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J. Smith-Cameron

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J. Smith-Cameron
Smith-Cameron in 2024
Born
Jean Isabel Smith

(1957-09-07) September 7, 1957 (age 67)
Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Alma materFlorida State University
OccupationActress
Years active1979–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2000)​
Children1

Jean Isabel Smith (born September 7, 1957), credited professionally as J. Smith-Cameron, is an American actress. She gained prominence for her roles as Janet Talbot in the Sundance TV series Rectify (2013–2016) and Gerri Kellman in the HBO series Succession (2018–2023), the latter of which earned her two Primetime Emmy Award nominations.

She spent a majority of her career in theatre, making her Broadway debut in the 1982 Beth Henley play Crimes of the Heart. She went on to receive a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play nomination for the Timberlake Wertenbaker play Our Country's Good (1989). She was also nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Play for Seán O'Casey's Juno and the Paycock (2014).

For her role in the film Nancy (2018), she was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female. Her other notable films include 84 Charing Cross Road (1987), Mighty Aphrodite (1995), Sabrina (1995), In & Out (1997), You Can Count on Me (2000), Margaret (2011), and Christine (2016). She also appeared in the television series True Blood (2010–2011), Divorce (2016–2018), Search Party (2017–2020), and Fleishman Is in Trouble (2022).

Early life and education

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Smith was born in Louisville, Kentucky, the daughter of architect Richard Sharp Smith and granddaughter of architect Richard Sharp Smith.[1] She was raised in Greenville, South Carolina.

She attended Florida State University for one year and was enrolled in its School of Theatre, where she met film director Victor Nuñez, who cast her as a lead in his film Gal Young 'Un (1979).[2] She also studied acting at HB Studio[3] in New York City.

She began being credited as "J. Smith" in college out of concern that her first name, Jeannie, was too girlish.[4] She added a family name, Cameron, when the Actors' Equity Association told her there was already a J. Smith, and there was a rule that two actors could not have the same professional name.[5]

Career

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She made her Broadway debut in August 1982, replacing Mia Dillon as Babe Botrelle in Crimes of the Heart.[6][7][8] She appeared as Maggie in the original Broadway cast of Lend Me a Tenor in 1989.[9] The cast of that play won an Outer Critics Circle Award, Special Awards.[10] She appeared in the Broadway production of Our Country's Good in 1991, where she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play.[11][12] She won an Obie Award for the Off-Broadway Drama Department production As Bees in Honey Drown (1997), which also earned her a Drama Desk nomination[13] and Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Outstanding Actress In A Play.[14] She was also nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Sarah, Sarah (2004).[15]

Her other Broadway credits include Night Must Fall (1999),[16] Tartuffe (2002),[17] and After the Night and the Music (2005).[18] She has appeared in many Off-Broadway plays, including at the Public Theater, the Second Stage Theatre and Playwrights Horizons.[19] She appeared in the Paul Rudnick play The Naked Truth Off-Broadway at the WPA Theatre in 1994,[20] for which she received a Drama Desk Award nomination.[21]

From November 1999 through April 2000, she appeared as Clare in Fuddy Meers at New York City Center, Stage II, for which she was nominated for the Outer Critics Circle Award as Outstanding Actress in a Play.[22] In March through June 2004, she appeared in the Manhattan Theatre Club Off-Broadway production of Sarah, Sarah.[23] In November through December 2009, she appeared Off-Broadway at the Acorn Theatre in her husband Kenneth Lonergan's play The Starry Messenger.[7] From October 2013 to December 2013, she starred in the Off-Broadway Irish Repertory Theater production of Juno and the Paycock as Juno Boyle. The New York Times' theatre critic Charles Isherwood wrote: "In one of the finest performances of her distinguished career on the New York stage, Ms. Smith-Cameron imbues her Juno with a steely pragmatism, but more important an emotional pliancy that makes her more prepared than the rest of her clan to beat back the onslaughts of ill fortune that beset them."[24]

Smith-Cameron later transitioned to more film and television roles to focus on her family.[25] She portrayed seven different characters in all three primary shows of the Law & Order franchise. She played Janet Talbot, the mother of a death row inmate, in Sundance TV's Rectify for four seasons.[25] She played lawyer Gerri Kellman, a role originally written for a man, on the HBO series Succession (2018–2023).[26] The role earned her nominations for two Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.[27] In 2023 she acted in a revival of the play Love Letters opposite Victor Garber at the Irish Repertory Theatre. She acted in a limited engagement from September 19 to 24.[28] In 2024 she is set to make her West End debut in the revival of Juno and the Paycock opposite Mark Rylance at the Gielgud Theatre.[29]

Personal life

[edit]

