Shawnee Smith | |
---|---|
Born | |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1978–present |
Spouse(s) | Jason Reposar (divorced) Kai Mattoon (divorced) |
Children | 2 |
Shawnee Smith (born July 3, 1969) is an American actress and singer. She began her acting career at a young age, making her feature film debut at age 11 in Annie (1982). A few years later, she made her stage debut in To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday (1984) and won a Drama-League Critics Award. In the late 1980s, she was cast in smaller roles before getting roles in The Blob (1988) and Who's Harry Crumb? (1989).
She made guest appearances on Murder, She Wrote and The X-Files across the 1990s, before being cast in a main role of the sitcom Becker (1998–2004). She played Amanda Young in Saw (2004) and reprised her role in the sequels Saw II (2005), Saw III (2006), Saw VI (2009) and Saw X (2023). She hosted season one of the VH1 acting competition Scream Queens (2008) and played Jennifer Goodson in Anger Management (2012–2014).
Smith was born on July 3, 1969, at Orangeburg Regional Hospital in Orangeburg, South Carolina. [1] [2] She is the second child of Patricia Ann (née Smoak), an oncology nurse, and James H. Smith, a financial planner and former US Air Force pilot. When she was five months old, her family relocated from South Carolina to West Los Angeles, California. Her parents divorced when she was two years old and her mother remarried five years later when they moved to San Fernando Valley. [2] [3]
Smith made her television debut in a McDonald's commercial at age eight. [3] At age 11, she made her feature film debut in John Huston's 1982 adaptation of the Broadway musical Annie , as one of Annie Bennett Warbucks's fellow orphans. [3] The next year, she sang on The Merv Griffin Show . [2] At age 15, Smith won her first stage role in the Los Angeles play, To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday where co-star Richard Dreyfuss noticed in rehearsals her potential and suggested she be given a leading part. She went on to win the Drama-League Critics Award for her performance. [2]
In 1985, she had small parts in, Not My Kid , Cagney & Lacey and Iron Eagle (1986). [2] [4] [5] [6] In 1987, Smith played a pregnant student Rhonda in Summer School . [7] The following year, her first starring role came with the remake of The Blob . [8] In 1988, Smith starred in television film I Saw What You Did , a remake of the 1965 film of the same name. [9]
Smith had a supporting role alongside John Candy and Annie Potts in the 1989 film Who's Harry Crumb? , where Smith plays a teen who helps Harry Crumb locate her kidnapped sister. [10] That same year, she co-starred with Jennie Garth and Barbara Eden in the short-lived TV series Brand New Life .
The following year, she co-starred in Michael Cimino's remake of the thriller Desperate Hours . She took a three-year break from acting in the early 1990s, primarily because she had outgrown teenage roles and had a hard time finding work. [3] She made a guest appearance on the 200th episode of Murder, She Wrote in 1993. [11] That following year, she played Julie Lawry in the television miniseries The Stand , based on the novel by Stephen King. [12] Smith made a guest appearance in the 1994 The X-Files episode "Firewalker", playing Jessie O'Neil. [13]
In 1998, Smith was cast as Linda in CBS's sitcom Becker , playing the office's aide of Dr. John Becker (Ted Danson). [14] After airing three episodes to high ratings, CBS ordered a full season. [15] She was a main character for all six seasons until its cancellation in 2004. [16]
In 2003, she lent her voice to an episode of the Disney cartoon Kim Possible as Vivian Porter. [17] Also in 2003, she was cast in James Wan's low budget horror film, Saw , as Amanda Young. A small part, opposite Tobin Bell, she filmed her scene within one day and while battling the flu. [18] While initially a direct-to-video release was planned, test screenings in March 2004 turned out positive prompting Lionsgate to release it theatrically that October. [19] It became a box office success, grossing $103 million worldwide. [20] She would reprise her role in Saw II (2005), Saw III (2006), Saw VI (2009), and Saw X (2023). [21] [22] The Saw franchise went on to become one of the highest-grossing horror franchises of all time, grossing over $1 billion worldwide, as of 2021. [19]
Smith began working on a solo album in 2004 with producer Chris Goss, but the project was never completed. In an interview with Radio Free in October 2005, she stated, "between being a mom, and working, and growing another baby, I have not had time to give attention to music for a while." [23] Smith contributed to the soundtrack of Saw III in 2006 with vocals on Hydrovibe's song "Killer Inside", [24] and to the soundtrack for Catacombs as a solo vocalist with the song "Please Myself". [25]
In 2006, Smith made an appearance in the 10-minute short film trailer Repo! The Genetic Opera , directed by Bousman. The trailer was filmed after completing Saw III to try to pitch the idea to film producers. [26] In 2007, she was part of a country rock music group with actress Missi Pyle called Smith & Pyle. [27] Their first album, It's OK to Be Happy, was released digitally through iTunes and Amazon.com in 2008. [28]
In 2008, Smith played Detective Gina Harcourt in the FEARnet original series 30 Days of Night: Dust to Dust and also served as executive producer. It premiered in July 17 with six webisodes. [29] Smith was the host and one of three mentors on the VH1 reality television series, Scream Queens , which aired from October 2008 to December 2008. [30] Smith did not return for the second season due to scheduling conflicts and was replaced with Jaime King. [31]
Smith played the role of Dr. Sullivan, child psychiatrist, in The Grudge 3 that was released direct-to-video on May 12, 2009.
