''[[Watchmen (TV series)|Watchmen]]'' (2019), and ''[[Mare of Easttown]]'' (2021). She also acted in [[FX (TV channel)|FX]]'s ''[[Legion (TV series)|Legion]]'' (2017–2019) and voiced [[List of Kim Possible characters#Family members|Ann Possible]] in the [[Disney Channel]] animated series ''[[Kim Possible]]'' (2002–2007).

On stage, she made her [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] debut portraying [[Marlene Dietrich]] in the biographical play ''[[Piaf (play)|Piaf]]'' (1981). She returned to Broadway in the revival of ''[[The Man Who Came to Dinner]]'' (2000), for which she was nominated for the [[Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play]]. Smart's film credits include ''[[The Brady Bunch Movie]]'' (1995), ''[[Sweet Home Alabama (film)|Sweet Home Alabama]]'' (2002), ''[[Garden State (film)|Garden State]]'' (2004), ''[[I Heart Huckabees]]'' (2004), ''[[Youth in Revolt (film)|Youth in Revolt]]'' (2009), ''[[The Accountant (2016 film)|The Accountant]]'' (2016), ''[[A Simple Favor (film)|A Simple Favor]]'' (2018), and ''[[Babylon (2022 film)|Babylon]]'' (2022). She received an [[Independent Spirit Award]] nomination for ''[[Guinevere (1999 film)|Guinevere]]'' (1999).

==Early life and education ==
Smart was born and raised in [[Seattle|Seattle, Washington]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20060313/jeansmart13/seattle-native-jean-smart-happily-back-in-the-tv-grind-for-a-stint-on-24|work=The Seattle Times|title=Seattle native Jean Smart happily back in the TV grind for a stint on "24"|author=Krug, Kurt Anthony|date=March 13, 2006|access-date=December 27, 2016|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202081556/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20060313&slug=jeansmart13|url-status=live}}</ref> the daughter of Kathleen Marie "Kay" (Sanders) and Douglas Alexander Smart, a teacher.<ref name=yahoobio/><ref>Stated on ''[[Who Do You Think You Are? (U.S. TV series)|Who Do You Think You Are?]]'', June 18, 2018</ref> She is the second of four children. Smart was diagnosed with [[type 1 diabetes]] when she was 13 years old.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/05/10/against-the-odds-4/|work=The Chicago Tribune|title=Against The Odds|author=Bandler, Michael J.|date=May 10, 1992|access-date=January 22, 2017}}</ref> Her father was a first-generation Scottish-American.<ref name=wdy1>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvinsider.com/693813/who-do-you-think-you-are-season-finale-jean-smart/|title='Who Do You Think You Are?' Season Finale: Jean Smart Discovers Family From 1635|first=Ileane|last=Rudolph|website=[[TV Insider]]|date=June 17, 2018 |access-date=3 May 2021}}</ref> On Season 10 of the television show ''[[Who Do You Think You Are? (U.S. TV series)|Who Do You Think You Are?]]'', Smart discovered she is a maternal descendant of [[Dorcas Hoar]], one of the last women convicted of witchcraft during the [[Salem witch trials]].<ref name=wdy1/>

She is a 1969 graduate of [[Ballard High School (Seattle)|Ballard High School]] in Seattle; it was there that she gained an interest in acting in the drama program. She graduated from the [[University of Washington]] Professional Actors Training Program with a [[Bachelor of Fine Arts|BFA]].<ref name="yahoobio">{{cite web|title=Jean Smart – Biography|url=https://movies.yahoo.com/person/jean-smart/biography.html|work=[[Yahoo! Movies]]|access-date=16 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003053223/https://movies.yahoo.com/person/jean-smart/biography.html|archive-date=2012-10-03}}</ref>