Smith-Cameron is married to playwright, screenwriter, and film director Kenneth Lonergan. They have one daughter, Nellie.[4][5]

Acting credits

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Film

[edit]
Key
† Denotes works filming or post-production
Year Title Role Note
1979 Gal Young Un Elly
1987 84 Charing Cross Road Ginny [30]
1992 That Night Carol Bloom
1994 She Led Two Lives Angela Anderson
1995 Jeffrey Sharon
1995 Mighty Aphrodite Bud's Wife [31]
1995 A Modern Affair Diane
1995 Let It Be Me Clarice
1995 Sabrina Carol [32]
1996 Harriet the Spy Mrs. Welsch [33]
1996 The First Wives Club Miss Sullivan [34]
1996 The Proprietor New York - Texans
1997 Arresting Gena Caroline Lee
1997 In & Out Trina Paxton [35]
1999 The Rage: Carrie 2 Barbara Lang
2000 You Can Count on Me Mabel [36]
2005 Bittersweet Place Violet
2006 A Very Serious Person Carol
2011 Margaret Joan Cohen [37]
2012 Man on a Ledge Psychiatrist
2014 Like Sunday, Like Rain Mary
2016 Christine Peg Chubbuck
2016 No Pay, Nudity Debra
2018 Nancy Ellen Lynch
2022 Vengeance Sharon Shaw
2022 The Year Between Sherri Miller
2024 Turtles All the Way Down Professor Abbott

Television

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Sources: The New York Times[38][39]

Title Year Role Note
1984–1985 Guiding Light Nancy Ferris Unknown episodes
1985–1989 The Equalizer Various 3 episodes
1990 H.E.L.P. Mrs. Perry Episode: "Fire Down Below"
1990–1991 The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd Ramona Luchesse 12 episodes
1996 Homicide: Life on the Street Avis Griffin Episode: "Sniper: Part 2"
1996 Spin City Lisa Episode: "The Competition"
1992, 1998,
2003, 2009 		Law & Order Various 4 episodes
1998 American Experience Mrs. Howard Episode: "A Midwife's Tale"
2001, 2007 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Various 2 episodes
2003 K Street Tommy's Wife 3 episodes
2007 Six Degrees Maggie Newton 2 episodes
2008 Canterbury's Law Elissa Shapiro Episode: "Sweet Sixteen"
2010 The Big C Vivian Episode: "Playing the Cancer Card"
2010–2011 True Blood Melinda Mickens 9 episodes[40]
2011 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Diane Eskas Episode: "Educated Guess"
2013–2016 Rectify Janet Talbot 30 episodes
2014 Madam Secretary Alice Millevoi Episode: "Collateral Damage"
2015 The Good Wife Samara Steel Episode: "Restraint"
2016–2018 Divorce Elaine Campbell 3 episodes
2017–2020 Search Party Mary Ferguson 7 episodes
2018 Mozart in the Jungle Amy Rutledge Episode: "If I Was an Elf, I Would Tell You"
2018–2023 Succession Gerri Kellman Series regular
2022 Fleishman Is in Trouble Barbara Hiller Episode: "God, What an Idiot He Was!"
2023 Waco: The Aftermath Lois Roden 4 episodes
2023 Teenage Euthanasia Marnie (voice) Episode: "Mother's Day"
2024 In the Know Barb (voice) 6 episodes
2024 Hacks Kathy Vance 2 episodes

Theatre

[edit]

Sources:[41][42]

