Jean Smart graduated from the University of Washington’s Professional Actors’ Program and immediately began performing in theaters around Seattle, according to the Ballard High School Foundation. She also participated in the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. A few years later, she headed to New York City and landed a role in the off-Broadway production of ‘Last Summer at Bluefish Cove’, which earned her a New York Critics’ Drama Desk Award and a commercial on television. The next year, she was cast in Broadway’s ‘Piaf’.
By 1982, Jean was off to Los Angeles to pursue a television career, which turned out to be a successful move. She immediately began landing roles, and in 1983, was in a sitcom, ‘Teachers Only,’ which lasted one season. Her big break came in 1986, when she was cast as Charlene in ‘Designing Women’, which ran until 1991. She is also known for ‘Samantha Who?’ (2007 – 2009), ‘Legion’ (2017 – 2019), and ‘Babylon’ (2020).
She’s a five-time Emmy winner, most recently winning the trophy for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series for HBO Max’s ‘Hacks’. Scroll on to see photos of the talented star, who has enjoyed a five-decades-long career.
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