| Jaclyn Smith | |
|---|---|
 From left to right Jaclyn Smith, Farrah Fawcett and Kate Jackson |
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| Birth name | Ellen Jaclyn Smith |
| Born | October 26 1947  Houston, Texas, United States |
| Spouse(s) | Brad Allen |
| Official site | www.jaclynsmith.com |
Ellen Jaclyn Smith (born October 26, 1947) is a Golden Globe-nominated American actress. She is best known for the role of Kelly Garrett in the television series Charlie's Angels, and was the only original female lead to remain with the series for its complete run (1976-1981). For two decades, Smith has held the unofficial title of "Queen of TV Movies and Mini-series", appearing in over two dozen television movies and mini-series.
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Career
Acting
Smith's first acting venture outside the Angels mold was the CBS TV movie of the week Escape from Bogen County (1977). Then came the lead role in the highly anticipated version of Joyce Haber's The Users with Tony Curtis and John Forsythe in 1978. In 1980, she starred with Robert Mitchum in the suspense thriller Nightkill while divorcing husband actor Dennis Cole. The movie was touted as her first big screen role, but turned out to be a huge disappointment for Smith, as the film was largely unreleased in the cinema and released on TV soon afterwards. But Smith's performance in the movie was lauded by critics. She then starred in the blockbuster TV movie Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, and received a Best Actress nomination from the Golden Globe awards, but lost to Jane Seymour for the TV remake of East of Eden. In 1983, Sidney Sheldon's Rage of Angels arrived on her doorstep. Smith was so popular that fans all over the world begged Sheldon to re-write the storyline that required Smith's character's son to die; there was a sequel in 1986. In 1988, Smith appeared again in another miniseries based from Sheldon's novel, Windmills of the Gods, this time with veteran superstar Robert Wagner as her love interest. It was another blockbuster in the Nielsen ratings chart during its showing. But the one that really certified Smith's reign as the Queen of TV/Miniseries was the offer to star opposite the King Of TV Miniseries Richard Chamberlain in the movie adaptation of Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Identity. Smith was Chamberlain's first choice as his leading lady but she had just wrapped up with the Windmills of the Gods shoot and declined the offer. The role was offered to Lesley-Anne Down who wanted her husband to photograph the film. Producers refused and again offered the role to Smith. The result is probably one of the best ever in television history. The miniseries was a huge hit not only in America but all over the world. With Windmills of the Gods and The Bourne Identity, Smith was back again on top. Then in 1989, she starred in another TV movie, Settle the Score. Originally titled Blood Knot, the film was Smith's first disturbing role. It detailed incest, rape, killings, and other dirty family secrets. The film was widely acknowledged by the critics and again proved her Nielsen ratings prowess. Other blockbuster hits were Florence Nightingale, George Washington, Lies Before Kisses, The Rape of Dr. Willis, In the Arms of a Killer and several TV versions of Danielle Steel novels. Her then-husband Tony Richmond also directed her in the 1985 feature film Deja Vu. In 1989, Smith had the title role in Christine Cromwell, a mystery television series based in San Francisco which only lasted one season, but whose cast included such esteemed actors as Celeste Holm (as Christine Cromwell's oft-married mother), and Theodore Bikel. Christine Cromwell is part of ABC's Mystery Wheel series which rotates with other detective shows like Columbo, Kojak and B.L. Stryker. Smith's show has the distinction of being the only female character, and although it is considered as a series, Christine Cromwell is more of a monthly two-hour show. Also in 1989, Smith was honored with a star on the world famous Hollywood Walk of Fame. From 2002 to 2004, Smith had a recurring role as Vanessa Cavanaugh in the series The District, which starred Craig T. Nelson. She reprised her Kelly Garrett role in a short cameo in the 2003 Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle feature film, and has also appeared on episodes of "Hope and Faith". In May 2005, Smith starred as Judge Kay Woodbury in Hallmark’s production of Ordinary Miracles. More recently, her show stopping appearance on the 2006 Emmy telecast led Bravo TV’s producers to cast Smith as the celebrity host of Bravo’s weekly competitive reality series, Shear Genius, which began airing in March 2007.
Designing
In 1985, Smith entered the business world with the introduction of her collection of women's apparel for Kmart. She pioneered the concept of celebrities developing their own brands rather than merely endorsing others. Since that time more than 100 million women have purchased clothing or accessories bearing her name. Awareness of the Jaclyn Smith name and brand by women 35-60 years of age is currently higher than 80%, thus making her one of the best recognized people in America. Industry authority 'Woman’s Wear Daily' reported that the signature Jaclyn Smith line had the highest consumer awareness of any private label apparel brand in the country. With this strong recognition and record of success, Smith entered the home furnishings market in 2002. Her latest collection, Jaclyn Smith Home, features furniture, bedding, textiles, rugs, wall coverings and home accents at affordable prices. The designs are produced by Hickory Hill Furniture, Comfort Solutions by King Koil, Dalyn Rug Co., and Diversitex/Kingsway Fabrics, and are available through select dealers.
Personal life
Smith has been married four times; to actors Roger Davis (1968–1975) and Dennis Cole (1978–1981), to filmmaker Tony Richmond (1981–1989), and to Houston cardiothoracic surgeon[1]Brad Allen (since 1997). Smith has two children, Spencer Margaret and Gaston, from her marriage to Richmond.
Cultural references - Movie facts
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- Actress Jane Seymour may have starred in more TV movies or miniseries but Jaclyn Smith tops the list when it comes to the Nielsen Ratings Chart. Smith's got more No. 1 projects more than any other actress in Hollywood.
- Comic strip artist Sy Barry drew the luscious Diana Palmer, wife of The Phantom, after Jaclyn Smith.
- People named her twice in their annual list of the Most Beautiful People in the World.
- The difficult-to-please Mr. Blackwell once named her The World's Best Dressed Woman.
- In 1979, McCall's ran a poll of Who's Face Most Women Would Like To Have. Jaclyn Smith topped the list. In 1985, McCall's named her as one of America's 10 Best Bodies.
- TV Guide magazine readers voted Jaclyn Smith as the Most Beautiful Woman On Television in 1991.
- In the April 1984 issue of People, Jaclyn Smith was voted as one of the Ten Great Faces of Our Time. Film producer Robert Evans said that Smith comes closest to perfection in her eyes, hair, and facial structure.
- CBS rejected Smith's idea of playing Gone with the Wind author Margaret Mitchell in the movie version of the book Road to Tara. Years after, Shannen Doherty starred in NBC's bio of Mitchell.
- In a season 15 episode of The Simpsons (The Fat and the Furriest) she is portrayed as having her own line of Axe Heads
- A nationwide poll in 1983 conducted by TV Picture Life magazine crowned Smith and Tom Selleck as the New King & Queen of Hollywood.
- In 1985, Ladies' Home Journal magazine sampled 2,000 men and women in 100 places in America to determine America's Favorite Women. Jaclyn Smith came in the top of the list as the Most Beautiful Woman in America. Dynasty star Linda Evans came second.
- Smith's California perfume was so successful that Max Factor released California for Men as well.
- The French band Air (band) were inspired by Smith's Charlie's Angel's character Kelly Garrett and recorded and released the song "Kelly Watch the Stars" on their 1998 album Moon Safari.
Lists of magazines who named Jaclyn Smith as the "World's Most Beautiful Woman": 1. People 2. TV Guide (U.S.) 3. Harper's Bazaar 4. Time 5. TV Picture Life 6. Rona Barrett's Hollywood 7. Ladies' Home Journal 8. McCalls 9. Celebrity Plus 10.TV Times 11.Preview 12.Modern Screen
