A Guide to Jean Smart's Career Highlights, Ahead of HerSNLHosting Debut

Mar. 15, 2025

Jean Smart on ‘Designing Women’ in 1986 and ‘Hacks’ in 2022.Photo:CBS via Getty; Courtesy of HBO Max

CBS via Getty; Courtesy of HBO Max

Audiences old and new have fallen in love withJean Smartthanks to herEmmy-winning role on Max’sHacks.But before Deborah Vance — and herSNLhosting debutcoming up on the season 50 premiere on Saturday night, Sept. 28 — Smart was bringing audiences to both happy and sad tears through a wide variety of roles that have earned her endless Emmy, Golden Globe, Tony and even Grammy nominations.Before Smart, 73, takes the stage in Studio 8H — alongside musical guestJelly Roll— take a look back on just some of her career highlights prior to this latest moment in the spotlight.

Audiences old and new have fallen in love withJean Smartthanks to herEmmy-winning role on Max’sHacks.But before Deborah Vance — and herSNLhosting debutcoming up on the season 50 premiere on Saturday night, Sept. 28 — Smart was bringing audiences to both happy and sad tears through a wide variety of roles that have earned her endless Emmy, Golden Globe, Tony and even Grammy nominations.

Before Smart, 73, takes the stage in Studio 8H — alongside musical guestJelly Roll— take a look back on just some of her career highlights prior to this latest moment in the spotlight.

01of 10

‘Teachers Only’

Jean Smart on ‘Teachers Only’ in 1983.NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

02of 10’Designing Women’Jean Smart on ‘Designing Women’ in 1986.CBS via GettyOn the beloved ’80s seriesDesigning Women,Smart starred as Charlene Frazier-Stillfield.“It was so much fun,” she recalled of the job ona 2024 episode ofThe Drew Barrymore Show.It holds a particularly special place in her heart, too, after a very special guest star had a run on set.“I met my late husband on the show,” she shared of actorRichard Gilliland,who died in 2021. “I thought he was really cute. And I’d watch him kissing [costarAnnie Pottson screen] and I’d go, ‘Oh … okay.’ At one point I asked him into my trailer to help me with my crossword puzzle and he invited me to see a play he was doing. We were flirting like mad with each other.”

02of 10

‘Designing Women’

Jean Smart on ‘Designing Women’ in 1986.CBS via Getty

CBS via Getty

On the beloved ’80s seriesDesigning Women,Smart starred as Charlene Frazier-Stillfield.

“It was so much fun,” she recalled of the job ona 2024 episode ofThe Drew Barrymore Show.

It holds a particularly special place in her heart, too, after a very special guest star had a run on set.

“I met my late husband on the show,” she shared of actorRichard Gilliland,who died in 2021. “I thought he was really cute. And I’d watch him kissing [costarAnnie Pottson screen] and I’d go, ‘Oh … okay.’ At one point I asked him into my trailer to help me with my crossword puzzle and he invited me to see a play he was doing. We were flirting like mad with each other.”

03of 10’Frasier’Jean Smart and Kelsey Grammer on ‘Frasier’ in 2001.Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via GettySmart won two Emmys for her 2000-2001 guest role as Lana Gardner onFrasier,an on-again, off-again love interest ofKelsey Grammer’s Frasier Crane.“She could be really sweet and charming but she had anger issues,” Smart recalledto Drew Barrymoreof the character. “My agent said, ‘I know you don’t want to do guest spots right now but you have to read this one.’ I read it and said, ‘I have to do this.’ The cast is just remarkable. Kelsey and [costar David Hyde Pierce] and the girls were just amazing. I had so much fun with that character because she could just say and do anything.”

03of 10

‘Frasier’

Jean Smart and Kelsey Grammer on ‘Frasier’ in 2001.Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Smart won two Emmys for her 2000-2001 guest role as Lana Gardner onFrasier,an on-again, off-again love interest ofKelsey Grammer’s Frasier Crane.

“She could be really sweet and charming but she had anger issues,” Smart recalledto Drew Barrymoreof the character. “My agent said, ‘I know you don’t want to do guest spots right now but you have to read this one.’ I read it and said, ‘I have to do this.’ The cast is just remarkable. Kelsey and [costar David Hyde Pierce] and the girls were just amazing. I had so much fun with that character because she could just say and do anything.”

