Person
Martha Smith
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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…
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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.
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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2018
A Futile and Stupid Gesture
Movie Tour Guide
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2010
The Defenders
TV show Anita
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2009
The Seduction of Dr. Fugazzi
Movie Kitty Carloff
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2008
Animal House: The Inside Story
Movie Self
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2007
Greek
TV show Mary Beth
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2007
Loveless in Los Angeles
Movie Andrea
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2003
Oliver Beene
TV show
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2003
Kingpin
TV show
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2003
Hotel
Movie Mrs. Moyer
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2003
Where Are They Now?: A Delta Alumni Update
Movie Barbara 'Babs' Jensen
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1991
To The Moon, Alice
Movie Heather Morgan
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1990
They Came from Outer Space
TV show Vicki McVicker
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1987
Broadcast News
Movie Aaron's Soundwoman
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1983
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
TV show Francine Desmond
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1982
Blood Link
Movie Hedwig
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1982
Hotel
TV show
More credits
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1980
Alex and the Doberman Gang
Movie Susan Hamilton
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1979
Ebony, Ivory and Jade
Movie Maggie 'Ivory' David
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1978
Taxi
TV show Mary Snyder
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1978
Animal House
Movie Barbara Sue 'Babs' Jansen
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1977
How the West Was Won
TV show Ellen Taylor
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1976
Quincy, M.E.
TV show Dianne Johnson
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1976
Charlie's Angels
TV show Shelley
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1976
The Winds of Autumn
Movie Maydell's Girl
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1974
Happy Days
TV show Kathy - Dental Assistant
