Madolyn Smith (born April 21, 1957) is a retired American actress, known for her roles in the films Urban Cowboy (1980), 2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984), and Funny Farm (1988).

Madolyn Smith
Born (1957-04-21) 21 April 1957 (age 67)
NationalityAmerican
Other namesMadolyn Smith Osborne
Alma materUniversity of Southern California
OccupationActress
Years active1980–1994, 2010
Spouse
(m. 1988)
Children2

Career

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Smith first came to public attention with her role as Pam in the 1980 film Urban Cowboy. She later co-starred in the films 2010 (1984), the sequel to 2001: A Space Odyssey, and All of Me (1984), a Steve Martin-Lily Tomlin comedy.[1] Reviewing the latter film, Pauline Kael wrote in The New Yorker that Smith was a "talented and stunning brunette ... who knows how to make guile and bitchery funny, and who has a comic charge comparable to Lily Tomlin's."[2] In the early 1980s she also appeared in several TV movies, including Pray TV, Rehearsal for Murder and Deadly Intentions. She portrayed Jehan Sadat, wife of Egyptian president Anwar Sadat, in the 1983 TV miniseries Sadat, and played Ernie Kovacs' wife Dorothy in the 1984 TV movie Ernie Kovacs: Between the Laughter.[1]

Smith starred as Tracy Whitney in the 1986 TV miniseries If Tomorrow Comes, based on the Sidney Sheldon novel of the same name.[3] She subsequently costarred in films like Funny Farm (1988) opposite Chevy Chase[1] and The Super (1991) with Joe Pesci; the 1990 TV movies The Plot to Kill Hitler and The Rose and the Jackal; and the 1990 miniseries The Kennedys of Massachusetts.

Smith guest-starred in a 1989 episode of the sitcom Cheers titled "What's Up, Doc?".[4] She was the first choice of the creators to replace Shelley Long.[5] She also appeared in multiple episodes of the 1993 drama series Class of '96. Her last TV appearance was in a 1994 episode of Due South, after which she formally retired. Smith later provided some narration in the 2010 documentary film Louis Sullivan: The Struggle for American Architecture.[6][7][8]

Personal life

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Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Smith graduated from the University of Southern California.[1] She married National Hockey League player Mark Osborne in 1988.

Filmography

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Film and Television Roles
Year Title Role Notes
1980 Urban Cowboy Pam
1981 Trapper John, M.D. Bonnie Wicks Episode: "That Old Gang of Mine"
1982 Pray TV Liz Oakes TV movie
1982 Rehearsal for Murder Karen Daniels TV movie
1983 The Other Woman Cindy Barnes TV movie
1983 Casablanca Episode: "Master Builder's Woman"
1983 Sadat Jihan Sadat Miniseries
1984 All of Me Peggy Schuyler
1984 2010 Caroline Floyd
1984 Ernie Kovacs: Between the Laughter Dorothy Kovacs TV movie
1985 Deadly Intentions Katherine Raynor TV movie
1986 If Tomorrow Comes Tracy Whitney Miniseries
1987 The Caller The Girl
1988 Funny Farm Elizabeth Farmer
1989 Cheers Dr. Sheila Rydell Episode: "What's Up, Doc?" (as Madolyn Smith Osborne)
1990 The Plot to Kill Hitler Countess Nina von Stauffenberg TV movie
1990 The Kennedys of Massachusetts Gloria Swanson Miniseries (as Madolyn Smith Osborne)
1990 The Rose and the Jackal Rose O'Neal Greenhow TV movie (as Madolyn Smith Osborne)
1991 Final Approach Casey Halsey
1991 The Super Naomi Bensinger (as Madolyn Smith Osborne)
1993 Class of '96 Dean Keller 4 episodes (as Madolyn Smith Osborne)
1994 Due South Mackenzie King Episode: "Diefenbaker's Day Off" (as Madolyn Smith-Osborne)
2010 Louis Sullivan: The Struggle for American Architecture Louis Sullivan (voice) Documentary film (as Madolyn Smith Osborne)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Richardson, John H. (June 14, 1988). "Madolyn Smith takes a shot at comedy". Ocala Star-Banner. Los Angeles Daily News. p. 4C. Retrieved July 23, 2013 – via Google News.
  2. ^ Kael, Pauline (1985). State of the Art. E. P. Dutton. pp. 222–224. ISBN 0-525-24369-0.
  3. ^ Buck, Jerry (March 16, 1986). "Madolyn Smith Plays Bank Clerk Turned Con Artist". Daytona Beach News-Journal. Associated Press. p. TV-4. Retrieved February 18, 2015 – via Google News.
  4. ^ Zuckerman, Faye (March 30, 1989). "Highlights". The Ledger. Lakeland, Florida. p. 4C. Retrieved July 23, 2013 – via Google News.
  5. ^ Ken Levine. "Hollywood & Levine: Episode 159" (Podcast). Wave Podcast Network.
  6. ^ "Louis Sullivan: The Struggle for American Architecture (2010)". The A.V. Club.
  7. ^ "Louis Sullivan: The Struggle for American Architecture". csu-csus.primo.exlibrisgroup.com.
  8. ^ "Documentary for Architects: Louis Sullivan: The Struggle for American Architecture - 2010". July 22, 2021.
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