Jean Smart ’69

After graduating from the University of Washington’s Professional Actors’ Program, she performed at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and in productions at ACT, Seattle Repertory and Intiman Theatres.

Smart moved to New York in 1980, where she performed in the off-Broadway production of “Last Summer at Bluefish Cove”. She worked without a salary, but the performance earned a coveted New York Critics’ Drama Desk Award and a role in a television commercial. She followed up, in 1981, with a Broadway performance as Marlene Dietrich in “Piaf’.

In 1982, Smart moved to Los Angeles to begin her career in television. In between small sitcom roles, she reprised her role in “Bluefish Cove” at the Fountain Theatre. Her performance earned more accolades, including the Los Angeles Theatre Dramalogue Award and L.A. Critics’ Circle Award for Distinguished Performance.

After acting in various feature films, Smart landed the television role which made her famous, that of Charlene on “Designing Women”. The sitcom, which aired for five years, earned her a worldwide following. Smart most recently completed a run on Broadway, performing in “The Man Who Came to Dinner”. She also won an Emmy for a guest appearance on “Frasier”.

In addition to her acting career, Smart is an active lecturer and advocate for the American Diabetes Association and the World Wildlife Fund.

Smart credits her Ballard High School drama teacher, Earl Kelly, for giving her the opportunity to develop her acting talent. We can be glad that she didn’t take his parting advice at graduation; that is to avoid the acting business.