Jean Smart

Jean Smart met her husband Richard Gilliland when the latter guest-starred on ‘Designing Women.’ The two got married in 1987.

The couple has a son, Connor Douglas Gilliland, who was born on October 25, 1989. They also have a daughter, Bonnie Kathleen Gilliland, who was adopted from China in May 2009.

Jean Smart was born as Jean Elizabeth Smart on September 13, 1951, in Seattle, Washington, USA to Kay and Douglas Smart. Her parents were a homemaker and a teacher. She has three siblings.

At the age of 13, Smart was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. She attended Ballard High School and graduated from there in 1969. It was here that she first became interested in the acting field.

She then attended the University of Washington Professional Actors Training Program and graduated with a BFA.

After graduating from college, Jean Smart started her acting career by appearing in theater productions throughout the Pacific Northwest. In the mid-1970s, she flew over to New York City and began working in Off-Broadway as well as professional regional productions.

From 1980-1981, she acted in the play ‘Last Summer at Bluefish Cove’. Soon after this, she performed in the Broadway production of ‘Piaf,’ appearing as Marlene Dietrich.

In addition to theater, the actress started working in television, playing numerous roles in the late 1970s and early 1980s. She appeared in the shows ‘Reggie’, ‘Teachers Only’, ‘Maximum Security’ as well as in the television films ‘Single Bars, Single Women’ and ‘Piaf’.

During this time, Smart was also featured in the 1984 movies ‘Flashpoint’ and ‘Protocol’. In 1985, she was cast as Charlene Frazier Stillfield in the comedy series ‘Designing Women’. She played this role from the show’s beginning till its fifth season.

In 1986, the American beauty played Sister Marie in the flick ‘Fire with Fire’. Soon after this, she performed in the film ‘Project X’ as well as in the TV movie ‘Place at the Table’.

Jean Smart voiced the character of Dr. Ann Possible on Disney’s ‘Kim Possible’ from 2002 to 2007. The series was a massive hit among the audience and also received acclaim from the critics.

She played the role of Regina Newly in the drama ‘Samantha Who?’ from 2007 to 2009. Her portrayal of the title character’s overbearing mother earned her the Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.