The Enduring Love: Inside Jean Smart’s 33-Year Marriage To Late Husband Richard Gilliland And Her Recent Heartbreak
The enduring love story of Hollywood powerhouse Jean Smart and her late husband, actor Richard Gilliland, remains one of the industry's most respected and poignant romances. As of December 23, 2025, fans continue to look back on their decades-long partnership, which began on the set of a beloved sitcom and lasted until Gilliland’s unexpected death in 2021.
The Emmy-winning star, celebrated today for her iconic role as Deborah Vance in HBO’s *Hacks*, has been remarkably candid about the profound grief and the circumstances surrounding the loss of her husband, actor Richard Gilliland, who passed away suddenly while she was in the middle of filming her career-defining show. Their partnership, which spanned over 33 years, is a testament to a rare Hollywood commitment.
Jean Smart and Richard Gilliland: A Dual Biography and Family Life
The foundation of Jean Smart’s life off-screen was her long marriage to Richard Gilliland. Their relationship began in the mid-1980s and blossomed into a family unit that included two children.
Jean Smart (Charlene Frazier Stillfield)
- Full Name: Jean Elizabeth Smart
- Born: September 13, 1951, Seattle, Washington
- Spouse: Richard Gilliland (m. June 1987; died March 2021)
- Children: Connor Douglas Gilliland (son, b. 1989) and Bonnie Kathleen Gilliland (adopted daughter, b. 2009)
- Career Highlights & Awards: Smart is one of the most decorated actresses in television history, holding seven Primetime Emmy Awards, including two for her lead role as Deborah Vance in *Hacks* (2021, 2022). Her other Emmy wins include Best Guest Actress for *Frasier* (as Lana Gardner) and Best Supporting Actress for *Samantha Who?* (as Regina Newley). She is also celebrated for her dramatic roles as Laurie Blake in *Watchmen* and Melanie Bird in *Legion*, showcasing her incredible range across comedy and drama.
- Breakout Role: Charlene Frazier Stillfield in the CBS sitcom *Designing Women* (1986–1991).
Richard Gilliland (J.D. Shackleford)
- Full Name: Richard Morris Gilliland
- Born: January 23, 1950, Fort Worth, Texas
- Died: March 18, 2021, Los Angeles, California (Age 71)
- Cause of Death: Brief illness (undisclosed details in initial reports)
- Career Highlights: A prolific character actor in television and film. He was best known for his recurring role as J.D. Shackleford on *Designing Women*, the boyfriend of Annie Potts’ character, Mary Jo Shively. His extensive filmography includes roles in *Operation Petticoat*, *Just Our Luck*, *Airplane II: The Sequel*, *The White Buffalo*, *24* (as Colonel Bud Davis), and a guest role on *Frasier*, reuniting him with his wife.
- Meeting Smart: Met Jean Smart on the set of *Designing Women* in 1986.
The Designing Women Romance: How Jean Smart Met Her Husband
The love story of Jean Smart and Richard Gilliland is a rare Hollywood fairy tale, beginning not in a glamorous premiere but on a television soundstage. The couple first crossed paths in 1986 while working on the set of the groundbreaking sitcom *Designing Women*.
Jean Smart played the sweet and naive office manager, Charlene Frazier Stillfield, while Richard Gilliland joined the cast in a recurring role as J.D. Shackleford, the on-again, off-again love interest for Mary Jo Shively, played by Annie Potts.
Smart, who was single at the time, once recounted the charming story of how she asked Gilliland out. She was so struck by him that she asked co-star Delta Burke (Suzanne Sugarbaker) if he was married. Burke confirmed he was single, but Smart, still nervous, confessed that she looked up his phone number in the phone book and called him.
They married in June 1987, a year after meeting, and their union lasted for nearly 34 years, a remarkable feat in the often-turbulent world of show business. Their professional lives often intertwined after *Designing Women*, with Gilliland guest-starring on Smart’s hit show *24*, as well as *Frasier*, where she had a memorable, Emmy-winning guest arc.
Building a Family: Connor and Bonnie Kathleen
The couple welcomed their first child, a son named Connor Douglas Gilliland, in October 1989. Two decades later, in 2009, they expanded their family through international adoption, welcoming a daughter, Bonnie Kathleen Gilliland, from China.
Their decision to adopt later in life was a powerful demonstration of their commitment to family. Smart often spoke lovingly of their children, who provided immense support to her after Gilliland’s passing.
The Shocking Death and Jean Smart’s Candid Heartbreak
Richard Gilliland passed away on March 18, 2021, at the age of 71, following what was described as a "brief illness". The timing was particularly difficult for Smart, as she was in the final week of filming the first season of her critically acclaimed series, *Hacks*.
The loss cast a shadow over what would become the most successful period of her career. Smart’s grief was palpable when she accepted her Emmy Award for *Hacks* in September 2021, six months after his death.
“Before I say anything else, I have to acknowledge my late husband Richard Gilliland, who passed away six months yesterday,” Smart said, holding back tears during her acceptance speech, emphasizing the depth of her loss while celebrating her career triumph.
The Recent Revelation About His Final Days
In a more recent and candid interview on the show *Who's Talking to Chris Wallace?*, Jean Smart opened up about the circumstances of her husband’s death, hinting at medical complications that she believes were mishandled.
While she did not explicitly name the illness or the doctors, Smart implied a deep-seated frustration and belief that more could have been done to save Richard Gilliland. This revelation provided a fresh, emotional layer to the tragedy, suggesting that her grief is compounded by a feeling of injustice or medical failure.
This candidness is a hallmark of Smart’s public persona, reflecting the emotional honesty she brings to her roles, particularly as the often-acerbic but deeply vulnerable Deborah Vance. The actress continues to honor his memory by dedicating her major career milestones, including her Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, to the man who was her rock for over three decades.
Richard Gilliland’s Legacy in Hollywood and Beyond
Although Richard Gilliland may not have achieved the same level of global stardom as his wife, his impact as a consistent and reliable character actor is undeniable. His legacy is cemented by his work on dozens of television shows and films, including his roles in the cult classic film *Bug* and the television drama *The Waltons*.
His role as J.D. Shackleford on *Designing Women* will forever be the one that connected him to Jean Smart, creating a real-life romance that mirrored the on-screen chemistry of the show’s ensemble cast, which included Dixie Carter and Meshach Taylor.
Jean Smart's current success, particularly with *Hacks*, is a beautiful, albeit bittersweet, continuation of their shared artistic journey. She has frequently stated that her work, even in the face of immense personal loss, is a tribute to the man who supported her career for so many years. The story of Jean Smart and Richard Gilliland remains a powerful example of lasting partnership, profound grief, and the resilience of a Hollywood icon.
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