==Career==
===1975–1999: Theater roles and ''Designing Women'' ===
[[File:Jean Smart as Babs in production of Mrs. California.jpg|thumb|left|Smart in ''Mrs. California'' at [[Los Angeles]] [[Public Theatre]]]]
After graduating from college, Smart began her career appearing in regional theater throughout the [[Pacific Northwest]], including in Washington, [[Alaska]], and [[Oregon]].<ref name=tt/> She performed with the [[Seattle Repertory Theater]] as well as the [[Oregon Shakespeare Festival]] in [[Ashland, Oregon]].<ref name="yahoobio"/>  In the mid-1970s, she moved to New York City with college friend and fellow actress, Elizabeth Wingate (Lavery), and began working in [[Off-Broadway]] and professional regional productions.<ref name="tt">{{cite web|url=http://www.totaltheater.com/?q=node/504|work=Total Theater|title=Jean Smart Commutes From TV & Film To The Stage|author=Nassour, Ellis|date=July 2000|access-date=January 22, 2017}}</ref> In 1980, she appeared as [[Lady Macbeth]] at the [[Pittsburgh Public Theater]] opposite [[Tom Atkins (actor)|Tom Atkins]] as Macbeth and [[Keith Fowler]] as Macduff. In 1981, Smart was nominated for a [[Drama Desk Award]] for her performance in the [[Off-Broadway]] play ''[[Last Summer at Bluefish Cove]]''.<ref name="yahoobio"/> In February 1981, Smart appeared in the [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] production of ''[[Piaf (play)|Piaf]]'' playing [[Marlene Dietrich]],<ref name=tt/> a role which she later reprised for the 1984 television version.<ref name="yahoobio"/>

In addition to theater, Smart began working in television in several smaller to mid-size guest parts in the late 1970s and early 1980s, appearing on ''[[The Facts of Life (TV series)|The Facts of Life]]'', ''[[Alice (American TV series)|Alice]]'', and ''[[Remington Steele]]'' among several others.<ref name="yahoobio"/> According to Smart, after roles on the short-lived series ''[[Teachers Only]]'' and ''[[Reggie (TV series)|Reggie]]'' in 1983, "casting directors just decided I was funny. When that happens, you usually get pigeonholed, but I was fortunate. I got to move back and forth."<ref name=tt/> The following year, she had a supporting part in the thriller ''[[Flashpoint (1984 film)|Flashpoint]]'' (1984).{{Sfn|Pitts|2013|p=111}}

[[File:Jean Smart (255229468).jpg|thumb|right|Smart at the 1991 [[Primetime Emmy Awards]] ceremony]] 
In 1985, Smart was cast in the starring role of Charlene Frazier Stillfield on the comedy series ''[[Designing Women]]'',{{Sfn|Shapiro|Jicha|2015|p=142}} a role she played from the show's beginning in 1986 through its fifth season. After leaving ''Designing Women'', her work mainly concentrated on made-for-television films and supporting film roles. Notably, she portrayed [[serial killer]] [[Aileen Wuornos]] in the television film ''Overkill: The Aileen Wuornos Story'' (1992), followed by a supporting part in the [[black comedy]] ''[[Mistress (1992 film)|Mistress]]'' (1992), opposite [[Robert De Niro]] and [[Eli Wallach]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/83767/mistress|work= Turner Classic Movies|title=Mistress (1992) – Overview|publisher=Rovi|access-date=December 29, 2016}}</ref> Critic [[Roger Ebert]] praised the film and called Smart's character portrayal "calculating".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mistress-1992|work= Chicago Sun-Times|title=Mistress Movie Review|author=Ebert, Roger|date=August 21, 1992|access-date=January 22, 2017}}</ref> The following year, she appeared in the family drama ''[[Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey]]'' (1993), and as Ory Baxter in a television version of ''[[The Yearling (1994 film)|The Yearling]]'' (1994). She was then cast as Sally Brewton in the television miniseries ''[[Scarlett (TV miniseries)|Scarlett]]'' (1995), and appeared in a supporting role in ''[[The Brady Bunch Movie]]'' (1995).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-brady-bunch-movie/cast/130540/|work=TV Guide|title=The Brady Bunch Movie Cast and Crew|access-date=January 22, 2017}}</ref> She also appeared in the television thriller film ''A Stranger In Town'' (1995) opposite [[Gregory Hines]].<ref>{{cite journal|journal= [[Jet (magazine)|Jet]]|date=July 15, 1996|title=A Stranger in Town|series=Television|page=66|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4D8DAAAAMBAJ&q=jean+smart+stranger+in+town&pg=PA66}}</ref>

