Jean Smart

After college, Jean Smart began her career in regional theater across Washington, Alaska, and Oregon, performing with the Seattle Repertory Theater and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. In 1980, she appeared as Lady Macbeth in a production of Macbeth at the Pittsburgh Public Theater. In 1981, she received a Drama Desk Award nomination for Last Summer at Bluefish Cove. That same year, she appeared in the Broadway production of Piaf, reprising her role for the 1984 television adaptation.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Smart appeared in guest roles on television series including The Facts of Life, Alice, and Remington Steele. In 1983, she had roles on the short-lived series Teachers Only and Reggie. She appeared in the film Flashpoint (1984). In 1986, she began starring as Charlene Frazier Stillfield on Designing Women, remaining on the series through its fifth season. After departing the show, she starred in the television film Overkill: The Aileen Wuornos Story (1992) and appeared in the films Mistress (1992), Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993), and The Brady Bunch Movie (1995). She also appeared in the television productions The Yearling (1994), Scarlett (1995), and A Stranger In Town (1995). In 1995, she starred in the series High Society and later appeared in Style & Substance. Additional film roles included The Odd Couple II (1998), Guinevere (1999), and Forever Fabulous (1999).

In 2000, Smart was cast as Lana Gardner on Frasier, earning two Primetime Emmy Awards. That same year, she appeared in the Broadway revival of The Man Who Came to Dinner, receiving a Tony Award nomination. She had film roles in Sweet Home Alabama (2002), Bringing Down the House (2002), Garden State (2004), and I Heart Huckabees (2004). From 2000 to 2004, she starred on The District. Between 2002 and 2007, she voiced Dr. Ann Possible on Kim Possible and Pickles Oblong on The Oblongs, and in 2004 reprised her role on Hey Arnold!. She also starred in Center of the Universe (2004).

In 2006, Smart joined the cast of 24, earning Emmy nominations in 2006 and 2007. From 2007 to 2009, she appeared on Samantha Who?, winning a Primetime Emmy Award. Her film roles during this period included Lucky You (2007), Youth in Revolt (2009), and Barry Munday (2010). She also appeared on Hawaii Five-0 and received an Emmy nomination for Harry's Law (2012). In 2013, she appeared in the television film Call Me Crazy: A Five Film. In 2015, she starred in the second season of Fargo, winning a Critics’ Choice Television Award and receiving an Emmy nomination. She later appeared in Legion and the film The Accountant (2016). In 2018, she starred in the television film A Shoe Addict's Christmas. In 2019, she appeared in the HBO limited series Watchmen, receiving an Emmy nomination and a Critics’ Choice Television Award.

In 2021, Smart appeared in the HBO limited series Mare of Easttown. Beginning in 2021, she starred in the HBO Max series Hacks, winning Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025. In 2021, she co-starred in the film Senior Moment. In 2022, she appeared in Wildflower and Babylon. In 2024, she hosted the season 50 premiere of Saturday Night Live. In 2025, she had a cameo in The Studio and returned to Broadway in the one-woman play Call Me Izzy at Studio 54.