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Jean Smart Biography

Birth Name:Jean E. Smart

Birth Place:Seattle, Washington, United States

Profession Actress, Soundtrack, Producer

Fast Facts

  • Nominated in 1981 for a Drama Desk Award for her performance in the play "Last Summer at Bluefish Cove․"
  • Trained in acting at the University of Washington
  • Got married to actor Richard Gilliland in 1987
  • Made her screen acting debut in the series "Teachers Only․"
  • Started acting professionally at the Seattle Repertory Theater
  • Quote: "(On her character in "Designing Women"): "I love that character, she took everything and everyone at face value․ She saw the good in everyone․""
  • Best known for her role as Charlene Frazier Stillfield in "Designing Women․"
  • Originated the role of Lorraine Sheldon in the 2000 Broadway production "The Man Who Came to Dinner․"

Awards

  • 2000Independent Spirit Award-Best Supporting Female: nominated
  • 2000OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2000Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2001American Comedy Award-Funniest Female Guest Appearance in a TV Series: nominated
  • 2001OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2001OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2001Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2001Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2006Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Supporting Actress: winner
  • 2006OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2006Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2006Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2007Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2007Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Guest Actress: nominated
  • 2007OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2007Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2008Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2010Gold Derby TV Award-Drama Supporting Actress of the Decade: nominated
  • 2012Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2016Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Movie Made for Television or Limited Series: winner
  • 2016Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Supporting Actress: winner
  • 2016INOCA TV-Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or TV Movie: winner
  • 2016OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Limited Series: winner
  • 2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie: nominated
  • 2016WIN Award-Actress MFT Movie / Mini-Series: winner
  • 2019IGN Award-Best Dramatic TV Performance: nominated
  • 2019IGN Award-Best TV Ensemble: nominated
  • 2019Grace Award-Most Inspiring Performance in Television: winner
  • 2020Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: winner
  • 2020Dorian Award-Best Supporting TV Performance - Actress: nominated
  • 2020Gold Derby TV Award-Movie/Limited Series Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2020OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Limited Series: winner
  • 2020Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie: nominated
  • 2021Dorian Award-Best Supporting TV Performance: nominated
  • 2021Dorian Award-Best TV Performance: winner
  • 2021Gold Derby TV Award-Movie/Limited Series Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2021Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Actress: winner
  • 2021Gotham Independent Film Award-Outstanding Performance in a New Series: nominated
  • 2021HCA Award-Best Actress in a Streaming Series, Comedy: winner
  • 2021HCA Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Television Movie: nominated
  • 2021Just Laughs Award-Comedy Performance of the Year: winner
  • 2021OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Limited Series: nominated
  • 2021OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2021Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie: nominated
  • 2021Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2021TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Comedy: winner
  • 2022AACTA International Award-Best Actress in a Series: nominated
  • 2022Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actress - Television: winner
  • 2022Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2022Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series: nominated
  • 2022Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2022Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television: nominated
  • 2022Critics Choice Award-Best Actress in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2022Dorian Award-Best TV Musical Performance: nominated
  • 2022Dorian Award-Best TV Performance: nominated
  • 2022Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Actress: winner
  • 2022Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy: winner
  • 2022HCA Award-Best Actress in a Streaming Series, Comedy: nominated
  • 2022OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2022Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2022Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2022Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Series, Comedy or Musical: winner
  • 2022TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Comedy: nominated
  • 2022WIN Award-Actress Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2023AACTA International Award-Best Actress in a Series: nominated
  • 2023AACTA International Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2023Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2023Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2023Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2023Critics Choice Award-Best Actress in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2023Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy: nominated
  • 2023HFCS Award-Best Supporting Actress: nominated
  • 2023Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2023Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Series, Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2024Astra TV Award-Best Actress in a Steaming Comedy Series: winner
  • 2024CinEuphoria-Best Supporting Actress - International Competition: winner
  • 2024CinEuphoria-Best Ensemble - International Competition: nominated
  • 2024Dorian Award-Best TV Performance - Comedy: winner
  • 2024Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Actress: winner
  • 2024OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2024Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2024TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Comedy: winner
  • 2025AACTA International Award-Best Actress in a Series: nominated
  • 2025Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actress - Television: nominated
  • 2025Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2025Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2025Astra TV Award-Best Actress in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2025Critics Choice Award-Best Actress in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2025Dorian Award-Best TV Performance - Comedy: winner
  • 2025Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Actress: nominated
  • 2025Golden Globe-Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy: winner
  • 2025OFTA Television Award-Best Actress in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2025Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2025Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Series, Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2025TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Comedy: nominated
  • 2026AACTA International Award-Best Actress in a Series: nominated
  • 2026Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actress - Television: nominated
  • 2026Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2026Actor-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2026Critics Choice Award-Best Actress in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2026Golden Globe-Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy: winner
  • 2026Satellite Award-Best Actress in a Series, Comedy or Musical: nominated