In 1995, Smart was cast as the lead in the comedy series ''[[High Society (1995 TV series)|High Society]]'', which co-starred [[Mary McDonnell]] and ran for 13 episodes,<ref name="yahoobio"/> followed by a role opposite [[Nancy McKeon]] in another short-lived CBS sitcom, ''[[Style & Substance]]''. Other roles included a part in [[Neil Simon]]'s ''[[The Odd Couple II]]'' (1998) and as Deborah Sloane in the drama ''[[Guinevere (1999 film)|Guinevere]]'' (1999).<ref name="yahoobio"/> She had a lead role in the comedy ''[[Forever Fabulous]]'' (1999) as an aging beauty queen.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.moviefone.com/movie/forever-fabulous/20054046/main/|work=MovieFone.com |title= Forever Fabulous (1999) |access-date=January 21, 2017}}</ref>

===2000–2019: Television roles and acclaim ===
In 2000, Smart was cast as [[List of Frasier characters#Lana Gardner|Lana Gardner]] in the critically acclaimed [[NBC]] comedy series ''[[Frasier]]'', acting opposite [[Kelsey Grammer]], set in her hometown of Seattle. She went on to win two [[Primetime Emmy Awards]] for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress - Comedy Series|Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series]].<ref name= berkshire>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/tv/awards/jean-smart-emmys-fraiser-1201835047/|work=Variety|title=Jean Smart Remembers Her Emmy-Winning 'Frasier' Guest Role|author=Berkshire, Geoff|date= August 11, 2016|access-date= January 22, 2016}}</ref> Reflecting on the role, Smart said: "I had loved that role on ''Frasier'' so much, particularly that first episode. It's nice to get nominated and win for something you were particularly proud of. At the time, I was a little bit snobby about doing guest parts. Based on what I don't know. It wasn't something I was seeking. But my agent said, 'You have to read this.' I thought it was hilarious, and the show was brilliant, so I didn't even hesitate. I remember when we did the table read with the rest of the cast, we could hardly get through it we were laughing so hard."<ref name= berkshire />