Smith appeared in the series premiere of Law & Order: Los Angeles titled, "Hollywood", on September 29, 2010. [32] In 2012, she had her first voice role in a video game, Lollipop Chainsaw . [33] From 2012 to 2014, Smith starred as Jennifer Goodson, the ex-wife of Charlie Sheen's character in the TV series Anger Management . [34]
She provided vocals on a cover of Steve Miller Band's "Abracadabra" by Eagles of Death Metal after Jesse Hughes overheard her singing the song in a studio bathroom. [35] This cover was released in 2019. [36]
Smith co-starred with Dean Winters in the 2021 indie comedy film Christmas vs. the Walters . [37] Smith reprised her role as Amanda Young in Saw X released in September 2023. [38] She appeared in the slasher film Bloodline Killer in April 2024. [39]
Smith was married to photographer Jason Reposar. They have a daughter, born 1999. She was later married to musician Kai Mattoon; they divorced and have a son, born 2005. [3] [8] [40] Smith is a convert to Eastern Orthodoxy. [41]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1982 | Annie | Dancer | |
1986 | Iron Eagle | Joenie | |
1987 | Summer School | Rhonda Altobello | |
1988 | The Blob | Meg Penny | |
1989 | Who's Harry Crumb? | Nikki Downing | |
1990 | Desperate Hours | May Cornell | |
1995 | Leaving Las Vegas | Biker girl | |
The Low Life | "Little Tramp" Woman | ||
1996 | Female Perversions | Make-up salesgirl | |
1997 | Every Dog Has Its Day | Redhead | |
Dead Men Can't Dance | Sgt. Addy Cooper | ||
Men | Clara | ||
Dogtown | Tammy Hayes | ||
Bombshell | Shelly | ||
Eat Your Heart Out | Nicole | ||
1998 | Armageddon | Redhead | |
Carnival of Souls | Sandra Grant | ||
The Party Crashers | Carolyn | ||
1999 | A Slipping-Down Life | Faye-Jean Lindsay | |
Breakfast of Champions | Bonnie MacMahon | ||
2002 | Never Get Outta the Boat | Dawn | |
2004 | Saw | Amanda Young | |
The Almost Guys | Bigger | ||
2005 | The Island | Suzie | |
Saw II | Amanda Young | ||
2006 | Saw III | ||
2009 | The Grudge 3 | Dr. Sullivan | Direct to video |
2009 | Saw VI | Amanda Young | |
2010 | Kill Speed | Honey | |
2013 | Jayne Mansfield's Car | Vicky Caldwell | |
2013 | Grace Unplugged | Michelle Trey | |
2016 | Savannah Sunrise | Joy | |
2016 | Believe | Dr. Nancy Wells | |
2021 | Christmas vs. the Walters | Diane Walters | |
2023 | Saw X | Amanda Young | |
2024 | Bloodline Killer | Moira Cole | |
TBA | Psychopomp† | [42] | |
Slay† | [42] |
† | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1984 | Silver Spoons | Tawny | Episode: "Growing Pains: Part 1" |
1985 | Not My Kid | Carol | Television film |
1985 | It's Your Move | Brenda | Episode: "The Experts" |
1985 | Cagney & Lacey | Mrs. Zal's daughter | Episode: "The Psychic" |
1985 | Crime of Innocence | Jodi Hayward | Television film |
1986 | All Is Forgiven | Sonia Russell | Recurring role; 9 episodes |
1986 | Easy Prey | Tina Marie Risico | Television film |
1988 | Bluegrass | Alice Gibbs | Television film |
1988 | I Saw What You Did | Kim Fielding | Television film |
1989–1990 | Brand New Life | Amanda Gibbons | Recurring role; 6 episodes |
1990 | Lucky Chances | Olympia Stanislopolous Golden | Television miniseries |
1993 | Murder, She Wrote | Jill Cleveland | Episode: "Bloodlines" |
1994 | The Stand | Julie Lawry | Television miniseries; 3 episodes |
1994 | The X-Files | Jessie O'Neil | Episode: "Firewalker" |
1996 | Face of Evil | Jeanelle Polk | Television film |
1997 | Something Borrowed, Something Blue | Teri | Television film |
1997 | Arsenio | Laura Lauman | Recurring role; 6 episodes |
1997 | The Shining | Waitress | Television miniseries |
1997–1998 | The Tom Show | Florence Madison | Recurring role; 19 episodes |
1998 | Players | Lila | Episode: "Confidence Man" |
