Jean Smart

Biography

Jean Smart is an American actress whose work has moved between comedy and drama. Born and raised in Seattle, she began in regional theater and off-Broadway before making her Broadway debut in Piaf (1981). She first became widely known as Charlene Frazier Stillfield on Designing Women from 1986 to 1991, then won Emmy Awards for guest work on Frasier, for Samantha Who?, and for the lead role of Deborah Vance on Hacks. Her films include Flashpoint (1984), The Brady Bunch Movie (1995), Guinevere (1999), Sweet Home Alabama (2002), Garden State (2004), Youth in Revolt (2009), The Accountant (2016), and Babylon (2022). She voiced Ann Possible on Kim Possible and was nominated for a Tony Award for The Man Who Came to Dinner. She returned to Broadway in Call Me Izzy in 2025.

75years old

Turns 76 on September 13in 347 days

Born September 13, 1951Seattle
Star sign: VirgoThe sign runs August 23 to September 22

Movie Career

Films: 31
Career span: 38 years1984 to 2022

Genres

Comedy58%, 18 films
Drama58%, 18 films
Romance35%, 11 films
Adventure13%, 4 films
Crime13%, 4 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

A first
Smart is the first actress to take an Emmy for each season of a series that ran beyond two seasons, Hacks. With eight Emmys, she has tied the record for most acting Emmy wins.
A first
Smart has won Emmy Awards in all three comedy categories: lead, supporting and guest. Only one other actress, Betty White, had done that before her.

Jean Smart movies on Netflix

Babylon2022IMDb rating 7.1as Elinor St. John
Wildflower2022IMDb rating 6.9as Peg
Superintelligence2020IMDb rating 5.5as President Monahan
A Shoe Addict's Christmas2018IMDb rating 6.6as Charlie
Life Itself2018IMDb rating 6.9as Linda Dempsey
The Accountant2016IMDb rating 7.3as Rita Blackburn
Miss Meadows2014IMDb rating 5.8as Mother Meadows
Call Me Crazy: A Five Film2013IMDb rating 6.8as Claire
When Calls the Heart2013IMDb rating 6.5as Frances
Hope Springs2012IMDb rating 6.3as Eileen, Kay's Friend
Barry Munday2010IMDb rating 5.8as Carol Munday
Youth in Revolt2009IMDb rating 6.4as Estelle Twisp
Hero Wanted2008IMDb rating 5.5as Melanie McQueen
Lucky You2007IMDb rating 5.9as Michelle Carson
Kim Possible: So the Drama2005IMDb rating 7.1as Dr. Ann Possible (voice)
Garden State2004IMDb rating 7.4as Carol
Bringing Down the House2003IMDb rating 5.7as Kate Sanderson
Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time2003IMDb rating 7.0as Dr. Ann Possible (voice)
Sweet Home Alabama2002IMDb rating 6.2as Stella Kay Perry
Snow Day2000IMDb rating 5.2as Laura Brandston
The Kid2000IMDb rating 6.1as Deirdre Lafever
Guinevere1999IMDb rating 5.9as Deborah Sloane
The Odd Couple II1998IMDb rating 6.5as Holly
The Brady Bunch Movie1995IMDb rating 6.3as Mrs. Dena Dittmeyer
Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey1993IMDb rating 7.0as Kate
Mistress1992IMDb rating 5.4as Patricia Riley
Locked Up: A Mother’s Rage1991IMDb rating 6.5as Cathy
Project X1987IMDb rating 6.2as Dr. Criswell
Fire with Fire1986IMDb rating 6.4as Sister Maria
Flashpoint1984IMDb rating 6.4as Doris
Protocol1984IMDb rating 5.5as Ella

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Garden State2004 Comedy, Drama, Romanceas Carol
IMDb rating 7.4229K votes
Babylon2022 Comedy, Drama, Historyas Elinor St. John
IMDb rating 7.1210K votes
The Accountant2016as Rita Blackburn
IMDb rating 7.3403K votes
Youth in Revolt2009as Estelle Twisp
IMDb rating 6.478K votes
Sweet Home Alabama2002as Stella Kay Perry
IMDb rating 6.2137K votes
Hope Springs2012as Eileen, Kay's Friend
IMDb rating 6.346K votes
The Kid2000as Deirdre Lafever
IMDb rating 6.147K votes
Bringing Down the House2003as Kate Sanderson
IMDb rating 5.742K votes

Most often with

Steve Loter directed two of these films. Two actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Gary Cole

