What Is Jean Smart's Net Worth?
Jean Smart is an American actress who has a net worth of $12 million. To older audiences, Jean Smart is perhaps best known for playing Charlene Frazier Stillfield on the CBS sitcom "Designing Women" from 1986 to 1991. Later, Smart won two Emmy Awards for her part on the hit series "Frasier." Her better-known TV and film credits include "Undue Influence," "Sweet Home Alabama," "Bringing Down The House," "Garden State," and "The District." Since 2021, Jean has starred on the critically-acclaimed HBO comedy "Hacks." She won the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2021 and 2022 for her work on "Hacks," which co-stars Hannah Einbinder.
Early Life
Jean Elizabeth Smart was born on September 13, 1951, in Seattle, Washington. She is the daughter of Kathleen Marie Kay and Douglas Alexander Smart, and she is the second of four children. Smart was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 13. Jean discovered in season 10 of the TV show "Who Do You Think You Are?" that she is a direct descendant of Dorcas Hoar, one of the last women convicted of witchcraft during the Salem witch trials. She began acting at Ballard High School in Seattle, graduating in 1969, and earned her BFA from the University of Washington's Professional Actors Training Program.
Acting Career
After college, Smart started performing in stage productions around Seattle and throughout the Pacific Northwest (including at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon) before moving to New York City to work off-Broadway and in professional regional productions. In the late '70s, she started breaking into television with small parts in "Alice," "Remington Steele," and "The Facts of Life." In 1980, Jean played Lady Macbeth at the Pittsburgh Public Theater opposite Tom Atkins and Keith Fowler. She was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for her performance in the off-Broadway play "Last Summer at Bluefish Cove." In 1981, Smart made her Broadway debut in a production of "Piaf." After roles in the short-lived series "Teachers Only" and "Reggie," Jean had a supporting role in the thriller "Flashpoint" in 1984.
In 1985, Jean became a household name when she landed a starring role on "Designing Women," playing Charlene Frazier Stillfield for five years. After "Designing Women," her work was mostly found in made-for-TV movies and supporting roles in films. She played serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the TV movie "Overkill: The Aileen Wuornos Story" in 1992 and landed a supporting role opposite Robert De Niro and Eli Wallach in the black comedy "Mistress," a role in which critic Roger Ebert praised and called her character "calculating." Smart was then cast in the family drama "Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey" in 1993 and as Ory Baxter in "The Yearling." In 1995, she appeared in several roles: "The Brady Bunch Movie" in 1995, "A Stranger in Town" opposite Gregory Hines, "High Society," "Style & Substance," "The Odd Couple II," and as Draborah Sloan in the drama "Guinevere" in 1999. Also in 1999, Jean had a starring role in the comedy "Forever Fabulous" as an aging beauty queen.
In 2000, Smart was cast as Lana Gardner in the critically acclaimed comedy series "Frasier" opposite Kelsey Grammer. The show was set in her hometown of Seattle. For her role, Jean went on to win two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Smart won another Emmy for Best Supporting Actress for "Samantha Who?" alongside Christina Applegate. Reflecting on the role, Jean 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."
Later that year, she starred in a Broadway revival production of "The Man Who Came to Dinner," which earned her a Tony Award nomination. Later, she landed roles in many high-profile films, playing the mother-in-law of Reese Witherspoon in 2002's "Sweet Home Alabama" and starring opposite Queen Latifah in "Bringing Down the House." She also had a small role in 2004's "Garden State." Smart also had a recurring role as Detective Sherry Regan on "The District" from 2000 to 2004. From 2002 to 2007, she voiced Dr. Ann Possible on "Kim Possible." Up next, she lent her voice to "The Oblongs" and "Hey Arnold!" Jean starred on "24" as First Lady Martha Logan, earning two Emmy nods for her work in 2006 and 2007. Other roles from around this time included "I Heart Huckabees," "Lucky You," "Youth in Revolt," and "Hawaii Five-0."
Smart won her third Emmy award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series when she starred opposite Christian Applegate in "Samantha Who?" from 2007 to 2009. In 2012, she was nominated for yet another Emmy for her role in "Harry's Law." In 2015, she starred in the second season of the FX series "Fargo." For her role, she won the Critics' Choice Award and was nominated for another Emmy. In 2019, Smart played Laurie Juspecyzk in the HBO superhero drama limited series "Watchmen," which received enormous critical acclaim and won 11 Emmy Awards, including for Outstanding Limited Series. In 2021, Smart appeared in the seven-episode HBO crime drama limited series "Mare of Easttown." Also in 2021, she began starring as the lead in the HBO max dark comedy series "Hacks." In the series, she plays Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegas comedy diva trying to appeal to a younger audience. "USA Today" declared Smart, at the age of 69, "The Queen of HBO," after her turns in "Watchmen," "Mare of Easttown," and "Hacks."
Personal Life
Jean married actor Richard Gilliland in 1987, and they welcomed two children together. Sadly, Richard passed away unexpectedly from a heart condition in March 2021 at the age of 71. Jean was still in the process of filming "Hacks." The pair had been married for nearly 34 years.
Real Estate
In 2002, Jean and Richard paid $1.525 million for a home in Encino, California. She continues to own this home as of this writing. The home's estimated value is $4 million.
In December 2022, Jean paid $5.25 million for a home in Toluca Lake, California. Just under a decade earlier, the home was owned by George Lopez and his then-wife Ann. Ann received the property in 2011 as part of their divorce and sold it to Jean.
