Jean Smart made her acting debut in the 1979 TV film 'Before and After,' featuring Patty Duke and Betty White. Here's why it matters.
On September 20, 2026, TVLine reported that acclaimed actress Jean Smart made her television debut in a lesser-known ABC movie titled Before and After, which premiered in 1979. Smart, now well-known for her role in Hacks, was credited as "Woman Bather" in this film featuring notable stars Patty Duke and Betty White.
Before and After starred Patty Duke, who won an Academy Award for her role in The Miracle Worker. In this television movie, Duke played a housewife grappling with societal pressures related to her weight gain, seeking to lose it amid an unhealthy narrative endorsed by Betty White's character, an abusive weight-loss guru. Despite its star-studded cast, the film has faced criticism over the years for its fatphobic themes and problematic messaging regarding body image.
Smart’s role was minor, appearing in a pool scene where she briefly encourages other women to join her in the water. Though her participation was limited, the film marks an early step in her journey toward becoming a celebrated figure in television.
Following her debut, Smart quickly transitioned to more substantial roles. In 1983, she portrayed Joan Reynolds in the one-season ABC sitcom Reggie, with her breakout role coming three years later as a lead in the CBS series Designing Women. Over the decades, Smart has contributed to numerous acclaimed television programs, building a reputation for her versatility in both comedy and drama.
Her impressive resume includes appearances in notable shows like Frasier, Kim Possible, Fargo, and Watchmen. In recent years, she solidified her status in television history by winning an Emmy for every season of her current project, Hacks, making her the first actor to achieve such a feat.
The reporting from TVLine emphasizes the contrast between Smart’s early career and her current success, illustrating her growth as an actress. While Before and After has largely faded from public memory due to its controversial themes, it serves as a reminder of the pathways many actors navigate in their journeys toward recognition.
This early project highlights both Smart's humble beginnings in the industry and the evolving landscape of television that continues to contrast past narratives with contemporary views of body positivity and mental health.
This revelation adds a historical layer to Jean Smart's career, reminding audiences of the different societal standards in entertainment across generations. As new viewers discover her backstory, it brings awareness to the necessity of critical engagement with the media we consume and underscores how far both Smart and the television industry have come since 1979.
For those interested in the history of television and the evolution of acting careers, Smart’s debut offers a unique glimpse into how actors often springboard from overlooked roles into prominent places in pop culture.
For more on acting debuts, you might find these articles interesting: 9-1-1's Peter Krause's TV Acting Debut Was On A Forgotten Carol Burnett Comedy Show and Geena Davis Made Her TV Acting Debut on 'Buffalo Bill'.
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