Like Gary Sandy (What Ever Happened To story here), Jan Smithers is an actress known for essentially one role, that of Bailey Quarters on WKRP IN CINCINNATI.
She was first discovered almost by accident. In 1966, a Newsweek reporter was doing a story about the “typical American teenager”. Jan was interviewed. They took photographs of her for the story.
One of those turned up on the cover of the March 21, 1966 issue of the magazine.
Casting directors then began hiring her for commercials and in TV series (LOVE STORY, STARSKY AND HUTCH) as well as films. She played the lead in the acclaimed Appalachian drama WHERE THE LILIES BLOOM.
In 1978, WKRP went on the air. As Bailey, she was the shy member of the station’s team. The show had a sort of Betty or Veronica feel, with Jan playing the Betty to Loni Anderson’s Veronica. I always liked Jan more than Loni.
After the show went off the air in 1982, she would pop up on plenty of other TV shows in guest spots. She appeared in episodes of THE FALL GUY, LEGMEN, FINDER OF LOST LOVES, a few LOVE BOATS, MIKE HAMMER, COVER UP, MURDER SHE WROTE and HOTEL.
There was a little seen independent film in 1987 called MR. NICE GUY that doesn’t seemed to have much, or any release. But, that was it.
SO, WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO HER?
In the late 80’s, Jan Smithers married the star of HOTEL, James Brolin. The two had a daughter.
So, she left her acting career for a family life.
They were divorced in 1995, and Brolin would later marry Barbra Streisand. Jan has gone on the record to claim that Barbara had NOTHING to do with their breaking up as they married five years after the two broke up.
After living in Canada for a while, Jan has returned to Southern California. In 2007, she was involved in a car accident there. While tabloids have claimed all sorts of wild rumors about this accident, according to Jan herself, they are all untrue. Her car broke down and she was hit by a pickup while trying to get help.
There is talk of her returning to acting.
JAN SMITHERS ON DVD
JAN SMITHERS ON VHS
Thursday, September 17, 2009
WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO: JAN SMITHERS
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1 comments:
I had a huge crush on Ms. Smithers when WKRP was on the air (I'm not sure if she plugged right into "my type" or influenced what "my type" would be). And while other "star" crushes have come and gone, because she essentially disappeared after WKRP was cancelled, in my mind she's frozen in time.
Oh boy, is this too much info?
You run a fabulous site, BTW: keep up the good work!
--Ivan
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