Year Title Role Venue Theatre
1982 Crimes of the Heart Babe Botrelle (replacement) Broadway John Golden Theatre
1983 The Knack Nancy Off-Broadway 23rd Street Theater
1985 The Voice of the Turtle Sally Middleton Off-Broadway Union Square Theatre
1985 Alice and Fred Alice Mitchell Off-Broadway Cherry Lane Theatre
1986 Women of Manhattan Rhonda Off-Broadway New York City Center
1986 Wild Honey Marya Yerfimovna Grekova Broadway Virginia Theatre
1989 Lend Me a Tenor Maggie Broadway Royale Theatre
1989 Our Country's Good 2nd Lt. William Faddy, Dabby Bryant Broadway Nederlander Theatre
1990 Mi Vida Loca Diana Off-Broadway New York City Center
1992 Little Egypt Bernadette Waltz Off-Broadway Playwrights Horizons
1992 The Real Inspector Hound and
The Fifteen Minute Hamlet 		Felicity
Ophelia 		Broadway Criterion Center Stage Right
1992 On The Bum, Or The Next Train Through Norma Off-Broadway Playwrights Horizons
1993 Traps Christie Off-Broadway New York Theatre Workshop
1993 Owners Marion Off-Broadway New York Theatre Workshop
1993 Desdemona: A Play About a Handkerchief Desdemona Off-Broadway Circle Repertory Theatre
1994 The Naked Truth Sissy Bermiss Darnley Off-Broadway WPA Theatre
1995 Don Juan in Chicago Dona Elvira Off-Broadway Primary Stages
1995 The Play's the Thing Ilona Szabo Broadway Criterion Center Stage Right
1996 Blue Window Libby Off-Broadway New York City Center
1997 As Bees In Honey Drown Alexa Vere de Vere Off-Broadway Lucille Lortel Theatre
1999 The Memory of Water Mary Off-Broadway New York City Center
1999 Night Must Fall Olivia Grayne Broadway Lyceum Theatre
1999 Tartuffe Elmire Off-Broadway Delacorte Theater
1999 Fuddy Meers Claire Off-Broadway New York City Center
2001 Music from a Sparkling Planet Tamara Tomorrow Off-Broadway Greenwich House Theatre
2003 Tartuffe Dorine Broadway American Airlines Theatre
2004 Sarah, Sarah Sarah Grosberg, Jeannie Grosberg Off-Broadway New York City Center
2004 The God of Hell Emma Off-Broadway Actors Studio Drama School Theatre
2005 After the Night and the Music Gloria, Kathleen, Mitzi Grade Broadway Biltmore Theatre
2006 Pen Helen Off-Broadway Playwrights Horizons
2008 Good Boys and True Elizabeth Off-Broadway Second Stage Theatre
2009 The Starry Messenger Anne Williams Off-Broadway Theatre Three
2010 That Hopey Changey Thing Jane Apple Halls Off-Broadway Anspacher Theater
2011 Sweet and Sad Jane Apple Halls Off-Broadway Anspacher Theater
2012 The Maids Madame Off-Broadway Theater at St. Clement's
2012 Sorry Jane Apple Halls Off-Broadway Anspacher Theater
2013 Juno and the Paycock Juno Boyle Off-Broadway Irish Repertory Theatre
2015 Dear Elizabeth Elizabeth (replacement) Off-Broadway McGinn/Cazale Theater
2018 Peace for Mary Frances Alice Off-Broadway Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre
2023 Love Letters Melissa Gardner Off-Broadway Irish Repertory Theatre
2024 Juno and the Paycock Juno Boyle West End debut Gielgud Theatre, London

Music videos

[edit]
Year Title Artist Note
2023 "Say It Like You Mean It" Sleater-Kinney Lead role

