An Interesting Look At Jean Smart’s Most Lucrative Movies, Net Worth and Family

Jean Smart is an American film, television, and stage actress best known for her comedic roles, one of the best known being her role as Charlene Frazier Stillfield on the CBS sitcom Designing Women. Jean Smart appeared on Broadway in 1981 as Marlene Dietrich in the biographical play Piaf.

Age/Date of Birth:	71 years old (13 September 1951)
Height:	5 feet 9 inches (1.76 m)
Ethnicity/Race:	White
Nationality:	American
Husband or Boyfriend:	Richard Gilliland (m. 1987)
Parents:	Father: Douglas Smart Mother: Kay Smart
Net Worth:	$4 million

Once Upon a time, Jean Smart was just a little girl who aspired to become a veterinarian. But then her interest in arts got kindled during her final year of high school and she underwent professional training as an actress.

She subsequently made her professional debut on the Pacific Northwest theatrical scene before making her screens debut in the late 70s. Smart is now one of the most revered thespians in Hollywood and has featured in several comedy blockbusters.

Her undeniable talent has also fetched her an array of awards and accolades including three Primetime Emmy Awards and two Critics’ Choice Television Awards. 

An Overview of Jean Smart’s Most Profitable Movies 

Since making her professional screen debut in the late 70s, Smart has gone on to acquire an impressive filmography comprising of numerous movies and TV series. On the big screen alone, the Seattle native has been a part of no less than 35 movies, most of which have been quite commercially fortunate. Let’s take a look at them.

Sweet Home Alabama (2002)

One of the most prominent ones is the 2002 movie Sweet Home Alabama, in which Jean played the role of Stella Kay Perry, the disapproving mother-in-law of lead character Melanie Carmichael (played by Reese Witherspoon). The film was made with a budget of $30 million and received mixed reviews from critics. It, however, turned out to be a commercial hit as it raked in $180.6 million at the box office.

Bringing Down the House (2003)

On the 7th of March 2003, the comedy film Bringing Down the House was released. Jean Smart portrayed the character of Kate Sanderson therein and the movie was both a critical and commercial success. It has an approval rating of 87% on Rotten Tomatoes and grossed $164.7 million on a budget of $33 million.

Hope Springs (2012)

Another Jean Smart movie that was both a critical and commercial success, Hope Springs is a 2012 romance drama which revolves around an old couple who are trying to rekindle the spark in their union. The movie featured the likes of Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones while Smart played the role of Eileen. Hope Springs received praise for its handling of mature relationships and grossed $114.3 million on a budget of $30 million. 

The Accountant (2016)

The Accountant is a 2016 action thriller about a savvy accountant trying to unravel embezzlement at a robotics company. The movie featured Anna Kendrick and Ben Affleck while Smart portrayed a company exec named Rita Blackburn. The Accountant reaped more than thrice its budget, earning $155 million on a budget of $44 million. It also received praise for its action-packed plot.

Her Commercial Hits That Were Panned 

A few of Jean Smart’s movies have enjoyed a successful run at the cinemas despite being a critical failure. A good example is the 2010 comedy-drama Life As We Know It. The movie revolves around two young people, Eric and Holly who are forced into close quarters to care for the orphaned child of their friends. In the movie, Smart portrayed the role of Holly’s mother, Mrs. Berenson. Life As We Know It was panned for its formulaic plot and poorly-written script. It however impressed moviegoers as it grossed $105.7 million on a budget of $38 million.

Another profitable Jean Smart movie that failed to please the critics is Disney’s The Kids. This is a 2000 fantasy-comedy-drama about an abrasive consultant who is forced to re-examine his life after he meets a boy who bears a striking resemblance to him. 

Disney’s The Kids featured the likes of Bruce Willis and Spencer Breslin while Smart portrayed the character of Deirdre Lafever. The movie received mixed reviews with one critic describing its message as ‘annoyingly simplistic’. It nevertheless grossed $110.3 million on a budget of $65 million.  

How Much Is Jean Smart Worth?

Smart has an estimated net worth of $4 million and she largely owes this to her career. The Seattle native has been lucky as she has enjoyed longevity that is quite rare in Hollywood.

While most people’s careers, especially women, decline as they get older, Smart’s case has been the opposite as she has continued to land a steady stream of work.

For instance, in 2019, she landed the plum role of Detective Laurie Blake on the HBO series, Watchmen. Watchmen is based on a DC Comics and in it, Smart portrays a former vigilante-turned-FBI agent who works to bring down white supremacists.

Her performance has fetched her several encomiums but she takes it all in stride. According to the actress, she is just happy to be entertaining audiences to this day and counts herself as extraordinarily fortunate. 

Meet Jean Smart’s Husband Richard Gilliland, and Children

It is often said that opposites attract but this is not the case with Jean Smart. The Watchmen star is happily married to a fellow actor named Richard Gilliland.

Gilliland is a native of Fort Worth, Texas and commenced his career around the same time as his wife. He has since featured in several movies and TV series including 24, Crossing Jordan, Designing Women, The White Buffalo, Operation Petticoat, Happy Hour, and The Practice.

Back to the couple’s love story, Smart first met her husband on the set of the hit TV sitcom, Designing Women, in 1987. She was immediately attracted to him and recruited the help of her co-stars to get his attention. The two subsequently started dating and tied the knot in June 1987. The couple has been together ever since and their union has stood the test of the time.

They have welcomed two kids: Connor Douglas and Bonnie Kathleen. The former was born in October 1989 and they adopted the latter in 2009. In a 2017 interview with Northwest Prime Time, Smart described her kids as sweet good people, stressing that she is grateful for them.