The same year, she was in the company of the second Broadway revival production of ''[[The Man Who Came to Dinner]]'', which earned her a [[Tony Award]] nomination.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roundabouttheatre.org/Shows-Events/Events/Benefit-Readings/The-Man-Who-Came-to-Dinner.aspx|work=Roundabout Theatre Company|title=The Man Who Came to Dinner|access-date=January 22, 2017}}</ref> Soon after, she landed roles in several high-profile films including ''[[Sweet Home Alabama (film)|Sweet Home Alabama]]'' (2002), playing the mother-in-law of [[Reese Witherspoon]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Sweet Home Alabama (2002)|url=http://www.dustinputman.com/reviews/s/02_sweethome.htm|access-date=23 November 2012}}</ref> and in the comedy ''[[Bringing Down the House (film)|Bringing Down The House]]'' (2002), opposite [[Queen Latifah]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Bringing Down the House|url=http://movies.about.com/library/weekly/blbringingdownpicsa.htm|work=[[About.com]]|access-date=23 November 2012|archive-date=November 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118165310/http://movies.about.com/library/weekly/blbringingdownpicsa.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> She also had a supporting role in the independent drama ''[[Garden State (film)|Garden State]]'' (2004). Between 2000 and 2004, Smart played the role of Supervisor of Detectives and ex-wife to [[Chief Jack Mannion]] of the Metropolitan Police Department on ''[[The District]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kuklenski|first=Valerie|title='The District' Gets Smart – Jean Smart|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2001/02/26/the-district-gets-smart-jean-smart/|access-date=23 November 2012|work= [[Orlando Sentinel]] |date=February 26, 2001}}</ref> From 2002 to 2007, she voiced Dr. Ann Possible in ''[[Kim Possible]]'', and also provided the voice of the alcoholic chain-smoking, Pickles Oblong, on ''[[The Oblongs]]''. In 2004, she reprised her voice role as Reba Heyerdahl in an episode of the [[Nickelodeon]] series ''[[Hey Arnold!]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://screenrant.com/nickelodeon-hey-arnold-forgotten-guest-stars/|title= 10 Hey Arnold! Guest Stars You Are Just Finding Out About Now|website= ScreenRant|date= July 14, 2020|accessdate= May 16, 2024}}</ref> The same year, she was cast in a lead role in the short-lived ''[[Center of the Universe (TV series)|Center of the Universe]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|last= Fonseca|first=Nicholas|title=Smart and Soul|url= https://ew.com/article/2004/12/13/jean-smart-new-indie-queen/|access-date=November 23, 2012| magazine= [[Entertainment Weekly]]|date= December 13, 2004}}</ref> She also had a supporting role in [[David O. Russell]]'s ''[[I Heart Huckabees]]'' (2004).<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2004/12/13/jean-smart-new-indie-queen/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|title=Jean Smart is the new indie queen |author= Fonseca, Nicholas|date= December 13, 2004|access-date=January 22, 2017}}</ref>{{Sfn|Russell|Baena|2004|p=vi}}

[[File:Jean Smart at 2008 HBO Emmys party 2.jpg|thumb|190px|left|Smart after her Primetime Emmy Award win on September 21, 2008]]
In January 2006, Smart joined the cast of the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] series ''[[24 (TV series)|24]]'', playing the mentally unstable [[First Lady of the United States]], [[Martha Logan]], to actor [[Gregory Itzin]]'s President [[Charles Logan (24 character)|Charles Logan]].<ref>{{cite news|last= Keck| first= William|title=Fox's '24' makes Smart move|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-01-09-jean-smart_x.htm?csp=N009|access-date=16 November 2012|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=January 9, 2006}}</ref> She received back-to-back [[Emmy]] nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series and Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama for the role in 2006 and 2007.<ref name= berkshire /> She also appeared in several films between 2006 and 2010, including the [[Curtis Hanson]] drama, ''[[Lucky You (film)|Lucky You]]'' (2007), opposite [[Drew Barrymore]]; ''[[Youth in Revolt (film)|Youth in Revolt]]'' (2009); and the independent comedy ''[[Barry Munday]]'' (2010).<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.theatermania.com/dallas-theater/news/03-2010/chris-darienzos-barry-munday-with-jean-smart-patri_25738.html|work= TheaterMania.com |title=Chris D'Arienzo's Barry Munday, with Jean Smart, Patrick Wilson, et al. to Bow at Southwest Film Festival|last= Propst | first= Andy|date= March 12, 2010|access-date=January 22, 2017}}</ref> Smart won her third Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for portraying Samantha's overbearing mother in the sitcom ''[[Samantha Who?]]'', opposite [[Christina Applegate]],<ref>{{cite news|title=JEAN SMART 'SAMANTHA WHO?'; Roles of the Season, Maybe a Lifetime|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D00E0D91E3FF93BA35755C0A96E9C8B63| access-date=November 23, 2012| work= [[The New York Times]]|date=June 8, 2008}}</ref> which she played from 2007 to 2009. She later was cast as Hawaii Governor Pat Jameson during the first season of the CBS-TV remake of ''[[Hawaii Five-0 (2010 TV series)|Hawaii Five-0]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last= Collis|first= Clark|title=Jean Smart says 'Aloha' to 'Hawaii Five-O' remake|url=http://news-briefs.ew.com/2010/03/08/jean-smart-says-aloha-to-hawaii-five-o-remake/|access-date=23 November 2012|newspaper=EW|date=March 10, 2010}}</ref> In 2012, Smart was nominated for a [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series]] for her role in ''[[Harry's Law]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/nominations/2012/Outstanding%20Guest%20Actress%20In%20A%20Drama%20Series|title=Primetime Emmy Awards|access-date=November 16, 2012}}</ref> She then had a supporting role in the [[Lifetime (network)|Lifetime]] film ''[[Call Me Crazy: A Five Film]]'' (2013).

