Martha Smith

Known for ActingBorn 1952-10-16 (age 73)Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Out of her hundreds of TV appearances, Martha Smith is perhaps best known as "Francine Desmond", intelligence agent (and nemesis of star Kate Jackson) on the CBS series "Scarecrow and Mrs. King" (1983). Raised in Farmington, MI, Martha--an honor student with a mention in "Who's Who of American Students"--enrolled in Michigan State University at 17 to study psychology. She soon became an in-demand model and spokeswoman, whose travel demands uprooted her from her studies. She was "discovered" by a scout for "Playboy" magazine, selected as a centerfold (Miss July 1973) and promptly sent back on the road on press junkets. That road led to California. With the support of Universal Studios Contract Department, Martha honed her thespian skills in workshops while appearing in featured TV roles ("How the West Was Won" (1978), "Quincy M.E." (1976), "Charlie's Angels" (1976), etc.). Her first major film role was in the comedy blockbuster Animal House (1978), where her "Barbara 'Babs' Jansen" character, a devious cheerleader, was arch-rival to John Belushi's "Bluto". Shortly after, she shared star billing with Debbie Allen in the CBS pilot Ebony, Ivory and Jade (1979) (TV), which marked her professional singing/dancing debut.Read more

Movies & web series

Where Are They Now?: A Delta Alumni Update

Alex and the Doberman Gang

Oliver Beene

Hotel

Happy Days

Ebony, Ivory and Jade

The Defenders

Quincy, M.E.

Taxi

To the Moon, Alice

They Came from Outer Space

Greek

Animal House

How the West Was Won

Broadcast News

A Futile and Stupid Gesture

Hotel

Charlie's Angels

Scarecrow and Mrs. King

Kingpin

The Winds of Autumn

Blood Link

Animal House: The Inside Story

Loveless in Los Angeles

The Seduction of Dr. Fugazzi