04of 10'24’Jean Smart in ‘24’ in 2002.Fox-Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock"24, I think, is really when people looked at me a little bit differently,” Smart said in a2023Vanity Fairinterview. Playing the president’s wife, Martha Logan, “was just wild because you’re supposed to believe this entire season took place in 24 hours. Somehow I found a way to change costumes five times within that 24 hours. I figure she’s the first lady, she’s allowed.“Smart received back-to-back Emmy nominations for her work.

04of 10

‘24’

Jean Smart in ‘24’ in 2002.Fox-Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock

Fox-Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock

“24, I think, is really when people looked at me a little bit differently,” Smart said in a2023Vanity Fairinterview. Playing the president’s wife, Martha Logan, “was just wild because you’re supposed to believe this entire season took place in 24 hours. Somehow I found a way to change costumes five times within that 24 hours. I figure she’s the first lady, she’s allowed.”

Smart received back-to-back Emmy nominations for her work.

05of 10’Samantha Who?‘Jean Smart in ‘Samantha Who?’ in 2008.Karen Neal / Touchstone Television / Courtesy EverettFor 35 episodes from 2007-2009, Smart playedChristina Applegate’s character Samantha’s mom, Regina Newly, onSamantha Who?,winning an Emmy in the process.“I think sometimes people that are self-absorbed who don’t realize it can kind of be funny characters to play and watch,“Smart toldtheSeattle Timesin 2009.“But I think also they have written in a strong core of how much I love my daughter, even if I don’t always like her.”

05of 10

‘Samantha Who?’

Jean Smart in ‘Samantha Who?’ in 2008.Karen Neal / Touchstone Television / Courtesy Everett

Karen Neal / Touchstone Television / Courtesy Everett

For 35 episodes from 2007-2009, Smart playedChristina Applegate’s character Samantha’s mom, Regina Newly, onSamantha Who?,winning an Emmy in the process.

“I think sometimes people that are self-absorbed who don’t realize it can kind of be funny characters to play and watch,“Smart toldtheSeattle Timesin 2009.“But I think also they have written in a strong core of how much I love my daughter, even if I don’t always like her.”

06of 10’Fargo’Jean Smart in ‘Fargo’ in 2014.Chris Large/Mgm Tv/Fx Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock"That was an exceptional experience,“Smart toldVanity Fairof her Emmy-nominated time onFargoas family matriarch Floyd Gerhardt in 2015. “That was the first time, I think, I’d been on a show where every element of that show, everybody was on their A-game, craft service to every crew member to every writer, producer, cast member, costumer, everybody. I thought the show was just brilliant and mesmerizing and the style of the show was so unique. Fargo became not just the name of a city anymore,Fargowas sort of a state of mind.”

06of 10

‘Fargo’

Jean Smart in ‘Fargo’ in 2014.Chris Large/Mgm Tv/Fx Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock

Chris Large/Mgm Tv/Fx Prods/Kobal/Shutterstock

“That was an exceptional experience,“Smart toldVanity Fairof her Emmy-nominated time onFargoas family matriarch Floyd Gerhardt in 2015. “That was the first time, I think, I’d been on a show where every element of that show, everybody was on their A-game, craft service to every crew member to every writer, producer, cast member, costumer, everybody. I thought the show was just brilliant and mesmerizing and the style of the show was so unique. Fargo became not just the name of a city anymore,Fargowas sort of a state of mind.”

07of 10’Watchmen’Jean Smart in ‘Watchmen’ in 2019.DC/HBO/Sky Atlantic/Kobal/ShutterstockSmart joined the star-studded cast of the 2019 dystopian limited HBO Max seriesWatchmen,earning a Critics Choice Award andEmmy nominationfor her part as investigator Laurie Blake.Regina King, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jeremy Irons andLouis Gossett Jr.also starred.The story in part highlighted the 1921 Tulsa race massacre, setting itself in 1980s Tulsa, Okla., following the dynamics of law enforcement and vigilantes.“It’s astonishing to think how prophetic the show was in a way, because first with the coronavirus and the idea that something happened that gave the entire world a common enemy and that that would help bring peace if we had something big to fight together,” Smart said in a 2020 interview with theLos Angeles Times.“But then it was set against a historical event of unbelievable brutality against the Black community. It’s just incredible that [creator Damon Lindelof] wrote that right before [the COVID-19 pandemic] happened, right before.”