Mary Kay Place

Ray Liotta

John DiMaggio

Octavia Spencer

Missi PyleSteve LoterDirector, 2 films

Films together

Gary Cole3 films together, 1995 to 2005
Gary Cole's page
- Kim Possible: So the Drama2005IMDb rating 7.1Smart as Dr. Ann PossiblevoiceCole as Dr. Possiblevoice
- Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time2003IMDb rating 7.0Smart as Dr. Ann PossiblevoiceCole as Dr. Possible (Dad)voice
- The Brady Bunch Movie1995IMDb rating 6.3Smart as Mrs. Dena DittmeyerCole as Mike Brady
Mary Kay Place3 films together, 2002 to 2014
Mary Kay Place's page
- Miss Meadows2014IMDb rating 5.8Smart as Mother MeadowsPlace as Mrs. Davenport
- Youth in Revolt2009IMDb rating 6.4Smart as Estelle TwispPlace as Mrs. Saunders
- Sweet Home Alabama2002IMDb rating 6.2Smart as Stella Kay PerryPlace as Pearl Smooter
Ray Liotta2 films together, 2008 to 2009
Ray Liotta's page
- Youth in Revolt2009IMDb rating 6.4Smart as Estelle TwispLiotta as Lance Wescott
- Hero Wanted2008IMDb rating 5.5Smart as Melanie McQueenLiotta as Detective Terry Subcott
John DiMaggio2 films together, 2003 to 2005
John DiMaggio's page
- Kim Possible: So the Drama2005IMDb rating 7.1Smart as Dr. Ann PossiblevoiceDiMaggio as Dr. Drakkenvoice
- Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time2003IMDb rating 7.0Smart as Dr. Ann PossiblevoiceDiMaggio as Dr. Drakkenvoice
Octavia Spencer2 films together, 2013 to 2020
Octavia Spencer's page
- Superintelligence2020IMDb rating 5.5Smart as President MonahanSpencer as Octavia Spencervoice
- Call Me Crazy: A Five Film2013IMDb rating 6.8Smart as ClaireSpencer as Dr. Nance
Missi Pyle2 films together, 2003 to 2010
Missi Pyle's page
- Barry Munday2010IMDb rating 5.8Smart as Carol MundayPyle as Lida Griggs
- Bringing Down the House2003IMDb rating 5.7Smart as Kate SandersonPyle as Ashley
Steve LoterDirector, 2 films, 2003 to 2005
All films by Steve Loter
- Kim Possible: So the Drama2005IMDb rating 7.1Smart as Dr. Ann Possiblevoice
- Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time2003IMDb rating 7.0Smart as Dr. Ann Possiblevoice
Also two films together15 more actors
- Dakota FanningKim Possible: A Sitch in Time (2003) and Sweet Home Alabama (2002)
- Melissa McCarthySuperintelligence (2020) and The Kid (2000)
- Olivia WildeBabylon (2022) and Life Itself (2018)
- Brian GeorgeKim Possible: So the Drama (2005) and Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time (2003)
- Raven-SymonéKim Possible: So the Drama (2005) and Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time (2003)
- Damian YoungHope Springs (2012) and Snow Day (2000)
- Christy Carlson RomanoKim Possible: So the Drama (2005) and Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time (2003)
- Nancy CartwrightKim Possible: So the Drama (2005) and Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time (2003)
- Will FriedleKim Possible: So the Drama (2005) and Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time (2003)
- Tom KaneKim Possible: So the Drama (2005) and Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time (2003)
- Nicole SullivanKim Possible: So the Drama (2005) and Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time (2003)
- Emily ProcterBarry Munday (2010) and Guinevere (1999)
- Kirsten StormsKim Possible: So the Drama (2005) and Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time (2003)
- Shaun FlemingKim Possible: So the Drama (2005) and Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time (2003)
- Tahj MowryKim Possible: So the Drama (2005) and Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time (2003)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Jean Smart's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$1.1 billion

19 of the 31 films have a worldwide figure.

19Worldwide figure
1US gross only
6Never in cinemas
5Figure not found

Top grosser

Sweet Home Alabama2002Stella Kay Perry$181 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 83% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Sweet Home Alabama2002as Stella Kay Perry
$181M17.1% of the total
2
The Accountant2016as Rita Blackburn
$155M14.7% of the total
3
Bringing Down the House2003as Kate Sanderson
$133M12.5% of the total
4
Hope Springs2012as Eileen, Kay's Friend
$114M10.8% of the total
5
The Kid2000as Deirdre Lafever
$110M10.4% of the total
6
Babylon2022as Elinor St. John
$65M6.2% of the total
7
Snow Day2000as Laura Brandston
$62M5.9% of the total
8
Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey1993as Kate
$57M5.4% of the total

The Brady Bunch Movie (1995), $46.6 million

$179 millionfrom the other 11 films with a worldwide figure, 17% of the total

Awards

Fourteen awards and honors from 2000 to 2026, fourteen of them major.

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Jean Smart's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Film	Result
Golden Globes
2026	Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy	Hacks	Won
2025	Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy	Hacks	Won
2022	Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy	Hacks	Won
Emmy Awards
2026	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series	Hacks	Won
2025	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series	Hacks	Won
2024	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series	Hacks	Won
2022	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series	Hacks	Won
2021	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series	Hacks	Won
2008	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series	Samantha Who?	Won
2001	Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series	Frasier	Won
2000	Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series	Frasier	Won
SAG Awards
2025	Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series	Hacks	Won
2023	Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series	Hacks	Won
2022	Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series	Hacks	Won

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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