In 2015, Smart starred in the [[Fargo season 2|second season]] of the [[FX (TV channel)|FX]] television series ''[[Fargo (TV series)|Fargo]]'' as [[Floyd Gerhardt]]. Floyd's husband heads Fargo's most prominent organized crime syndicate, and she is forced to take over after her husband suffers a debilitating stroke. She later finds herself having to lead the Gerhardt dynasty and deal with her sons, who are vying to replace their father. For her performance, Smart won the [[Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Movie/Miniseries]] and was nominated for the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie]]. She worked with Hawley again on ''[[Legion (TV series)|Legion]]'',  in which she played Melanie Bird, a therapist who works with the [[Legion (Marvel Comics)|eponymous character]]. In 2016, Smart had a role in the thriller ''[[The Accountant (2016 film)|The Accountant]]'', opposite [[Ben Affleck]], [[Anna Kendrick]], and [[John Lithgow]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://people.com/movies/the-accountant-review-ben-affleck-crunches-numbers-and-crushes-enemies-in-enjoyable-thriller/|work= People|title=The Accountant Review: Ben Affleck Crunches Numbers and Crushes Enemies in Enjoyable Thriller|author= Gliatto, Tom| date=October 13, 2016|access-date =December 30, 2016}}</ref> In 2018, Smart played a guardian angel, to co-star [[Candace Cameron]], in the [[Hallmark Channel]] television film ''A Shoe Addict's Christmas'', which aired Sunday November 25, 2018.

In 2019, Smart portrayed Laurie Juspeczyk, the former [[Silk Spectre]], in the [[HBO]] [[superhero]] drama [[Limited series (television)|limited series]] ''[[Watchmen (TV series)|Watchmen]]'' based on characters from the [[Watchmen|graphic novel of the same name]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/11/jean-smart-laurie-blake-watchmen-hbo-interview|title=Jean Smart on Playing Watchmen's Hard-Boiled Laurie Blake|first=Sonia|last=Saraiya|magazine=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|access-date=3 May 2021}}</ref> Smart's performance was singled out by critics including Eric Deggans of [[NPR]] who described her performance as "compelling" and "the always-excellent Jean Smart [playing] a cynical, heroically-damaged middle-aged version of Laurie Juspecyk."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/10/18/770754377/who-watches-this-watchmen-i-will-and-you-should|title= Who Watches This 'Watchmen?' I Will, And You Should|website= NPR|date= October 18, 2019|accessdate= May 13, 2021|last1= Deggans|first1= Eric}}</ref> The series received critical acclaim winning 11 [[Primetime Emmy Awards]] including [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series|Outstanding Limited Series]]. Smart was nominated for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie]] and received the [[Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series]] for her performance.

