Like most people, I am a huge Jean Smart fan. She’s an actor that will get me to watch something simply because she’s in it. Sometimes I don’t even bother looking into the show first, like with HBO’s Hacks. Fortunately for me and the rest of the viewing public, Jean was marvelous as comedienne Deborah Vance and I loved it. However, I know almost nothing about Jean outside the roles she’s played. The New Yorker has a great interview with her in which she comes across as affable and down to earth as I’ve always suspected she was. I learned so much. Like the fact that she has Type 1 diabetes and grew up in Seattle. I also did not know that Jean was married to Richard Gilliand who played Annie Potts boyfriend on Designing Women. Jean and Richard married in 1987 but Richard died suddenly in March of this year of a heart condition while Jean was still filming Hacks. She has not spoken about his death publicly yet, but mentioned it briefly in this interview, saying that her entire career is a result of him giving his up for her.
On identifying with her character Charlene Frazier-Stillfield on Designing Women: I loved that role. I have to say, I know people don’t see me that way, particularly, but I often feel I’m more like that character than I’m some of the other characters I’ve played.
What she wants to do next: I want to be in a big historical ensemble, like “Downton Abbey,” or even “Game of Thrones.” I’d also like some downtime so people don’t get sick of me!
The last year made her reconsider writing a memoir: I’ve literally only thought of it in the last six months. Before that, I thought, Good God, why would anybody want to read a book about my life? It’s not that interesting. And also, I’m too private to tell any of the more interesting parts. So what good would it do? But I’ve been through some personal things in the last year that someday, maybe I’d want to write about.
You know, I feel like I just should say something about my husband, because he passed away very unexpectedly. I still had a week of “Hacks” left to do. That was hard. I had to do a funeral scene.
I was a wreck, but it actually turned out to be very funny. But he was one of those actors who never got the chance to really show what he could do. A couple of times onstage, he did. But he really sacrificed his career for me to be able to take advantage of my opportunities. I wouldn’t have all this, if it wasn’t for him.
It’s been really weird. It’s not anything I ever dreamed would happen. Not so soon. He made me laugh all the time. That’s going to be hard to live without.
I’m not going to post a spoiler but if you’ve seen the Hacks funeral scene and think about Jean filming it right after her husband’s death, it’s heartbreaking. I’m glad she found some joy in it. It is a fantastic scene. I completely understand that it’s just too soon for Jean to speak about Richard’s passing. But even her few thoughts here are so touching. Jean and Richard have two children, Connor, 31, and Bonnie, 12.
The whole interview is great. I suggest reading it if you are a Jean fan. I was introduced to Jean as Charlene on Designing Women so that’s actually the role I associate most with her. But as she points out a few times, she usually plays the opposite of Charlene. I guess it’s comforting to me to hear that she, too, sees herself more like Charlene than anyone else. Jean’s one of the few people in Hollywood I’d probably like to know more about, so if she decides to write that memoir, I’ll read it.
Photo credit: Avalon Red and Getty Images
I also love her. She smashes every role. I normally don’t like the “dumb” character, but she gave Charlene so much dimension. I haven’t seen Hacks but will have to check it out.
Hacks is SO good. Not anything I would have sought out but I had just come off Mare of Easton and wanted to see more of her. And knowing what I know about the funeral scene now, wow.
Now I can’t seem to find anything else good to watch. Sigh.
“I had just come off Mare of Easton and wanted to see more of her.”
YES!!! Me too.
She was great in Mare of Easttown and Hacks. Just finished Hacks- will totally re-subscribe to hbo to see a season 2 of that.
Exactly! I loved seeing roles written for her where she could show off her depth. She was in Fargo, too.
I watched Hacks just because of her: it’s a great show and Jean Smart is fabulous in it
Jean Smart is so underrated, imo. She’s been fantastic in everything I’ve seen her in.
Wow they were married for more than 49 years!
I love her. I haven’t seen Hacks yet but hope to do so soon.
She was awesome in Mare of Eastown. The scene in the car after she was outed at the funeral was gold.
That scene in the car was hilarious. I would definitely have been the daughter who was laughing while my mother was totally mortified at being outed. Daughters love it when we find out our mothers are human.
They met on the set of Designing Women and were married 34 years (married in 1987), not 49 years (my heart skipped a beat at the reference to 49 years considering I remember watching Designing Women when I was in college and I’m old, but not that old)
I watched Designing Women when it was airing, so that should tell you that I am a boomer. But the original cast was the best! I loved each and every character and they all pulled off their characters beautifully! I especially loved it when they had Alice Ghost as a reoccurring guest, and she was spectacular all throughout her career.