07of 10

‘Watchmen’

Jean Smart in ‘Watchmen’ in 2019.DC/HBO/Sky Atlantic/Kobal/Shutterstock

DC/HBO/Sky Atlantic/Kobal/Shutterstock

Smart joined the star-studded cast of the 2019 dystopian limited HBO Max seriesWatchmen,earning a Critics Choice Award andEmmy nominationfor her part as investigator Laurie Blake.Regina King, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jeremy Irons andLouis Gossett Jr.also starred.

The story in part highlighted the 1921 Tulsa race massacre, setting itself in 1980s Tulsa, Okla., following the dynamics of law enforcement and vigilantes.

“It’s astonishing to think how prophetic the show was in a way, because first with the coronavirus and the idea that something happened that gave the entire world a common enemy and that that would help bring peace if we had something big to fight together,” Smart said in a 2020 interview with theLos Angeles Times.“But then it was set against a historical event of unbelievable brutality against the Black community. It’s just incredible that [creator Damon Lindelof] wrote that right before [the COVID-19 pandemic] happened, right before.”

08of 10’Mare of Easttown’Jean Smart on ‘Mare of Easttown’ in 2021.Michele K. Short/HBOSmart earned Emmy and Screen Actors Guild nominations for playing Kate Winslet’s mom, Helen Fahey, in the 2021 limited seriesMare of Easttown.“Kate Winslet, what a doll, what a dream,“Smart told Drew Barrymore.And that bond translated to off-screen, too. In fact, when Smart took an unexpectedly intense tumble on set, Winslet was at her side when the paramedics arrived.“Kate was so sweet … my back hurt so bad I thought I’d broken it. She said, ‘It’s all right Mummy, they’re coming Mummy.’ “When the paramedics had Smart secured, one noted, " ‘Boy your daughter was sure worried about you,’ " Smart recalled. “I went, ‘What? Who? Oh no, that was an actress, she was playing my daughter, she just calls me mummy. Didn’t you recognize her?’ “Once the EMT realized who he’d seen, “He went, ‘I missed Kate Winslet?!’ " Smart remembered with a laugh. “I’m going, ‘Could you get back to the job at hand please?’ "

08of 10

‘Mare of Easttown’

Jean Smart on ‘Mare of Easttown’ in 2021.Michele K. Short/HBO

Michele K. Short/HBO

Smart earned Emmy and Screen Actors Guild nominations for playing Kate Winslet’s mom, Helen Fahey, in the 2021 limited seriesMare of Easttown.

“Kate Winslet, what a doll, what a dream,“Smart told Drew Barrymore.

And that bond translated to off-screen, too. In fact, when Smart took an unexpectedly intense tumble on set, Winslet was at her side when the paramedics arrived.

“Kate was so sweet … my back hurt so bad I thought I’d broken it. She said, ‘It’s all right Mummy, they’re coming Mummy.’ "

When the paramedics had Smart secured, one noted, " ‘Boy your daughter was sure worried about you,’ " Smart recalled. “I went, ‘What? Who? Oh no, that was an actress, she was playing my daughter, she just calls me mummy. Didn’t you recognize her?’ "

Once the EMT realized who he’d seen, “He went, ‘I missed Kate Winslet?!’ " Smart remembered with a laugh. “I’m going, ‘Could you get back to the job at hand please?’ "

09of 10’Hacks’Jean Smart on ‘Hacks’ in 2024.Jake Giles Netter/MaxSmart has been on a roll playing comedian Deborah Vance onHacks,winning three Emmys and two Screen Actors Guild Awards for the part to date.“When I read the script, I said, ‘This is everything I could possibly want for my next job,’ ” Smart toldThe Hollywood Reporterin June of 2024. “But I needed to be sure that real stand-ups could believe I was a comic.““I had never been a comedian, so they were the real litmus test. And I passed, I think!”she added.

09of 10

‘Hacks’

Jean Smart on ‘Hacks’ in 2024.Jake Giles Netter/Max

Jake Giles Netter/Max

Smart has been on a roll playing comedian Deborah Vance onHacks,winning three Emmys and two Screen Actors Guild Awards for the part to date.

“When I read the script, I said, ‘This is everything I could possibly want for my next job,’ ” Smart toldThe Hollywood Reporterin June of 2024. “But I needed to be sure that real stand-ups could believe I was a comic.”

“I had never been a comedian, so they were the real litmus test. And I passed, I think!”she added.

10of 10

Bonus: ‘Kim Possible’

Jean Smart on ‘Kim Possible’ in 2002.Courtesy of Everett; J. Vespa/WireImage

Courtesy of Everett; J. Vespa/WireImage

source: people.com