=== 2020–present: ''Hacks'' and return to Broadway ===
In 2021, Smart appeared in the seven-episode [[HBO]] [[crime drama]] limited series ''[[Mare of Easttown]]'' set in a small town in [[Pennsylvania]]. The series stars [[Kate Winslet]] as a grizzled detective with a supporting cast that includes [[Guy Pearce]], [[Julianne Nicholson]], and [[Evan Peters]]. Her role as Winslet's mother has earned her critical acclaim with Jackson McHenry of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' writing, "It's one of those essential truths of TV, as ''Watchmen'' and ''Legion'' displayed recently, that if you need a tough-as-nails broad, you hire Jean Smart. Smart has the voice and the timing to play a stern matriarch, and whenever she's onscreen in ''Mare of Easttown'', she wrenches away the spotlight like she's grabbing a juice box."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/article/mare-of-easttown-jean-smart-helen-fahey-performance-sad-funny.html|title= A Celebration of Jean Smart's Sad-Funny Work on Mare of Easttown|website= Variety|date= May 11, 2021|accessdate= May 13, 2021}}</ref>

She also stars as the lead in the [[Max (streaming service)|HBO Max]] dark comedy series ''[[Hacks (TV series)|Hacks]]'' (2021), playing a legendary Las Vegas comedy diva looking to appeal to a younger audience. ''[[USA Today]]'' declared Smart, at the age of 69, "The Queen of HBO", after appearing in ''Watchmen'', ''Mare of Easttown'' and now ''Hacks''. Glen Weldon of ''[[NPR]]'' praised Smart's performance in his review, writing, "I don't know if the role of Deborah Vance was written for Smart, but she certainly makes it seem like it was...Smart's also convincing as a standup, performing Deborah's vaguely hokey routines with a naturalistic flair as if she was born to it."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/05/13/996117911/hacks-a-comedic-generational-divide-gets-bridged-jean-smartly|title= 'Hacks': A Comedic Generational Divide Gets Bridged, (Jean) Smartly|website= NPR|date= May 13, 2021|accessdate= May 13, 2021|last1= Weldon|first1= Glen}}</ref> She won two consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series|Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series]] (2021 and 2022).<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.emmys.com/bios/jean-smart|title= Jean Smart – Emmy Award, Nominations and Wins|website= Television Academy|accessdate= May 16, 2024}}</ref> She won the [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series]] again in 2024.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAfoSikyHJk |title=Lead Actress In A Comedy Series: 76th Emmy Awards |date=2024-09-15 |last=Television Academy |access-date=2024-09-16 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