I have loved Jean Smart in everything she has done and I have thoroughly enjoyed watching her in Hacks. I didn’t know she thought of herself more closely aligned with her character Charlene, and it’s wonderful that they met on set. Richard seemed to have been a wonderful husband and I am certain that she will be grieving for a long time.
It looks like they were married in 1987 according to the article. So if that’s correct, it would be 33/34 years.
I find the huge age gap between their children (if that’s not a typo in the article) to be interesting: 31 years old and 12 years old. I had my son, a “surprise baby,” when I was 18 years old. Growing up, I always imagined that I would have multiple children (when I was in high school I thought 6 kids would be a good number, yikes!) but since I had the first baby when I was so young, his dad and I kept waiting until we felt ready and financially stable enough to have another. But once our son hit the age of 8 or so and we were still waiting, I wondered if that would be too much of an age gap for siblings. I wonder how other surprise babies feel when they end up with 2 or 3 siblings who are all close in age to each other but 10 years younger than surprise baby. Do they feel left out? Like they were an accident? And then as our son gets even older (he’s 15 this year) I just think “I’m almost done with this one. Do I really want to start all over again and commit to another 18+ years of actively parenting a child in the house?” So barring any new big surprises, we’re going to stick with being a one child family.
But when I see a couple who have been together the entire time wait 18-19 years between babies, I wonder how that worked out for them. Usually, when there’s a large age gap between siblings it’s because mom or dad remarried and then started having children with the new spouse.
This is about Jean Smart, who cares about your life?
@ Amy Too, it’s not a typo Fyi they adopted a 1-yr old daughter in 2009 [I appreciate the fact they didn’t feel the need to specify “adopted” daughter in the article] <3
I enjoyed your story. I had a boss who (with the same wife) had three children each 11 years apart. So 22, 11 and newborn. Not only a lot of time between kids, but that also means 40+ years of raising a child!
34 years lol
I’m selfish. I don’t want Jean to have any down time. I love seeing her in everything that she’s done. Seeing her again this year in Hacks and Mare of Easttown has been great!
She is a national treasure who elevates every show she is in. Sorry for her loss.
I had the biggest crush on Richard Gilliland when I was a teen (I know, odd choice), he was on everything as a guest actor it seemed, was so sorry when I read he had passed away earlier this year. And I love Jean Smart, especially as Charlene Frazier Stillfield. The seasons of Designing Women with the original case are still my all time favorite shows, certain episodes still will make me LOL even though I’ve seen them countless times.
Oh my – I had a beg crush on him too! Loved his smile and sparkly eyes
I used to watch Thirtysomething and I remember he played the married guy Ellyn had an affair with one season
Me too! Not an odd choice at all. He was adorable. And I remember when they fell in love and married. I’m glad they were so happy.
Her loss must have been so devastating and still so. I love her in her roles.
I just pictured her filming that scene and got choked up. That scene is amazing and now I’m not sure how she did it without crying through it. So much admiration.
If you’re a fan and haven’t watched her season of Fargo, get on that. Another anti-Charlene role and she KILLS it. Warning – it’s pretty dark.
Her role in Fargo is one of my favorites. My first memory of her post Designing Women was on Frasier. She won two Emmys for her guest performances. Then I saw her on 24 and was blown away. Her dramatic acting chops surprised me in the best way possible.
Yes! I was a fan of hers from Designing Women and thought of her much like her character, but when she was on 24 I was like whoa, she’s a great actor! It’s been a joy to watch her continue to do one great thing after another, to be on such a career high the past few years.
Cannot believe I forgot she was on Frasier….she was fantastic!
She was incredible in 24! Blew the other actors away every time she was on screen.
She was so great in that role and so scary. My parents lived across the street from Delta Burke and I used to watch Designing Women because of that connection. It was fun but no clue Jean Smart could do threatening like she did in Fargo. Love her and loved Hacks.
I think anyone who grew up with Designing Women will forever associate her with that role (and I really don’t remember her on Frasier) but her recent work has been amazing. She’s an inspiration to me in the sense that as I age, I really want to let my dark humor just roll and embrace a DGAF attitude. I still need to earn a living not as a comedian, but I welcome all role models of older women with a presence.
I love her so much that after her stint on Frasier, I couldn’t accept him with any other woman. I’m sorry for her loss.