1998 | Twice Upon a Time | Maggie Fowler | Television film |
1998–2004 | Becker | Linda | Main role; 129 episodes |
2003 | Kim Possible | Vivian Porter (voice) | Episode: "Grudge Match" |
2005 | Washington Street | Television film | |
2007 | Traveling in Packs | Ivy | Unsold pilot [43] |
2007 | Secrets of an Undercover Wife | Lisa Wilder-Crews | Television film |
2008 | 30 Days of Night: Dust to Dust | Detective Gina Harcourt | Television miniseries; also executive producer [29] |
2008 | Scream Queens | As herself | Host and mentor; 8 episodes |
2010–2011 | The Secret Life of the American Teenager | Carrie |
|
2010 | Law & Order: Los Angeles | Trudy Sennett | Episode: "Hollywood" |
2012 | Reel America | Lisa Slotnik | Television film |
2012–2014 | Anger Management | Jennifer Goodson | Main role; 100 episodes |
2023 | City on Fire | Ramona | Recurring role; 4 episodes |
Heather Laurie Holden is an American-Canadian actress, producer, model, and human rights activist. She is best known for her portrayals as Marita Covarrubias in The X-Files (1996–2002), Andrea Harrison in AMC's The Walking Dead, and Amanda Dumfries in The Mist (2007).
Saw II is a 2005 horror film directed by Darren Lynn Bousman and written by Leigh Whannell and Bousman. It is the sequel to 2004's Saw and the second installment in the Saw film series. The film stars Donnie Wahlberg, Franky G, Glenn Plummer, Beverley Mitchell, Dina Meyer, Emmanuelle Vaugier, Erik Knudsen, Shawnee Smith, and Tobin Bell. In the film, a group of ex-convicts are trapped by the Jigsaw Killer inside a house and must pass a series of deadly tests to retrieve the antidote for a nerve agent that will kill them in two hours.
Missi Pyle is an American actress and singer. She has appeared in a number of films, including Galaxy Quest (1999), Josie and the Pussycats (2001), Bringing Down the House (2003), Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008), The Artist (2011), Gone Girl (2014), Captain Fantastic (2016), and Ma (2019).
Scout Taylor-Compton is an American actress. She has frequently worked in the horror genre, most notably as Laurie Strode in the 2007 remake of Halloween and its 2009 sequel. Outside of horror, she portrayed musician Lita Ford in the biographical drama film The Runaways (2010).
Saw III is a 2006 horror film directed by Darren Lynn Bousman from a screenplay by Leigh Whannell and a story by Whannell and James Wan. It is the third installment in the Saw film series and a sequel to 2005's Saw II, starring Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith, Angus Macfadyen, Bahar Soomekh, and Dina Meyer.
Amanda Young is a fictional character created by James Wan and Leigh Whannell and is one of the antagonists in the Saw franchise. She first appeared in Saw (2004), portrayed by Shawnee Smith, as a victim of one of serial killer Jigsaw's traps. Amanda's role was expanded in subsequent films, where she served as an apprentice to Jigsaw, with the goal of succeeding him after his death. Amanda has physically appeared in five of the ten films in the series. The character has gone on to appear in various other media, including video games and comic books.
Betsy Russell is an American actress who is best known for her roles in Private School (1983), Tomboy (1985), and as Jill Tuck, one of the primary characters of the Saw film series from 2006 to 2010.
Juno Temple is an English actress. She is known for her roles in the comedy series Ted Lasso (2020–2023) and in the fifth season of the black comedy-crime drama series Fargo (2023–2024). She earned Primetime Emmy Award nominations for both as well as a Golden Globe Award nomination for the latter. She also portrayed Teddy Payne in the superhero film Venom: The Last Dance (2024).