In 2021, Smart co-starred in the romantic comedy film ''[[Senior Moment]]'' with [[William Shatner]] and [[Christopher Lloyd]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/ephraim-lopez-jean-smart-william-shatner-comedy-senior-moment-1202417356/ |title=Ephraim Lopez, Jean Smart Join William Shatner Comedy 'Senior Moment' |work=Variety |date=May 8, 2017}}</ref> In 2022, she played Peg, the grandmother of [[Kiernan Shipka]]'s character Bea Johnson, in [[Wildflower (2022 film)|''Wildflower'']].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gyarkye |first=Lovia |date=2022-09-12 |title='Wildflower' Review: Kiernan Shipka Plays the Daughter of Neurodivergent Parents in an Endearing Coming-of-Age Film |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/wildflower-film-kiernan-shipka-jacki-weaver-jean-smart-1235207017/ |access-date=2022-12-21 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2022, Smart appeared in [[Damien Chazelle]]'s 1920s [[Period film|period]] [[comedy-drama]] film ''[[Babylon (2022 film)|Babylon]]'' as [[gossip columnist]] Elinor St. John.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/babylon-costume-design-jean-smart-1234808811/|title= Dressing to Be Seen: How the 'Babylon' Costumes Defined Jean Smart's Gossip Reporter|website= [[IndieWire]]|date= February 14, 2023|accessdate= May 16, 2024}}</ref> On September 28, 2024, she hosted the season 50 premiere episode of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title='Saturday Night Live' kicks off 50th season with Jean Smart, Jelly Roll, three new cast members |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/entertainment-celebrity/saturday-night-live-kicks-off-50th-season-with-jean-smart-jelly-roll-three-new-cast-members/ar-AA1qVbJU?ocid=U147IDHP |via=MSN.com |access-date=2024-09-25 |last=Thompson |first=Stephanie |work=WBRE Wilkes-Barre |date=September 20, 2024}}</ref> Zach Vasquez of ''[[The Guardian]]'' wrote of her hosting duties, "Smart is no slouch – a great dramatic and comedic actor of stage and screen, she nails her monologue, delivering jokes like the pro comic she plays on ''Hacks'', before singing a rendition of [[Cole Porter]]’s "[[I Happen to Like New York]]."<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/sep/29/saturday-night-live-jean-smart-recap|title= Saturday Night Live: Jean Smart can't save a lazy, light-on-laughs season opening|website= [[The Guardian]]|date= September 29, 2024|accessdate= October 19, 2024|last1= Vasquez|first1= Zach}}</ref> It was announced that Smart would return to Broadway in a one-woman play ''Call Me Izzy'' written by Jamie Wax at [[Studio 54]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.theatermania.com/news/hacks-star-jean-smart-sets-broadway-return-this-summer-in-new-solo-play_1766836/|title= Hacks Star Jean Smart Sets Broadway Return This Summer in New Solo Play|website= TheaterMania|accessdate= March 10, 2025}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Smart was married to actor [[Richard Gilliland]] for 33 years until his death in March 2021 after a brief illness.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/richard-gilliland-designing-women-actor-and-husband-of-jean-smart-dies-at-71-4156084/|title=Richard Gilliland, 'Designing Women' Actor and Husband of Jean Smart, Dies at 71|date=25 March 2021|access-date=13 May 2021|publisher=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Mike|last=Barnes}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://people.com/jean-smart-recalls-losing-her-husband-of-35-years-exclusive-8649300 |title=Jean Smart Recalls Losing Her Husband of 35 Years: 'It Doesn't Make Any Sense' (Exclusive) |last=Vazquez |first=Ingrid |work=People |date=May 16, 2024 |access-date=October 3, 2024}}</ref> They met while working on the set of ''[[Designing Women]]'' (1986–93) where he played J.D. Shackelford, the boyfriend of [[Annie Potts]]'s character, Mary Jo Shively. Smart also worked with her husband in [[24 season 5|season 5]] of ''[[24 (TV series)|24]]''; he played Captain Stan Cotter in one episode, while she starred in the main cast role of First Lady [[Martha Logan]].<ref>{{cite podcast|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/05/12/996175170/from-designing-women-to-hacks-jean-smarts-career-is-still-going-strong|title=From 'Designing Women' to 'Hacks', Jean Smart's Career Is Still Going Strong|website=Fresh Air|publisher=WHYY|host=Terry Gross|date=12 May 2021|access-date=13 May 2021}}</ref>

They have two sons; they had their first child in 1989 and adopted their second in 2009.<ref name=yahoobio/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.today.com/parents/family/jean-smart-kids-rcna155365 |title=All about Jean Smart's kids: Meet Connor and Forrest |work=Today |first=Rachel Paula |last=Abrahamson |date=June 4, 2024 |access-date=October 3, 2024}}</ref>

==Acting credits and accolades ==
{{main|Jean Smart filmography|List of awards and nominations received by Jean Smart}}

She is the recipient of [[List of awards and nominations received by Jean Smart|numerous awards]], including six [[Primetime Emmy Awards]] and nominations for a [[Tony Award]] and [[Grammy Award]]. Smart has been nominated for twelve [[Primetime Emmy Awards]] for her work in television, winning twice for her comedic performance in a guest-starring role in ''[[Frasier]]'' (2000, 2001), once for her performance in ''[[Samantha Who?]]'' (2008), and three times back to back for her performance in ''[[Hacks (TV series)|Hacks]]'' (2021, 2022, 2024).<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.emmys.com/bios/jean-smart|title= Jean Smart|website= Emmys.com|accessdate= May 13, 2021}}</ref> She was also nominated for the [[Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play]] for her performance in the [[Broadway (theatre)|Broadway]] revival of the [[George S. Kaufman]] play ''[[The Man Who Came to Dinner]]'' (2001).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.playbill.com/person/jean-smart-vault-0000087683|title= Jean Smart|website= Playbill.com|accessdate= May 13, 2021}}</ref> In 2016, Smart was nominated for the [[Grammy Award for Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling Recording|Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album]] for ''[[Patience and Sarah]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/jean-smart/19373|title= Jean Smart|website= Grammys.com|accessdate= June 29, 2024}}</ref> 