Darla, yes! Lana was a great character! I love those episodes. She was perfect and is just so, so funny.
Wait, was it Lorna? Now I have to rewatch the episodes. I think Frasier pretends not to know her and calls her Lana.
It was Lana, I just rewatched Frasier earlier this year. I laughed so much, I felt it holds up.
Love her. NPR ran an interview of Smart by Terry Gross a few weeks ago where she discussed the death of her husband among other things. If you are going to listen to it, have a box of tissues ready.
I became a Richard Gilliland fan way back in his Operation Petticoat days, I did not catch his passing and am sad to hear of it . I always thought very highly of Jean and Richard for finding each other and making it work so well and for so long!
I love Jean! She kills it in every role, and man, has she graced a lot of productions! There are a handful of female character actors that elevate every production they are in, and she is one of them. Also Toni Collette is another that immediately comes to mind…Judy Greer too! What I think is great is that these women work so much, clearly the industry knows their talent and craves to include it. And these women in particular have allowed themselves to age, look their ages, and yet still find meaningful work. Too few, but shining examples that stellar character actresses are valuable to the industry!
I’m literally watching Designing Women in Hulu right now, as this story popped up! Her portrayal of Charlene as sweet and scatter-brained, but smart, is a joy!!! And I had no idea she was married to JD!
Oh, good to know it’s on Hulu…will reup my subscription just for this!
I just read the article and she’s really had an interesting life. So sad for her loss. ‘’He made me laugh all the time’’ is what makes a great marriage.
Love her! Felt so lucky to have Hacks to watch right after Mare of Easton.
I loved her in Mare Of Eastown! I didn’t watch Hacks but I remember her from Designing Women of course. She’s been working steadily since then so I’m sure I’ve seen her in other things and just don’t remember it. Sorry to hear about her husband, that must have been a blow.
Ooh she is very underrated and I remember her in Frasier. Sometimes I mistake her for Kim Cattrall who is also a very good actor.
Jean Smart did an interview with Terry Gross on Fresh Air. If you are a fan, you have to listen to that interview. It was such a moving and emotional interview, I was crying listening to it. What an amazing talent. I’m betting she gets an Emmy nom for Best Actress for Hacks and Best Supporting Actress for Mare of Easttown.
Everything Ms Smart does is golden, I’ve always loved her acting. comedies, drama (I watched her in a few Lifetime Movies and she nailed it) I’ve seen her on Frasier and Hacks.
I had no idea she was married to Mr. Gilliand, wow.
I want to give her a hug, I know she misses him terribly.
There was a point in time where Lifetime ran Designing Women and The Golden Girls reruns in the early morning on weekdays, back to back. One of the few periods of time in my adult life where I actually looked forward to waking up early in the morning to get ready for school/ work.
I love Ms. Smart and I hope she does get to do a period piece.
I had no idea she had adopted a daughter from China when she was 58 and her husband was 60. Usually it’s an older husband and younger wife when having children, so you feel at least the child will have one parent around. But two older parents adopting at that age is a little unnerving because of scenarios like this. One parent has now died and the little girl is 12 years old. Jean Smart is 69 and will turn 70 in a little under three months. She has more energy than I do and looks the picture of health, and I’m sure she is an amazing mother with her big heart. Still, she has not just grief to deal with over the unexpected death of her husband, but that worry over if anything should happen to her healthwise and still having a little girl to raise.
She is WONDERFUL. I highly recommend Hacks. Can’t wait for season 2!!!
I’m in the middle of watching Hacks now and I love it! The episode I was going to watch during lunch today didn’t download to my phone properly, so I missed my daily episode and I feel such a loss!
Loved her in Watchmen! That was my favorite role of hers! Love the scene where the car falls out of the sky almost on her and the look on her face I can still see right now. One of a kind in the best best way.
OMG. Charlene in Watchmen. She was magical. Together with her and Regina King. I was in heaven. I remember her in Designing Women and she was wonderful. Like many others, I have been a fan since then. I will watch her in anything now.
I’ve always loved her. When she played Lana on Frasier was one of my favorites after Charlene. She also was excellent in Dirty John playing Connie Nielson’s character’s mother. So sorry for the loss of her husband.
She was amazing (AMAZING) in Mare of Eastown. She is one of those actresses that I too watch in everything. But I haven’t gotten around to Hacks yet.
What a joy of an article. Jean was amazing as part of the Watchmen cast (in my humble opinion) and I’m so touched to discover more of her. Very sad for her to have lost someone who sounds like such a loving partner.