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Association Category Work Result Ref.
1991 Tony Award Best Featured Actress in a Play Our Country's Good Nominated
1995 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play The Naked Truth Nominated
1998 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Play As Bees In Honey Drown Nominated
Obie Award Distinguished Performance by an Actress Won
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actress in a Play Nominated
2000 Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actress in a Play Fuddy Meers Nominated
2004 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Play Sarah, Sarah Nominated
2012 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Ensemble Sweet and Sad Won
Obie Award Distinguished Performance by an Ensemble Won
2014 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actress in a Play Juno and the Paycock Nominated
2019 Independent Spirit Award Best Supporting Actress Nancy Nominated [43]
2022 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Succession Nominated [44]
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series Won
Critics Choice Award Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Nominated
Hollywood Critics Association Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Nominated
2023 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Nominated [45]
Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Nominated
2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Won [46]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ @j_smithcameron (11 December 2019). "@cameron64801772 @Variety Both my dad and grandad were architects named Richard Sharp Smith (I and II)— how are we related?!😯🙂" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ "Gal Young 'Un Listing". TCM.com. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
  3. ^ "Alumni". hbstudio.org. HB Studio. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Smith-Cameron, J. (November 15, 2021). "J. Smith-Cameron Knows What You're Thinking About Gerri". The New Yorker (Interview). Interviewed by Rachel Syme. New York: Condé Nast. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Vellela, Tony (October 5, 2001). "Smith-Cameron's role-changing, name-changing career". The Christian Science Monitor. p. 18. She and Lonergan are expecting their first child in late January.
  6. ^ Lawson, Carol. "Broadway:Musical 'Baby' is on the way, story of 3 1/2 couples", The New York Times, July 30, 1982, p.C2
  7. ^ a b Kaye, Kimberly (December 9, 2009). "What's Up, J. Smith-Cameron? The Starry Star on Life, Art and Why She Loves Ben Brantley". broadway.com.
  8. ^ " Crimes of the Heart see Replacement page" ibdb.com, accessed January 19, 2014
  9. ^ Rich, Frank. "Reviews/Theater; When One Tenor Is Much Like Another" The New York Times, March 3, 1989.
  10. ^ "Award Archives, 198801989" Archived 2014-02-01 at the Wayback Machine outercritics.org, accessed January 18, 2014
  11. ^ Shirley, Don. " 'Saigon,' 'Rogers' Lead the Tony Pack : Awards: Though neither received consistently enthusiastic reviews, both shows garner 11 nominations", Los Angeles Times, May 7, 1991.
  12. ^ Rich, Frank. Review/Theater; Broadway Season's Last Drama Offers a Defense of Theater", The New York Times, April 30, 1991.
  13. ^ "'As Bees in Honey Drown'" Archived 2012-10-02 at the Wayback Machine Internet Off-Broadway Database, accessed April 28, 2012
  14. ^ Viagas, Robert and Lefkowitz, David. " 'Lion King' Roars With Six Outer Critics Circle Awards" Archived 2014-02-01 at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, April 27, 1998
  15. ^ "Outstanding Actress in a Play – 'Sarah, Sarah' – J. – Smith-Cameron" Archived 2014-02-02 at the Wayback Machine, dramadesk.org, accessed January 20, 2014.
  16. ^ Jones, Kenneth and David, Lefkowitz. "Curtain Up on Broderick's 'Night Must Fall', Opening March 8 at Bway's Lyceum" Archived 2014-02-01 at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, March 5, 1999
  17. ^ Simonson, Robert. "Emerson, Smith-Cameron, Meisle Added to Bway 'Tartuffe' Cast" Archived 2014-02-01 at the Wayback Machine playbill.com, September 19, 2002
  18. ^ Sommer, Elyse (June 2, 2005). "A CurtainUp Review' 'After the Night and the Music'". Curtainup.com. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  19. ^ "J. Smith-Cameron". lortel.org. Internet Off-Broadway Database. Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  20. ^ Kuchwara, Michael. " The Naked Truth Opens Off Broadway" [permanent dead link‍] apnewsarchive.com, June 16, 1994
  21. ^ "Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play – 'The Naked Truth' – J. – Smith Cameron". dramadesk.org. Archived from the original on 2014-02-02. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
  22. ^ "'Fuddy Meers'". lortel.org. Internet Off-Broadway Database. Archived from the original on 2012-05-27. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
  23. ^ Sommer, Elyse (March 28, 2004). "A CurtainUp Review' 'Sarah, Sarah'". Curtainup.com.
  24. ^ Isherwood, Charles (October 25, 2013). "Theater Review. J. Smith-Cameron Stars in 'Juno and the Paycock'". The New York Times.
  25. ^ a b Blake, Meredith (2021-10-15). "On 'Succession,' Gerri calls the shots. J. Smith-Cameron knows the feeling". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
  26. ^ Baker, Katie (2019-08-12). "It's a Woman's World: The True Heroes of 'Succession'". The Ringer. Retrieved 2019-08-27.
  27. ^ "J. Smith-Cameron - Emmy Awards, Nominations, and Wins". Emmy Awards. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  28. ^ "Love Letters to Return to Irish Rep With Matthew Broderick, Brooke Shields, Victor Garber, More in Limited Runs". Playbill. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
  29. ^ "Mark Rylance and J. Smith-Cameron Will Star in West End Revival of Juno and the Paycock". Playbill. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  30. ^ " 84 Charing Cross Road Cast" The New York Times, accessed January 20, 2014
  31. ^ " 'Mighty Aphrodite' Cast" Archived 2014-02-01 at the Wayback Machine movies.tvguide.com, accessed January 18, 2014
  32. ^ "Cast and Crew, 'Sabrina'" tcm.com, accessed April 28, 2012
  33. ^ "Cast and Crew, 'Harriet the Spy'" allmovie.com, accessed April 28, 2012
  34. ^ " The First Wives Club Cast" The New York Times, accessed January 20, 2014
  35. ^ "Cast and Crew, 'In and Out'" allmovie.com, accessed April 28, 2012
  36. ^ Levy, Emanuel. "Film Reviews. 'You Can Count on Me'" Variety, February 1, 2000
  37. ^ "'Margaret' Cast and Crew" allmovie.com, accessed April 28, 2012
  38. ^ "Filmography" The New York Times, accessed January 18, 2014
  39. ^ "Smith-Cameron Credits" tvguide.com, accessed January 18, 2014
  40. ^ Probst, Andy. "Alfre Woodard, J. Smith-Cameron To Join HBO's True Blood'" theatermania.com, December 15, 2009
  41. ^ "J. Smith-Cameron (Performer)". Playbill. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  42. ^ "J. Smith-Cameron". Internet Off-Broadway Database. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  43. ^ "34th Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominations Announced". Film Independent. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  44. ^ "74th Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  45. ^ Lewis, Hilary (12 July 2023). "Emmys 2023: List of Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
  46. ^ "Nominations Announced for the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®" (Press release). Screen Actors Guild. January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
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