Johanna Braddy is an American actress. She played the leading role in the 2009 horror film The Grudge 3, and has appeared in Pop Rocks (2004), Hurt (2009), Easy A (2010), Paranormal Activity 3 (2011), and The Levenger Tapes (2011). She starred as Jenny Matrix in the web series Video Game High School from 2012 to 2014. In 2015, Braddy co-starred as Anna Martin in the Lifetime dark comedy-drama series Unreal. She also starred as Shelby Wyatt in the ABC thriller series Quantico.
Julianna Guill is an American actress. She is known for her roles in films such as Friday the 13th (2009), Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011), The Apparition (2012), and Alex of Venice (2014). Guill has also appeared as Scarlet Hauksson on the web series My Alibi (2008–2009), Christie DeWitt on the TBS comedy drama series Glory Daze (2010–2011), Becca Riley on the Bravo comedy drama series Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce (2014–2017), and Jessie Nevin on the FOX medical drama series The Resident (2018–2023). She currently stars as Marybeth Pickett on the Paramount+ neo-western crime series Joe Pickett (2021–present).
Saw VI is a 2009 horror film directed by Kevin Greutert and written by Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan. The film stars Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Betsy Russell, Mark Rolston, Peter Outerbridge, and Shawnee Smith. It is a sequel to 2008's Saw V and the sixth installment in the Saw film series.
Scream Queens is an American reality series on VH1 produced by Joke Productions and Lionsgate Television that premiered in October 2008. The show chronicles a group of unknown actresses competing for a role in the Saw film series. Tanedra Howard won the first season and gained a role in Saw VI. The second season began airing on August 2, 2010, and the winner, Gabby West, won a role in Saw 3D.
Holland Roden is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Lydia Martin in MTV's teen drama series Teen Wolf, Zoe Woods in Syfy's horror anthology series Channel Zero: Butcher's Block, Bridget Cleary in Amazon Prime Video's horror anthology documentary series Lore and as Erin Isaacs in the horror film No Escape.
Jigsaw is a 2017 American horror film directed by the Spierig Brothers and written by Josh Stolberg and Peter Goldfinger. It is the eighth installment in the Saw film series and stars Matt Passmore, Callum Keith Rennie, Clé Bennett, and Hannah Emily Anderson, with Tobin Bell returning to his role as John Kramer / Jigsaw. The plot follows a group of people who find themselves forced to participate in a series of deadly "games" inside a barn. Meanwhile, the police investigate a new series of murders that fit the modus operandi of the eponymous Jigsaw Killer (Bell), who has been dead for almost a decade.
Sophia Lillis is an American actress. She starred as Beverly Marsh in the horror films It (2017) and It: Chapter Two (2019), as well as a teenager with telekinesis in the Netflix drama series I Am Not Okay With This (2020). Lillis has also appeared in the HBO psychological thriller miniseries Sharp Objects (2018) and the film Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023).
Madison Elizabeth Iseman is an American actress. She is known for starring in the CMT comedy television series Still the King (2016–2017). She is also known for appearing in the psychological thriller film Fear of Rain (2021), the fantasy adventure comedy films Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) and Jumanji: The Next Level (2019), the comedy horror film Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween (2018), the supernatural horror film Annabelle Comes Home (2019) and the Amazon Prime Video horror television series I Know What You Did Last Summer (2021).
I Know What You Did Last Summer is an American horror media franchise owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, and consisting of three slasher films and one television series based on the 1973 novel by Lois Duncan. The first installment was written by Kevin Williamson, directed by Jim Gillespie, and released in 1997.
Saw X is a 2023 American horror film directed and edited by Kevin Greutert, and written by Peter Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg. The film is the tenth installment in the Saw film series, serving as a direct interquel set between Saw (2004) and Saw II (2005). It stars Tobin Bell and Shawnee Smith, who reprise their roles from the previous films, alongside Synnøve Macody Lund, Steven Brand, Renata Vaca, and Michael Beach. The film sees John Kramer (Bell) travelling to Mexico in hopes that an experimental procedure may cure his terminal cancer. John later discovers that the operation is a scam, prompting him to kidnap those responsible and subject them to his trademark death traps as retribution, with Amanda Young (Smith) acting as his accomplice.
Bloodline Killer is a 2024 American slasher film directed by Ante Novakovic and written by Anthony and James Gaudioso. It stars Bruce Dern, Tyrese Gibson, Shawnee Smith and Taryn Manning.