Martha Smith
Known For
Acting
Born
1952-10-16 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Biography
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.
Most Known For
Happy Days
as Kathy - Dental Assistant
Quincy, M.E.
as Dianne Johnson
Charlie's Angels
as Shelley
Hotel
Taxi
as Mary Snyder
Greek
as Mary Beth
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
as Francine Desmond
The Defenders
as Anita
How the West Was Won
as Ellen Taylor
Animal House
as Barbara Sue 'Babs' Jansen
Oliver Beene
They Came from Outer Space
as Vicki McVicker
Kingpin
A Futile and Stupid Gesture
as Tour Guide
Broadcast News
as Aaron's Soundwoman
Loveless in Los Angeles
as Andrea
Hotel
as Mrs. Moyer
To the Moon, Alice
as Heather Morgan
Animal House: The Inside Story
as Self
The Winds of Autumn
as Maydell's Girl