In 2000 she earned an [[Independent Spirit Award]] nomination for ''Guinevere'' and in 2007, she earned a [[Screen Actors Guild Award]] nomination along with the [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series|ensemble cast]] of the drama series ''[[24 (TV series)|24]]''. Smart consecutively won the [[Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series]] for ''[[Hacks (TV series)|Hacks]]'' in 2022 and 2023, and then once again in 2025. Smart is the most awarded performer at the [[Critics' Choice Television Awards]], with five wins from six nominations. Smart is only the second actress, after [[Betty White]], to win all three comedy Emmy nominations – comedy lead, supporting, and guest categories.<ref>{{cite web |author=McLaughlin |first1=Kelly |last2=Guerrasio |first2=Jason |date=2021-09-19 |title=Jean Smart makes history at the Emmys and joins Betty White as the only actresses to sweep the comedy categories |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/jean-smart-makes-history-emmys-015854019.html |accessdate=2022-08-20 |publisher=Yahoo.com}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

'''Sources'''
*{{cite book|author=Pitts, Michael R.|title=Western Movies: A Guide to 5,105 Feature Films|edition=2|publisher=McFarland|year=2013|ref={{SfnRef|Pitts|2013}}|isbn=978-0-786-46372-5}}
*{{cite book|author1=Russell, David O.|author2=Jeff Baena|title=I Heart Huckabees: The Shooting Script|publisher=HarperCollins|year=2004|ref={{SfnRef|Russell|Baena|2004}}|isbn=978-1-557-04656-7|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/ihearthuckabeess0000russ}}
*{{cite book|author1=Shapiro, Mitchell E.|author2=Tom Jicha|title=The Top 100 American Situation Comedies: An Objective Ranking|publisher=McFarland|ref={{SfnRef|Shapiro|Jicha|2015}}|year=2015|isbn= 978-1-476-66404-0}}
*{{cite book|editor=Willis, John|title=Theatre World 2000-2001: Special Tony Honor Edition|publisher=Applause Theatre & Cinema Books|ref={{SfnRef|Willis|2004}}|year=2004|isbn=978-1-557-83521-5}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Jean Smart}}
{{wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb name|5443}}
* {{IBDB name}}
* {{iobdb name|4783}}

{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of awards and nominations received by Jean Smart|Awards for Jean Smart]]
|list =
{{AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Actress (TV/Streaming)}}
{{Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series}}
{{Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Drama Supporting Actress}}
{{Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Movie/Miniseries Supporting Actress}}
{{EmmyAward ComedyLeadActress}}
{{EmmyAward ComedySupportingActress}}
{{EmmyAward ComedyGuestActress}}
{{Golden Globe Award Best Actress TV Comedy}}
{{Satellite Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy}}
{{ScreenActorsGuildAward FemaleTVComedy}}
{{TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Comedy}}
{{TCA Career Achievement Award}}
}}

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[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century American actresses]]
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[[Category:Actresses from Seattle]]
[[Category:American film actresses]]
[[Category:American people of Scottish descent]]
[[Category:American stage actresses]]
[[Category:American television actresses]]
[[Category:American voice actresses]]
[[Category:Ballard High School (Seattle, Washington) alumni]]
[[Category:Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award winners]]
[[Category:Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award winners]]
[[Category:Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series Screen Actors Guild Award winners]]
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[[Category:University of Washington School of Drama alumni]]