Jan Smithers(born July 3, 1949) is an American former actress, model and singer. She is best known for playingBailey Quarterson theCBSsitcomWKRP in Cincinnati(1978–1982).
Jan Smithers | |
|---|---|
| Born | Karin Jan Smithers[1] July 3, 1949[2] |
| Alma mater | Chouinard Art Institute |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1973–1987 |
| Known for | |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 1 |
Early life
editSmithers grew up in a middle-class family inWoodland Hills, Los Angeles.Her father was a lawyer, while her mother was a stay-at-home mom. She has three sisters, however her eldest sister died in a car accident at age 21.[3]
Smithers first reached the public eye as a teenager when, at 16, she was profiled and featured on the March 21, 1966 cover ofNewsweekseated on the back of a motorcycle.[4][3]She received offers from Hollywood agents as a result of that appearance.[3][5]
Smithers graduated from theTaft High SchoolinWoodland Hills,California.[6]She attended theChouinard Art Institutewhich is now known as the California Institute of the Arts.[3]
Career
editSmithers made her mark as a successful fashion model before embarking on an acting career.[6]
Smithers, in her early 20s, won a role in the 1974 feature film,Where the Lilies Bloom,about a household of children surviving in theAppalachian Mountains.In 1978 she got her biggest break, landing a role on the situation comedy,WKRP in CincinnatiplayingBailey Quarters.[3]
Personal life
editShe was the co-lead singer of the early 1970s band Hot Cup of Friends which featured Christopher Mancini (the son ofHenry Mancini).[3]
Smithers's first marriage was to Kipp Whitman from 1971 to 1972. From 1986 to 1995, she was married to actorJames Brolin[3]and was stepmother to his two children from a previous marriage; together they have one daughter, Molly Elizabeth. Smithers filed for divorce from Brolin in 1995.
After living inHalifax, Nova Scotia,Canada "for a few years", she returned to California.[5]In June 2014, Smithers attended a reunion of survivingWKRP in Cincinnaticast members hosted by thePaley Center for Media.[7]
Television and filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Love Story | Barbara | Episode: "Beginner's Luck" |
| 1974 | Where the Lilies Bloom | Devola | Feature film |
| 1974 | When the North Wind Blows | Lady in the Zoo | Feature film |
| 1976 | Starsky & Hutch | Sharman Crane | Episode: "Running" |
| 1978 | Our Winning Season | Cathy Wakefield | Feature film |
| 1978–82 | WKRP in Cincinnati | Bailey Quarters | Main cast (86 episodes) |
| 1980 | The Love Tapes | Carol Clark | TV movie |
| 1982 | The Love Boat | Sabrina Drake | Episode: "The Spoonmaker Diamond/Papa Doc/The Role Model/Julie's Tycoon" |
| 1983 | The Fall Guy | Cynthia Caldwell | Episode: "Spaced Out" |
| 1983 | The Love Boat | Aurora Adams | Episode: "Long Time No See/The Bear Essence/Kisses and Makeup" |
| 1984 | Legmen | Sarah Turner | Episode: "Take the Credit and Run" |
| 1984 | Hotel | Lacey Grant | Episode: "Encores" |
| 1984 | The Love Boat | Carol Cooperman | Episode: "By Hook or by Crook/Revenge with the Proper Stranger/Don't Get Mad, Get Even" |
| 1984 | Finder of Lost Loves | Barbara Hensen | Episode: "Old Friends" |
| 1985 | Mike Hammer | Shia Walters | Episode: "Firestorm" |
| 1985 | Cover Up | Karen Morris | Episode: "The Assassin" |
| 1985 | Murder, She Wrote | Kathy Farrell | Episode: "Sudden Death" |
| 1985 | Comedy Factory | Barrie Shepherd | Episode: "The Columnist" |
| 1986 | Hotel | Janice Copeland | Episode: "Triangles" |
| 1987 | Mr. Nice Guy | Dr. Lisa Rayon | Feature film |
References
edit- ^ab"Jan Smithers Biography".TV Guide.TV Guide.RetrievedApril 6,2024.
- ^Merrill, Brian (2006).On This Date: A Day-By-Day Look At Historical Events.Lulu.com. p. 127.ISBN9781430305019.
- ^abcdefgJones, Abigail (May 12, 2016)."An Interview With Jan Smithers, Newsweek Teen Cover Star in 1966".Newsweek.
- ^"The Teen-Agers".Newsweek.March 21, 1966.
- ^ab"Whatever Happened To Actress Jan Smithers".July 3, 2006. Archived fromthe originalon June 15, 2008.RetrievedJanuary 21,2008.
- ^abSells, Joel (May 28, 2024)."21 Fascinating Facts About Jan Smithers".Archived fromthe originalon June 3, 2024.RetrievedJune 3,2024.
- ^"Baby, If You've Ever Wondered: A WKRP in Cincinnati Reunion".The Paley Center for Media. June 4, 2014.
Further reading
edit- Vorpahl, Beverly (September 19, 1980). "'WKRP' stars: Behind the masks ".Spokane Daily Chronicle.Cowles Publishing Company.